Dating the Earth - Charles Lyell and Mount Etna

The new Earthlearningidea today is 'Dating the Earth – before the discovery of radioactivity; Charles Lyell and Mount Etna, 1828'

This activity uses simplified calculations to demonstrate the immense age of the Earth, before the discovery of radioactivity.
After working through this activity, pupils can make simple calculations from given data and show how an estimate of the age of a relatively recent part of the geological record may be obtained. They can also put themselves in the position of Charles Lyell struggling to find the age of the Earth, from geological evidence alone, without any knowledge of radioactive dating methods.
Other activities related to the age of the Earth can be found in our Geological Time category.

Make your own sedimentary rocks with 'fossils'

A very good Early years activity is 'Rock builder; simulating the formation of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks'.

This activity simulates the formation of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks using a variety of sediments and shells in a plastic bottle, with filler acting as cement to ‘glue’ the grains together.
Other ideas for activities for young children can be found on our website.

Right way up or upside down? Modelling folded rocks with your hands

Today we have published another activity in the 'modelling by hands' series - 'Right way up or upside down? - modelling anti- and synforms by hand. Use your hands to show how the beds in folds can be the right way up or inverted'

A hand-modelling activity to show how different types of synforms and antiforms can be produced.
Lots more activities about fold mountains and folded rocks can be found on our website in the index (scroll down from this link).

Dynamic rock cycle and Plate tectonics workshops in Brazil

Both the Dynamic rock cycle and Plate tectonics workshops were presented in July at the GET2Class for Teachers at VIII GeoSciEd, in Campinas, Brazil.

 

All the photos from the workshops can be viewed in the photo gallery on the Earthlearningidea website.