One of the most amazing places on the Earth’s is where two massive tectonic plates are moving apart. Almost 99% of thee areas take place under the oceans, which just a few exceptions above sea level, such as the African
Divergent Plate Boundaries
Volcanoes as a STEM teaching tool
Trying to teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in the classroom can often seem disjointed. Having a STEM teaching tool that links those fields all together so learners can see how amazingly integrated they really would be perfect. Right?
Silicates – a simple guide to the Earth’s rock forming minerals
While high school students are taught about chemistry using simple examples of inorganic and organic substances, very few are exposed to the chemistry of the most abundant group of chemicals on Earth- the silicate group of minerals. Silicate minerals can
Geological hammer – a beginners guide to buying your “forever hammer”
A geological hammer is often seen as an essential part of any field geologists equipment. Often called rock picks or geopicks, the geological hammer is also a symbol of our profession. And let’s face it, who doesn’t like to
Cinder Cones – a unique volcanic feature.
Cinder cones are volcanic features that are found at volcanic sites where there has been some form of fountaining activity. Fire Fountains are where lava has been ejected during an eruption up into the air where it cools and falls to the ground
Evidence for Plate Tectonics
The evidence for Plate Tectonics is very conclusive. It is a very well supported theory, and while scientific debate continues about small parts or local effects, the overall concept is accepted as good as fact. So what are the pieces
Boundaries – how the plates interact
The Earth’s plates don’t just sit there. They move and interact at their boundaries – and that is what makes our planet so dynamic. The volcanoes, the earthquakes, and even climate are all related to the movement and position of
Plates – understanding the tectonic jigsaw pieces.
The Earth’s rocky outerlayer (the lithosphere) is broken up into around seventeen major pieces that we call tectonic plates. These plates form a jigsaw pattern around the planet with their edges interacting to cause earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges and
The Earth’s Crust – a simple way to view it.
The Earth’s crust – that outermost rocky layer of our planet – can be daunting to understand. To start with the vast majority (around 70%) of it lies under our oceans. The rest of the Earth’s crust seems to
Field Notes – what students need to learn to do.
Taking solid field notes is a skill that many students are not taught. The days of a geologist’s life recorded in a well-worn, dusty but interesting book full of diagrams, maps and descriptions are all but gone. This task has