Planting trees

Our new ELI today is 'Let's plant some trees; investigating the importance of trees to our planet'.

In this activity afforestation and reforestation are considered and all the ways that trees are important to our planet are discussed.

Other activities related to reaching the 'net zero' emissions target can be found on our website.
 

Party time for volcanoes!

This is a good time of year to try 'Party time for volcanoes! How much force does it take to set off a party popper “volcano"?'

This activity measures the force required to burst a party popper; it provides a quantifiable way of measuring a gradually increasing stress, akin to the build up of pressure beneath a volcano, or the increases in stress as rock masses begin to move relative to each other. The variable results obtained relate to the prediction of volcanic eruptions or earthquakes - and it's great fun!

Many more Earthlearningideas about volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can be found on our website.

Potential source of energy from flooded, old coal mines

Our new ELI today and another in our 'net zero' emissions series is, 'A new use for old coal mines; a potential source of energy from beneath our feet'.

This activity investigates how geothermal heat in flooded coal mines might be used to heat our homes and workplaces.

The 'net zero' emissions series of Earthlearningideas can be found here.

Volcanic eruptions - which classroom eruption is best?

Following the eruption of Mt Semeru on Java in Indonesia, the ELI today is 'Best classroom eruption? Which type of classroom eruption best shows how volcanoes erupt?

 

 

This Earthlearningidea evaluates different types of classroom eruptions to gauge which best shows how eruptions are triggered.

Many activities about volcanic eruptions can be found by using the search engine or alphabetical index on our website.

Small-scale hydroelectric power schemes

 The new ELI today and the next in our 'net zero' series is 'Small-scale hydroelectric power schemes; investigating opportunities for micro-hydro'.

 

This activity is an introduction to electricity generation by micro-hydro schemes and explores the benefits of cheap, small-scale hydroelectric installations.

Many more activities about renewable energy supplies can be found on our website.

Earthlearningidea videos

Did you know that, as well as all the teaching videos, ELI also has many general videos from various sources; four are in Catalan, three have a Portuguese introduction and one is narrated in Norwegian.

Shell shake; survival of the fittest

Dolines! Simuleu els processos de formació de dolines en acció 

Landfill gas

The new ELI today is the next is our 'net zero' emissions series, 'Energy from buried waste: Landfill gas'.

It is vital that modern technologies are developed not only to manage waste but also to ensure that minimal harmful by-products are allowed to pollute the air or the ground. We must re-cycle as much as possible and mitigate the effects of non recyclable material. This ELI is a case study of good practice by an industrial firm to try to reduce its use of fossil fuels and to assist the local community in reducing its carbon footprint

You can access the full series of Earthlearningidea 'net zero; emissions by clicking here.
 

Landslide through the window?

'Landslide through the window - what would you see, what would you feel? Asking pupils to picture for themselves what a landslide through the window might look like.'

This Earthlearningidea is a ‘thought experiment’ imagining how different landslides might affect the view through the window.

There are many more activities about natural hazards in the Natural Hazards category.
 

Hydrogen of many colours

The latest in our 'net zero' emissions target series and coinciding with the COP26 talks in Glasgow, the new ELI is 'Hydrogen of many colours; the situation regarding hydrogen in the UK, October 2021'

 

 

This ELI provides an update into the rapidly evolving development of hydrogen manufacture in the UK, based on recent Government Reports.

Many activities relating to climate change can be found on our website.

Greenhouse effect

'Is the greenhouse effect happening outside today? A classroom discussion to consolidate understanding about the greenhouse effect'.

A discussion to reinforce learning and to counter misconceptions about the greenhouse effect. Many people wrongly think that the greenhouse effect occurs because there is a layer of greenhouse gases in the sky that act like a pane of glass in a greenhouse, trapping the heat that originally came as visible light from the Sun. This view is often reinforced by misleading animations and diagrams on the internet and diagrams in textbooks and elsewhere. 

Many activities involving the greenhouse effect can be found by using the search engine on our website. 

Net zero emissions target - Energy from waste

The new ELI today and the latest in our series on how to reach the 'net zero' emissions target is 'Energy from burning waste; where does all my non-recyclable waste go?'

