New ELI - Glacial and periglacial landscapes

Our latest Earth Learning Idea is 'Evidence from the deep freeze - under or near the ice sheets'. Pupils are given photographs of glacial and periglacial landscapes and are encouraged to extract the evidence for former environments. When the activity is complete, the pupils can describe landscape features formed as a direct result of the action of moving ice and contrast these with landscapes produced under periglacial conditions.
This is another activity to add to our growing number in the Earth processes or Earth energy category.
Visit our website for lots more hands-on Earth-related activities.

Evolution of the atmosphere - more

This video clip is mentioned as a useful link from last week's ELI activity. 'Earth's atmosphere - step by step evolution'.
All comments and suggestions about this activity will be gratefully received.

New ELI - Evolution of Earth's atmosphere

The latest Earth Learning Idea is 'Earth's atmosphere - step by step evolution'. This activity uses a physical model to show the development of our current atmosphere. Pupils are shown the pie chart above which shows the composition of our atmosphere today. They are then asked to model with coloured balls or counters the composition of the primeval atmosphere, details of which are provided. They then consider what happened to the water vapour, carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides. How did oxygen appear in the atmosphere?
Related activities in the category 'Earth as a system' can be found on our website.

Rock cycle through the window

Have you tried the ELI - 'Rock cycle through the window'?
Pupils are asked to consider each of the major rock cycle processes in turn and decide whether or not evidence for these can be seen through the window – if so, what evidence? Of course, this activity can be carried out outside the window too. Surface rock cycle processes affect the whole surface environment; they are active for much of
the time and can be seen in action. Deep rock cycle processes cannot be seen in action – they have to be inferred from the characteristics of their products. By looking for the evidence, pupils understand that these are not theoretical processes, but they are real and happening all around them all the time.
This is one of many freely downloadable Earth Learning Idea activies. Try our search engine to find a particular topic. Please let us know if it is not there!