Dating the Earth - Charles Lyell and Mount Etna

The new Earthlearningidea today is 'Dating the Earth – before the discovery of radioactivity; Charles Lyell and Mount Etna, 1828'

This activity uses simplified calculations to demonstrate the immense age of the Earth, before the discovery of radioactivity.
After working through this activity, pupils can make simple calculations from given data and show how an estimate of the age of a relatively recent part of the geological record may be obtained. They can also put themselves in the position of Charles Lyell struggling to find the age of the Earth, from geological evidence alone, without any knowledge of radioactive dating methods.
Other activities related to the age of the Earth can be found in our Geological Time category.

Make your own sedimentary rocks with 'fossils'

A very good Early years activity is 'Rock builder; simulating the formation of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks'.

This activity simulates the formation of fossiliferous sedimentary rocks using a variety of sediments and shells in a plastic bottle, with filler acting as cement to ‘glue’ the grains together.
Other ideas for activities for young children can be found on our website.

Right way up or upside down? Modelling folded rocks with your hands

Today we have published another activity in the 'modelling by hands' series - 'Right way up or upside down? - modelling anti- and synforms by hand. Use your hands to show how the beds in folds can be the right way up or inverted'

A hand-modelling activity to show how different types of synforms and antiforms can be produced.
Lots more activities about fold mountains and folded rocks can be found on our website in the index (scroll down from this link).

Dynamic rock cycle and Plate tectonics workshops in Brazil

Both the Dynamic rock cycle and Plate tectonics workshops were presented in July at the GET2Class for Teachers at VIII GeoSciEd, in Campinas, Brazil.

 

All the photos from the workshops can be viewed in the photo gallery on the Earthlearningidea website.

Heat transfer from the Earth's core outwards

Today's new ELI is 'The heat is on; modelling the movement of heat from the Earth’s core outwards'.

This activity can be used to consolidate knowledge about the structure of the Earth and the heat flow within it in science or geography lessons.
Many more activities about the core of the Earth, structure of the Earth and plate tectonics can be found by using the search engine or the alphabetical index on our website.

Mary Anning and the evolution of life on Earth

The story of Mary Anning and her search for fossils is an inspiration for everyone. The Earthlearningidea, 'Mary Anning - Mother of Palaeontology; a woman in a man’s world' encourages pupils to think like Mary Anning.

Now, an animation by Anna Humphries can be viewed on the BBC website. Entitled “The girl who helped discover dinosaurs” it tells the story in a simple way for children, setting Mary in her time and place in a very sympathetic way.

 A still from the animation “The girl who helped discover dinosaurs”.
(Image: Courtesy of BBC)

Many more activities about fossils and the evolution of life can be found on our website.

Fieldwork safety: teaching how to keep safe outdoors

The new Earthlearningidea today is 'The ‘What could hurt you here?’ approach to field safety; teaching how to keep safe during fieldwork and other outdoor activities'.

This activity discusses how to introduce fieldwork safety in ways that the group is likely to remember. It is because fieldwork leaders are alert to safety issues, that fieldwork is one of the safer outdoor activities that pupils can undertake.
Many more activities associated with work outdoors for all ages, can be found on our website, through the search engine or alphabetical index.
Teachers may also like to read 'The 'What makes a good educational approach to panning fieldwork; thinking through the fieldwork strategies that are most likely to inform and inspire'.