This activity involves a discussion about the treatment of domestic waste. The population of the world is increasing rapidly and with it the amount of waste material. It is vital that modern technologies are developed, not only to manage the waste, but also to ensure that no harmful by-products are allowed to pollute the air or the ground. We must re-cycle as much as possible and mitigate the effects of non-recyclable material.

Search for 'net zero' in the search engine on our website to find many more activities about how we might reach the 'net zero' emissions target.

How coastlines change shape

'Changing coastlines: investigating how wave erosion, transportation and deposition can change the shapes of coastlines'.

This activity can be used to study the processes of coastal erosion, transportation and deposition. It can also be used to investigate the problems these processes cause and the ways in which people try to solve those problems.

More activities about these processes - sea, rivers, wind and ice, can be found on our website.

Three ways to make waves in water

The new ELI today is 'Making waves: a storm in a teacup? Three ways to make waves in a container of water: wind, earthquake and impact'.

This activity is a class introduction to wave-formation, using a glass of water as a prompt. It can also be used to introduce the formation of normal coastal waves and of tsunami waves and the distinction between them.

Other activities relating to coastal waves and tsunamis can be found on our website.

How to meet future global energy needs

'What is/are the least bad option(s) for plugging the future global energy gap? A discussion on the least-damaging ways to meet world energy needs in the future'

Given that renewable fuel sources will be unable to fulfil all global energy needs for the foreseeable future, this activity encourages pupils to consider which of the alternative sources might plug this energy gap.

Many activities about power sources and the use of energy can be found on our website.

The uses of green hydrogen

Today's new Earthlearningidea is the next in our 'net zero' emissions series - 'Green hydrogen used to even out renewable energy supplies? Could ‘green hydrogen’ be the solution to the efficient use of renewable energy?'

This activity involves a discussion of the steps necessary if green hydrogen is to be used to even out future wind-turbine-generated energy supplies.

All Earthlearningideas about reaching 'net zero' emissions targets can be found here.
 

Geothermal power sources - renewable or not?

'Rock power: geothermal power simulations; modelling geothermal power sources – renewable or not?'

 

This activity uses a density can filled with gravel to model different forms of geothermal power sources. ‘Hydrothermal power’ can be extracted renewably, if heat is removed at a slower rate than it is accumulating from the heat source below. However, most hydrothermal power stations extract heat more quickly than it is accumulated, so they only have a finite life and will eventually close. In these cases, heat is being extracted at non-renewable rates.

Many activities relating to renewable power sources can be found in our 'net zero' Earthlearningidea series.

An investigation into ground source heat pumps - helping to reach the 'net zero' emissions target

How can we reach our net zero emissions target? The next in our series of 'net zeros' is 'Heat from the Earth; investigating ground source heat pumps'.

Governments ‘net-zero’ targets will affect many areas across the world. This Earthlearningidea explores the advantages and disadvantages of ground source heat pump installations. Other mitigation and adaptation measures are discussed in other Earthlearningideas. Search for 'net zero' on our website.

Make your own sedimentary structures

Following on from our sedimentary structures puzzle game of last week. 'Which sedimentary structures can you make? Making sedimentary structures in the classroom using simple apparatus and materials'.

This can be used as a revision activity, involving investigating how sedimentary structures are formed in loose sediment. To fit in with lesson timing, the teacher can allocate one structure per small group of students, share out the apparatus and then compare notes afterwards.

Many more activities related to sedimentary rocks and structures can be found on our website.

Game to help to really understanding sedimentary structures

The new ELI today is a game for students to help them to really understand sedimentary structures. 'Picturing puzzle structures; visualise and draw sedimentary structures from a verbal description.'

 

This Earthlearningidea will enhance pupils’ skills of description and interpretation using photographs of sedimentary structures. It can also be used as a revision exercise and is good fun.

Many activities related to sedimentary structures can be found on our website.

Fossil hunter - dig up a dinosaur

A good activity for the summer in a sand pit or on the beach is 'Dig up the dinosaur; become a fossil hunter and dig up a dinosaur'. All you need is a wooden or plastic dinosaur skeleton.

Click here to watch a short video of the activity.

