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Planet Earth
Scientific breakthroughs and new technologies have proven a tremendous
asset in helping us to explore and learn more about Planet Earth. Satellites,
robot space probes, manned undersea vehicles, computer enhanced imagery-all
these have inspired theories about how our planet was created, the dynamics
at work shaping it today, and the role we play-for good or ill-as shapers
of the Earth's destiny.
Places To Go | People To See | Things To Do | Teacher Resources | Bibliography
Places To Go
USGS General
Interest Geology Info
The United States Geological Survey, the federal agency responsible for
mineral and land resources, has assembled a wonderful collection of general
interest publications online. Short, illustrated articles explain common
landforms, rocks, geological issues, and other phenomenon that most of
us live with, but know little about. This site provides great background
for physical and environmental science classes and projects.
Geoscapes
Photography Gallery
View beautiful photographs documenting the geologic and natural history
landscapes of the western United States and Pacific islands. This web
site illustrates the beauty of western geologic landscapes.
A Geologist's
Lifetime Field List
This web site contains a list of essential or desirable locations for
geologists or travelers interested in geology to visit. It contains many
of the interesting geological wonders of the world, with links for most
of them. Although the site's organization is wanting, many of the images
are breathtaking.
Volcano
World
Learn general information about volcanoes and track current volcanic activity
at this site which is the Web's premier source of volcano information.
Why
the Earth Shakes: Seismic Science
This online feature on earthquakes from the Exploratorium Museum explains
what causes earthquakes. It also provides information on measuring and
predicting earthquakes.
Savage
Earth
This online companion to the PBS series tells the stories of these great
natural disasters, the scientists who struggle to understand and predict
them, and the people whose lives are forever changed by their merciless
force.
People To See
Ask
a Geologist
Ever have a question about geology? Maybe it's about the fossils you saw
while on vacation, or the rocks in your backyard? This friendly site allows
users to pose earth science questions to a geologist.
Famous
American Earth Scientists
Check out this hotlist of links providing background information about
various American earth scientists.
Things To Do
Microsoft's
Terra Server
Explore our planet by studying maps and images at Microsoft's TerraServer
Web site, one of the world's largest online databases that provides free
public access to a vast data store of maps and aerial photographs. Visit
your favorite national park, famous landmarks, or even your own neighborhood.
Berkeley's
Geology Wing
Journey through the history of the Earth, with stops at particular points
in time. You might wish to start in the Cenozoic Era (65 million years
ago to the present) and work back through time, or start with Hadean time
(4.5 to 3.8 billion years ago) and journey forward to the present day.
No matter "when" you start, don't forget to stop along the way
to learn about the stratigraphy, ancient life, fossil localities, and
tectonics of the various time periods.
Learning
about Earth's Landforms
The Earth's surface is covered by "landforms," created by the
differential action of atmospheric and geologic forces. This site uses
pictures and words to describe the difference between mountains, hills,
plains, alluvial fans, deltas, and more. The landforms are organized by
the process that created them. Use the activities at the end to help you
remember what you learn.
The
Virtual Cave
Grab your mouse and have fun exploring the wonders of the underground
with this fieldtrip into caves.
Virtual
Fieldtrip
How about a virtual field trip to everything from beaches to volcanoes.
Our
Dynamic Earth
You'll need the right plugins to view the Dynamic Earth Virtual Tour that
takes you on a fascinating, ever-changing journey around planet Earth.
Travel back through time to witness the Big Bang; experience earthquakes,
ice ages and tropical rainstorms; travel to the depths of the oceans and
fly high above towering glaciers and mountains. You will see, hear, feel
and smell the planet as it was millions of years ago and how it might
be in the future.
The
New York Times Questions and Answers about Earth
Check out this collection of questions and answers about Planet Earth
compiled by The New York Times. Topics range from icebergs to the heat
at the Earth's core.
On
the Move: Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
Have you ever noticed how South America and Africa seem to fit together?
Scientists believe that 200 million years ago the Earth's continents were
joined together to form one gigantic supercontinent, called Pangaea. As
the rock plates that the continents sit on moved, the supercontinent broke
up and began to move apart. Check out this site to learn about how this
"continental drift" is far from over!
Teacher Resources
Rocks
This virtual tour will focus on how rocks are created, the different types
of rock, characteristics of rocks, and rocks in everyday life.
Volcanoes!
This virtual tour has students take a tour through the world and beyond
to visit and view some terrific volcanic areas.
Plate
Tectonics
Use this virtual tour to learn more about plate tectonics.
Unique
Landforms
With this lesson plan, students will learn how water and erosion affect
the landscape, research specific landforms, and create a visual display
illustrating a landforms formation and evolution.
Bibliography
- Anderson, Alan and Gwen Diehn, Terry Krautwurst. Geology Crafts for
Kids : 50 Nifty Projects to Explore the Marvels of Planet Earth. Sterling
Publications, 1998.
- Blobaum, Cindy and Michael P. Kline. Geology Rocks! : 50 Hands-On
Activities to Explore the Earth. Williamson Publishing, 1999.
- Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degen. Magic School Bus : Inside the Earth.
Scholastic, 1989.
- Delafosse, Claude et al. Caves : Hidden World. Scholastic, 2000.
- Gans, Roma and Holly Keller. Let's Go Rock Collecting. Harpercollins,
1997.
- Hooper, Meredith and Chris Coady. The Pebble in My Pocket : A History
of Our Earth. Viking Children's Books, 1996.
- Sattler, Helen Roney and Giulio Maestro. Our Patchwork Planet : The
Story of Plate Tectonics. Lothrop Lee & Shepard, 1995.
- Simon, Seymour. Volcanoes. Mulberry Books, 1995.
- Vancleave, Janice Pratt. Earth Science for Every Kid : 101 Easy Experiments
That Really Work. John Wiley & Sons, 1991.
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