Earth studies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The new ELI today - 'Finding the Earth in the UN Sustainable Development Goals: map for yourself the areas where Earth studies are linked to the UN SDGs'

This activity is a mapping exercise to work out where geoscience is an important part of meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
More activities related to the environment can be found on our website in Teaching strategies.

What are trace fossils?

'Trace fossils – burrows or borings; what evidence do living organisms leave behind in rocks?'

This activity invites pupils to apply previously learned observations about the features of modern bivalve shells to the fossil record. Adaptations to different habitats are reflected in the shell structure of bivalves. This understanding is applied to working out what ancient environments were like from the trace fossils left behind by similar organisms.
Many activities related to fossils can be found in the Evolution of Life category on our website.

Rock cycle explained by plate tectonics 2

The new Eli today is 'The deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: deformation and metamorphism. A model showing how plate tectonics can explain metamorphism and rock-deformation'.

This activity involves a simple model to show how, as the subduction of plates causes continents to move towards one another (converge), the sediments in between are deformed into mountain chains with roots; the rocks in the root zones become regionally metamorphosed.
Many activities related to the rock cycle, plate tectonics, metamorphism and deformation can be found on our website by searching the alphabetical index of by using the search engine.

Sink holes

'Sink hole! Demonstrate sink hole processes in action'

Sink holes commonly form over limestone bedrock, but also develop where the underlying materials are even more soluble, such as rock salt and gypsum deposits. This classroom activity models the dissolving of underground materials and the impacts this can have at the surface.
Many other innovative teaching ideas can be found on our website.

Rock cycle explained by plate tectonics

The new ELI today is 'The deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: lithification'.

A simple model used to show how, as plates carrying continents are moved apart by plate tectonics, the sediments in between sag into a deepening sedimentary basin giving quicker lithification processes.
This activity will be followed by how plate tectonics can explain deformation and metamorphism.
Many activities related to both the rock cycle and to plate tectonics can be found on our website.