Understand the enormity of geological time

Use some sheets from a toilet roll to make 'The toilet roll of time; make a geological timeline to take home'

This activity has been devised to address the common lack of knowledge about geological time. Research has shown that many people have no idea of the great length of geological time nor of the order of the key events during the geological history of the Earth.
Many more activities about deep time can be found on our website.

Atmosphere and ocean in a lunchbox

Our new Earthlearningidea today is an adaptation of a very popular teacher demonstration, developed into a smaller scale model for pupil use - 'Atmosphere and ocean in a lunchbox; a model for all pupils – of hot, cold and cloudy density currents'

This activity can be used to introduce or reinforce understanding of atmospheric and/or ocean processes or, if used interactively, as an effective way of developing thinking skills, as outlined in the activity.
Many more ELI models can be found by searching our website.

Investigating how sediment is transported by water

'Rolling, hopping, floating and invisibly moving along; investigating how sediment is transported by water'.

Sediment is transported in water (rivers, the sea or currents in gutters) in solution, suspension, by saltation (bouncing along) and by traction (rolling or sliding along). As the sediment is moved along the grains bump into one another and bump against the river or sea bed. They gradually become ground down or eroded; any sharp edges are worn away and the grains become more rounded and smaller.
More activities about how sediment is transported can be found on our website.

Modelling unconformity – by hand

Today's new Earthlearningidea is another in our 'hands' series - 'Modelling unconformity – by hand; using your hands to demonstrate how unconformities form'.

The formation of angular unconformities involves a range of processes operating over different time spans. Modelling these with your hands, whilst explaining the processes and the timings involved, helps to consolidate learning.
Other activities relating to Earth processes and unconformities can be found on our website by using the search engine or the alphabetical index.