Which power source?

'Which power source? – solving the crisis in Kiama; searching for all the power sources that could be developed in a mythical country'.
Kiama has a power crisis. It used to get all its power from oil supplied by Turaba, the country next door. But there has been a border dispute in the Barotsi Hills region – and Turaba has cut off all oil supplies.

Ask your pupils to study the map for clues to all the different power sources Kiama might develop instead. Ask them to work in groups to:
• write a list of all the power sources that could be developed;
• put the list of power sources into a table and list the advantages and disadvantages of each (for example some may be renewable, some may be cheaper or easier to develop than others, etc.);
• decide on the four best options and prepare a presentation on why these choices have been made.
After completing the activity, pupils can:
• list a range of potential power resources for a country;
• debate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the power sources;
• decide on the best options and explain their decisions.
Many more activities about power sources can be found on the website.

Activities to simulate features in the field

The new ELI today is 'Interactive re-creation; activities using simple transportable apparatus to simulate features in the field'

Demonstrate bedding, laminations, cross bedding, ripple marks, folding, faulting and shelly limestone - all with simple equipment. These activities help pupils to understand what they are seeing.
Many more ideas for activities out of doors can be downloaded from the website.

Earthlearningideas in the Amazon

Professor Roberto Greco from the Institute of Geosciences, Campinas State University, Brazil, has sent the following report:-
Earth Learning Idea workhops  have reached the heart of the Amazon forest! In this very special environmental so far from everywhere, where the huge Amazon River crosses the country, how can Earth Science be taught in an interesting, engaging way? We decided to present ELI activities; we found that both teachers and trainee teachers were very enthusiastic about them.
5th to 8th November, II Seminar of Physical Geography of the Amazon was organized by the State University of Amazonia (UEA) and coordinated by Professor Reginaldo  Luiz Fernandes de Souza: the ELI workshop was offered to geography teacher-trainees. The workshop was held on Parintins island. (Parintins is popular with tourists, especially in June when there is a folklore festival.) The day after the workshop the students investigated some field activities and visited some local schools.
Professor Charlei Aparecido da Silva of the Universida de Federal de Grande Dourados, was one of the lecturers of the Seminar, giving an amazing lecture on research techniques in physical geography and climatology. He became very enthusiastic about Earthlearningideas and would like to organize ELI workshops in his university in Mato Grosso do Sul State next year.

9th November, more ELI workshops in another unit of UEA in Manaus, organized by Professor Flávio Wachholz.
ELI workshops about soils and seminars about teaching soils were offered by Professor Roberto Greco and Professor Francisco Ladeira. Professor Regina Celia de Oliveira talked about the educational relevance of field activities.

All the professors are from the University of  Campinas, where the translations of ELI from English to Brazilian-Portuguese take place.
All photos from these workshops may be seen in the Photo Gallery on the website.

Erosion - questions you can ask at any rock face

Today's new ELI is 'Question you can ask at any rock face 2: erosion'.
Erosion is ‘The removal of solid material, by gravity, water, wind or ice’ and so is the beginning of transportation. Take your pupils to an area of loose rock beneath a rock face, preferably with water-formed gullies leading away – and ask the questions listed in the activity.

The effects of erosion by gravity are usually clear at any exposure (broken angular fragments or boulders at the base of the rock face) and fans of water-moved material are also common. Eroded fragments can also be found at the bases of most walls too.
Although weathering is distinct from erosion, weathering and erosion usually work together; rocks are weakened by weathering and the weakened material is removed by erosion.
Lots more thought-provoking activities can be found on our website.

Popular ELI in October - How earthquakes affect buildings

A very popular activity in October was 'Shaken but not stirred; how earthquakes affect buildings.'

This is a teacher-led demonstration of the relationship between the frequency of the shaking of the ‘ground’ and the movement of model ‘buildings’ of various heights. The activity can be used to help students to explore the effects of earthquakes in densely populated areas, and to dispel misconceptions about the relative safety of high rise buildings in seismically active regions.
Many more innovative ideas for teaching about earthquakes can be found either by using the search engine or by browsing the index on our website.