Using Food to Demonstrate Earth Science Concepts: a Review

Researchers categorized over one hundred print and web resources that use food to demonstrate earth science concepts. This article describes their findings: food-based activities are found in print and web-based resources with nearly equal frequency; most feature geologic themes; most are designed for primary and middle school audiences, but can be adapted for older students; and most of these activities meet the National Science Standard "Structure of the Earth" for middle school students. The authors suggest that food-based activities are a way to make subject matter more exciting and understandable, particularly for those with little or no background in science, and that food, which students consume daily, can serve as a reality based analogy to better understand many of the unfamiliar, abstract concepts taught in earth science classes. Educational levels: Graduate or professional

Rock Cycle Animations

This site features Flash animations that illustrate various facets of the rock cycle. The visualizations depict rock-forming processes, such as erosion, transportation, deposition, cementation, crystallization, subduction, and eruption, that create sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. They also show cooling environments that result in varied crystal sizes and demonstrate igneous rock classification. The animations can be paused and rewound to stress important points. These resources are suitable for use in lectures, labs, or other teaching activities

Glacier Physics

This site features a collection of visual resources about glaciers. Diagrams, images and animations reveal how a glacier forms, advances and retreats. These resources can be integrated into lectures, labs or other activities

Gallery Walk Questions about the Solar System

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents sample Gallery Walk questions about the solar system. Topics examined include snowball earth (driving factors, deglaciation mechanisms, development of life), the composition, structure, fusion process, and features of some stars, the subsolar point, water rich comets, the circle of illumination, seasonal changes, time zones, distinguishing characteristics of planets, earth's rotation, Mars exploration equipment, extraterrestrial life, and daylight savings time. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy. Educational levels: Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

Gallery Walk Questions on Atmosphere Composition

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents sample Gallery Walk questions about the composition of the atmosphere. These questions encourage students to examine atmospheric and greenhouse gases, human influences on climate change, proposed new products to minimize UV exposure, and ways people currently protect themselves from UV exposure. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy. Educational levels: Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

Weather Map Interpretation

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents sample Gallery Walk questions about weather map interpretation. Students explore several weather parameters including fronts, pressure cells, and precipitation. Groups synthesize various weather variables, create a weather forecast, and present the material in either an oral or written assignment. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy. Educational levels: Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

Gallery Walk Questions about the Biosphere

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents sample Gallery Walk questions about the biosphere. These questions encourage students to examine adaptations life forms undertake to survive in deep sea vents, Antarctic dry valleys, caves, hypersaline environments, thermal hot springs, and deep Earth habitats. Potential questions also examine nutrient cycling in various ecosystems, the impacts of increasing urban land at the expense of forests and grasslands, and how vegetation patterns are impacted by climate, topography, soil, humans, geology, and time. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy. Educational levels: Undergraduate upper division, Undergraduate lower division

Examples of Gallery Walk Questions

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents examples of Gallery Walk questions on various topics. The examples include learning goals, teaching notes and tips, material lists, resources and references. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

Challenges in Implementing Gallery Walk

This site from SERC's Starting Point addresses challenges in Gallery Walk implementation. These can include student responses, lack of student participation, student resistance to discussion method, colleague or department concerns, and material setup. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

Gallery Walk Questions about Volcanism

This site from SERC's Starting Point features Gallery Walk questions about volcanism. The questions examine terminology, the relationship between magma viscosity, explosiveness, and volcano profile, volcano comparisons, volcanoes and plate tectonics, relationships between volcanic activity and the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere, and disaster mitigation. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division