The activity involves digging up buried ‘bones’ in a systematic manner and reconstructing the skeleton. By observing how the 'bones' were found, you can determine whether the creature was buried suddenly or not.

Many other activities related to fossils and dinosaurs can be found on our website.

How will rising sea level affect our coastlines?

The next in our 'net zero' emissions series is an adaptation measure to climate change, 'How will rising sea level affect our coastlines ... and what can be done to adapt to rising sea levels?'

This Earthlearningidea explores how sea level rise in response to climate change might affect coastal communities and how these communities might adapt to this rise.

Many more activities related to sea level change can be found on our website. There are also many activities related to 'net zero' emissions.

Understanding the phases of the Moon - with lollipops, a tennis ball and a bright light

An idea for the holidays - 'Lollipop moon; modelling the phases of the moon with a ball, lollipops and a bright light'.

This model demonstrates what the phases of the moon look like when viewed from outside the Earth.Other activities in the series include:

Jaffa moon

Polystyrene moon 

More activities related to the Moon can be found in the Earthlearningidea Earth in Space category. 

Harnessing the power of tides

The new ELI today is part of our 'net zero emissions' series, 'Tidal energy; can the tides be harnessed to produce green energy?'

 

 

This activity involves a discussion of the reasons for and against tidal power, using three case studies of operational tidal power stations. Government ‘net-zero’ targets will affect many areas across the world. This Earthlearningidea explores what the impacts might be in a coastal area, while extra background information is provided in other ELIs in the series.

More activities related to climate change and 'net zero' emissions can be found on our website.

Sea level and melting sea ice

Continuing the theme of sea level change - 'Melting ice and sea level change 1 – sea ice; does sea level change when floating sea ice melts?'

This simple activity allows pupils to investigate the impact on water levels of allowing floating ice to melt.

Other activities related to sea level and climate change can be found on our  website.

Sea level change

 Today's new ELI is 'Sea level in a plastic cup; eight ways to change the water level in a plastic cup – and global sea level'

This activity uses classroom discussions about how the water level in a plastic cup can be changed to teach the processes of changing sea level on Earth.

Other activities related to sea level change and to climate change in general can be found on our website.

Volcanic eruptions with party poppers

Fun at the end of term - - 'Party time for volcanoes! How much force does it take to set off a party popper “volcano”?'

Measuring the force required to burst a party popper and relating the variable results obtained to the prediction of earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions

This activity provides a quantifiable way of measuring a gradually increasing stress, akin to the build up of pressure beneath a volcano, or the increases in stress as rock masses begin to move relative to each other.

Many related activities can be found in the Natural Hazards category on the website.

Harnessing the power of the Sun

The third in our 'net zero' Earthlearningidea series is 'Harnessing the power of the Sun; could solar farms be used in your area?'

Government ‘net-zero’ targets will affect many areas across the world. This Earthlearningidea explores what the impacts of building solar farms might be in your local area. 

Other mitigation and adaptation measures are discussed in other Earthlearningideas which can be accessed here.

Earth's spin and Earth's orbit

'A screaming roller coaster; how fast am I travelling (due to Earth’s spin and Earth’s orbit)?'

 

This activity gives a good introduction to the speed of the spinning and orbiting Earth. Other activities related to day and night and the seasons can be found on our website in the Earth in Space category.

Blue Hydrogen – the fuel of the future?

The next in our 'net zero' series is 'Blue Hydrogen – the fuel of the future? Could “blue” hydrogen be produced and used here?'

This activity gives an assessment of the potential of the North West of England region for the manufacture and use of hydrogen from natural gas. Making a clean fuel like hydrogen from a carbon-based fuel may seem counter-intuitive, but it is feasible if the waste carbon gases can be captured and stored safely below ground.

Search for 'net zero' on our website to access other ways of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Relative dating - dating the Earth before radioactive dating

'Dating the Earth – before the discovery of radioactivity; Charles Lyell and Mount Etna, 1828'.

 

The activity provides an opportunity to use simple mathematics in solving a long-standing geological problem. Students should be made aware that the figures are extremely approximate, and that the activity is designed to show the principle behind Lyell’s approach, rather than providing an accurate value.

Other activities related to finding out the age of the Earth can be found in the Geological Time category on our website.

