Frozen magnetism - ELI+

This latest Earthlearningidea 'Frozen magnetism; preserving evidence of a past magnetic field in wax' is our latest ELI+ activity. It is a demonstration of how the evidence for the magnetic field around a bar magnet may be preserved, even after the magnet has been removed. This gives an analogy for the three-dimensional magnetic field of the Earth, with a North and a South Pole, but not for the origin of the Earth's magnetic field.
There are lots more free activities for you to download on our website.

Earthlearningidea in Mandarin

This is to let you know that the link to Earthlearningidea translations into Mandarin in now up and running again. Many thanks to all who have worked so hard to make this happen.

Geobattleships

Do earthquakes and volcanoes coincide? Try our latest Earthlearningidea 'Geobattleships' to find out. This activity uses a children's game to match the distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes on the Earth's surface.
There are lots of activities about earthquakes and volcanoes on our website. Use the Keyword Index to find them.

Is the mantle solid or liquid?

Mantle - solid or liquid? Some text books say it is liquid but seismic transverse (S) body waves pass through it so - - - - -
Click here to find out.

3-D Model of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano

Make your own 3D model of Iceland's most famous recent volcano. Click here to read all about the eruption and the subsequent volcanic ash plume - see satellite images and an explanatory video clip.
For more ideas on activities about volcanoes for your pupils, visit the Earthlearningidea website and look up 'volcanoes' in the keyword index.

Modelling the properties of the Mantle

What are the photos of people playing with silicone putty demonstrating? Click on our latest Earthlearningidea to find out - 'Bouncing, bending, breaking; modelling the properties of the mantle'
Understanding how the rocks of the mantle can behave in a brittle way is not difficult – pupils will know that when a rock is hit with a hammer, it will break! Seismic evidence shows that the Earth’s mantle may also transmit earthquake waves, by the elastic deformation of the mantle rocks, showing they must be solid. However, mantle rocks may also “flow” or creep, given enough time and under the conditions of higher temperatures and pressures existing within the Earth. Some textbook writers assume that pupils will not be able to understand that flow can happen in a solid material and therefore state that the mantle is largely liquid, even though seismic evidence contradicts this.
Visit our website for lots more Earth-related activities for you to use with your pupils.

Name that Sample

A few weeks ago we published information about 'Send us your sample' where you can receive free images from a scanning electron microsope of any sample you send. The company has now launched Name that Sample, in which a sample is shown (example above) and the person who guesses what it is wins a brand new netbook computer.