Dating rocks

The new ELI today is 'But how old is it? Investigating radioactive dating of rocks and minerals'

This activity investigates how radioactive (radiometric) or absolute dating of rocks and minerals works. It is suggested that pupils work from the video.

Other activities about dating rocks and the Earth can be found in our 'Geological Time' category.
 

Teaching Earth Science to develop thinking skills: using the CASE approach

We have added another teaching workshop to our website. 'Teaching Earth Science to develop thinking skills: using the CASE approach'

As usual with our workshops, there is a slide presentation (as .pptx or .pdf) with links to video clips throughout. There is also a fully comprehensive workshop booklet.

This is the latest of nine teaching workshops available on the Earthlearningidea website.

Climate change: 'net zero' emissions target - Carbon capture

The second in our climate change, 'net zero' emissions series is 'Capturing carbon? Can we capture and store carbon from burning fuel, cement- and steel-making? Should we?'

This activity reviews methods of carbon capture and storage leading to the question of whether this could, or should, happen in your area.

Many other activities can be found on our website by searching for climate change and 'net zero' either in the alphabetical index or by using the search engine.

Rising mountain chains - isostasy

“Hooray and up she rises!” * How a rising mountain chain can reveal its hidden secrets   ( * from the Drunken Sailor sea shanty)

The activity is aimed at reinforcing the concept of isostasy (a state of balance in the Earth’s outer layers). It is also intended to show that many igneous rocks become exposed at the Earth’s surface long after they have become solid rocks and are no longer flowing as magma. 

This activity would have more meaning if preceded by Earthlearningideas:

Isostasy 1: modelling the state of ‘balance’ of the Earth’s outer layers, and Isostasy - 2 “Bouncing back” after the ice.

Climate change: meeting our 'net zero' target

The new Earthlearningidea today is the first in a series of 'net zero' activities. 'How will the ‘net-zero’ target affect your local area? Assessing the local impact of the government’s ‘net-zero’ targets for carbon emissions'.

Government ‘net-zero’ targets will affect many areas across the world. This Earthlearningidea explores what the impacts might be in a local area. Extra background information is provided in the 'net zero' activities in the rest of the series.

What colour was the world in the past?

'What colour was the world in the past? Using rock evidence and ‘the present is the key to the past’ to colour the geological world'.

Earth’s surface colours today are produced by the same processes that operated in the geological past. Since the features that made up past geological landscapes were coloured in the same ways as today, many of these landscapes must have had the same combination of colours as Earth’s surface today.

This activity is a discussion, using the colours of unweathered surface rocks and ‘the present is the key to the past’ to give a coloured picture of past geological worlds.

Lots more activities can be fund on our website.

How many sand grains are there on a beach?

New ELI today 'How many sand grains are there in a bucket – or on a beach? Planning activities to estimate the number of sand grains in a bucket – or on a beach'

This ELI is a planning exercise to estimate large numbers of very small items. There are at least two different ways of making this estimation, each with different routes, both involving some simple maths.

Other Earthlearningideas involving calculations can be found in 'Teaching strategies' on our website.

Rock identification

Often wondered which rock is which? Earthlearningidea has updated the Virtual Rock Kit. As the image shows you can see every rock in hand specimen, close-up, in thin sections, where it can be found and how it can be used.

The ELI Team will add extra rocks from time to time. You can also find many activities for teaching about rocks on our website by using the alphabetical index or the search engine.

Weighing a dinosaur?

The new ELI today is 'Let’s weigh that dinosaur! How can a plastic model reveal the mass of an actual dinosaur?'

This Earthlearningidea is a class activity to estimate the mass of a dinosaur using a plastic model. It provides one method of estimating the mass of an extinct animal. The result can be compared with textbook values and with results obtained by alternative methods, based on measurements such as the depth of animal footprints (as demonstrated in 'How to weigh a dinosaur') or the size of the thigh bone.

Other ELIs related to dinosaurs and fossils in general, can be found in the Earthlearningidea 'Evolution of life' category.
 

Geological time gaps - unconformities

'Filling the gap – picturing the unconformity ‘abyss of time’? Working out what happened during unconformity time gaps'

 

This activity gives pupils a method to help them to visualise the enormous time-spans between the upper and lower layers of unconformities.

Many more activities about Geological time, or 'deep time' can be found on our website.

Factors controlling metamorphism

The new ELI+ today - 'Metamorphic processes: controlled by depth, temperature and pressure: what factors control metamorphism?'

In this Earthlearningidea, pupils identify the appropriate zones on a pressure/temperature graph for a range of metamorphic processes. It is a useful revision activity on metamorphism. 

Many more activities, not all ELI+, can be found by using the alphabetical index or the search engine on our website.

How long do Earth events take to happen?

'How long does it take? – quick to very, very, very slow; sorting out Earth events according to the time they take'

 

This Earthlearningidea asks pupils to subdivide Earth processes according to the time they take. The answers which are likely to result from the discussions are given in the activity. Some Earth processes happen very quickly, whilst others act very, very slowly.

Other activities related to Geological time can be found on our website.

What did kill the dinosaurs?

New ELI today  'Extinction mystery; what did kill the dinosaurs?'

This activity is a card sorting exercise involving deciding which factors might have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

There are many misconceptions about how dinosaurs became extinct. The mystery encourages pupils to put evidence into a sequence so that they can explain some of the possible causes of the extinction.

Many more activities can be found about dinosaurs by using the search engine or alphabetical index on our website.

How partial melting helps to explain igneous rocks

Comparison of a model with reality to develop understanding of the partial melting process; 'Partial melting model and real rock' - an ELI+ activity.

 

This ELI is a consolidation exercise on partial melting, to ensure that students understand how a model mirrors processes in real rocks. The partial melting process can be directly linked to the key rock-forming minerals by reference to Bowen’s Reaction Series, which is explained in the activity.

Other Earthlearningideas about igneous rocks for all ages of pupils, can be found by using the search engine or alphabetical index on our website.

Using chocolate to model plate margins

New ELI today is 'Mars^TM margins - diverged, converged and transformed; modelling plate margins with a Mars^TM bar - apart, together and side by side'

A demonstration of the three types of plate margins, their stress fields and characteristics using a Mars^TM Bar. This activity is a bit messy but very enjoyable!

Other Earthlearningideas to do with plate margins can be found on our website.

Demonstrate the water cycle, latent heat and global energy transfer

From our water cycle series: 'Cycling water and heat in the lab – and the globe; demonstrating the water cycle, latent heat and global energy transfer'

A lab demonstration of the water cycle that can be used to develop thinking skills and to understand latent heat transfer and its global effects.

The other ELI water cycle activities showing the progression of thinking skills are as follows:

Changing state – transforming water
    Practical activities to change the state of water; solid, liquid, gas,

Mini-world water cycle
    A water cycle demonstration model in a box

Water cycle world
    A discussion activity on the natural water transformations on Earth

Wriggling your toes on ancient bedding planes

The new ELI today is 'What would it feel like to wriggle your toes on an ancient bedding plane as the sediment was being deposited? Clues from the present day about the origin of sedimentary rocks'.

This activity enhances understanding of the energy levels involved in the deposition of sediment, from a series of photographs, which in many cases will prompt pupils to reflect on their own experience. It can be used to reinforce learning of sedimentary environments and their products and can be accessed from about 7 years of age upwards.

Many more activities about sediments and sedimentary environments can be found on our website.

Which power source might be built in the view you can see from your window?

'Power through the window; which power source might be built in the view you can see from your window?'

Pupils are asked to consider which of the commonly available power sources (coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric or wind) COULD be built near their school/home, before being asked to think about whether the less common power sources would be viable there (solar, geothermal, tidal, wave). They are then asked to give their views on whether one of these SHOULD be built there.

Many other activities about power sources can be found on the website by using the search engine or the alphabetical index.

What catastrophic natural processes have affected your region?

New ELI today:  'What catastrophic natural processes affected your region in the geological past? Use the evidence in your local region to interpret dramatic geological events'

In this activity several photographs are used to stimulate discussion about possible rapid geological processes in the past which might have had “catastrophic” outcomes if there had been humans on the Earth at those times. How could these disastrous processes have affected your area?

Many detailed activities associated with natural hazards can be found in the Natural Hazards category on our website.