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Useful Resources

In each topic of the scope and sequence, we have provided relevant resources. In this section, we try to bring them all together.

Each resource is identified in terms of access:

Requires computer access
Requires downloading from the Web
Non-electronic
and level of materials
T Primarily for Teachers
S Primarily for Students

Computer Programs | Animations | On-line Publications | Web-based courses | Other Sources of Lessons | Science in the News

Computer Programs
Resource Access Level
Description
Seismic - Waves
Computer Program

Alan Jones of SUNY Binghamton

T,S Windows-based computer program by Alan Jones for illustrating the propagation and recording of seismic waves through the Earth. Available free from his Web page.
This program will be fun for both students and teachers. Some teachers have reported problems installing the program with certain anti-virus detectors.
Seismic - Eruptions Computer Program

Alan Jones

web T,S Windows-based computer program by Alan Jones for learning about the hows and whys of earthquake occurrence. Also known as SeisVolE. Available free from his Web page or on CD for a small fee from the Smithsonian Institution.
Some teachers have reported problems installing the program with certain anti-virus detectors.
Larry Braile has developed a classroom activity to accompany the program. It is also available as a PDF file.
AmaSeis Program

Alan Jones

web T,S Windows-based computer program by Alan Jones use with the AS-1 seismometer. This $500. seismometer can be used in the classroom to record earthquakes. The software is available free.
Larry Braile has developed a classroom activity to accompany the program. It is also available as a PDF file.
Resources in Educational Software

University of Arizona

T A resource list for educational software in seismology. Includes the two programs by Alan Jones as well as other programs for the Mac and PC/Windows systems.


Animations and Paper models
Resource Access Level
Description

Sea Floor Spreading Animation

Earth Labs

T, S An animation of sea floor spreading with a description of each of the events. Site contains advertising.
Fault Motion animation

IRIS

T,S Simple Java animination illustrating the different types of fault motion - normal, reverse, and strike-slip.
Elastic Rebound Animation

UCSB

T,S Simple Java animination illustrating the concept of elastic rebound. In order to simulate reality, the animation is slow.
Animations of Southern California Earthquakes

SCEC

web T,S Simple Java animation showing the time-space distribution of earthquakes in southern California. There are monthly and annual examples.
Paleo Map Project Animations
(see also Paleo Map Project)

Christopher Scotese

T,S View animations of plate motion and continental drift at different period's in Earth's history. The animations can be downloaded and run by moving the mouse over the image.
Geological animations and paper models

USGS

T,S An ecletic collection of paper models, many in the form of HyperCard documents. Topics range from globes to karst topography to earthquake effects.
Convection in the Earth's Mantle

Greg Houseman
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

T,S A moving model showing the flow of rock as the mantle convects.
Convection Currents

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

T,S A diagrammatic animation showing how the direction of convection currents influences continental movement.


Online Publications
Resource Access Level
Description
This Dynamic Earth

USGS

T,S On online publication of the USGS. An introduction to the story of plate tectonics. An excellent resource for teachers and students. Also available in paper form from the USGS for $6.
The Next Big Earthquake

USGS

T,S On online publication of the USGS. Developed as an insert for Bay Area newspapers after Loma Prieta. Contains some useful background on local seismicity as well as material on earthquake preparedness.
Putting Down Roots
in Earthquake Country

USGS

T,S On online publication of the USGS. Developed as an insert for Southern California newspapers after Northridge. Contains some useful background on local seismicity as well as material on earthquake preparedness.
General Interest Publications

USGS

S,T In most cases, these are online versions of USGS publications. Quite good for general student background and probably useful overviews for teachers.
Geology Link

Houghton Mifflin Company

web T This Web site is designed to support textbooks published by Houghton Mifflin. It has several extremely useful sections, including It also identifies resources for different areas of geology. Excellent resource.


Web-based courses or lectures
Resource Access Level
Description
Physical Geology
History of Geology

Georgia Perimeter College

T
T,S
Part of a Web-based college course outline on Physical Geology. Contains elements on earthquakes, plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, mountain building, hydrologic cycle, .... Particularly strong on rocks and minerals but may be of more general use. Includes some exercises that might be adapted for high-school use and links to other resources.
A web-based college course covering historical geology with emphasis on techniques used in analyzing the earth's past and on our current knowledge.
The Good Earth

University of Akron

??? A web resource for Introductory Geology Courses.
The Magnetosphere

NASA

T,S In a series of tutorials, this web page explains the magnetic fields that surround the Earth, magnetic storms (aurora), ions, electromagnetic waves, the history of discovery, and tons more!
Geological Engineering

University of Saskatchewan

T Part of a Web-based college course outline. Designed as a geology course for engineers, this covers a broad range of topics, but is particularly strong in rocks and minerals.

Plate Tectonics

University of Michican/Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni

T Part of a Web-based college course outline. This site has materials about the history, phenomenology, kinematics, and dynamics of plate tectonics. Lots of figures.
Earthquakes and Earth Structure

UNR

T Part of a Web-based college course outline. Uses lots of graphics to explain the background of geophysics. While students could read it, it seems more appropriate as a resource for teachers.
An Introduction to Earthquakes

St. Louis University

T, S Part of a Web-based college course outline. Uses lots of graphics to explain the background and may take some time to download.


Other Sources of Lessons
Resource Access Level Description
Geosphere

Montana State University

web T A variety of earth-related activities that stress the interrelationships among Earth's features and phenomena, with an emphasis on plate tectonics. Includes assessment material (bottom of main page) and background notes with methodological approach, historical information, a glossary, and a concise summary of main concepts.
Teacher Resources

Nebraska Earth Science Education Network

web T Teacher-designed lessons and activities relating to a wide range of earth topics, with emphasis on surface processes and environmental change. NESEN also has links to other teaching resources.
The Learning Web

USGS

web T Activities divided by theme and age level. Themes include the Earth's changes through time, natural hazards, and maps. This site is well-illustrated with diagrams, satellite images, sketches, computer-generated models, and photographs.
Bay Area Earth Science Institute

San Jose State Dept. of Geology

web T BAESI offers workshops, courses, support, and resources for earth science teachers in the Bay Area, but the "Earth Science Modules" on the site are not very impressive! "Earth Science Links" has links to atmosphere and ocean information.
Princeton Earth Physics Project

Princeton University

web T,S This site focuses on earthquakes, and distributes seismometers and earthquake data for use in classrooms. It has a list of recent earthquakes and discusses some recent events in the news to explain how earthquakes work and what effects they have.
Education and Outreach

IRIS

web T,S This site is seismology-focused. Click the "educators" link. There are great one-page factsheets that are printable, and some nice animations of fault motion, but not much in the way of pre-designed activities.
Teaching Resources

Seismological Society of America

web T This site is also seismology-focused. It features "EduQuakes" columns from the SSA bulletin as well as links to earthquake teaching modules from the Southern California Earthquake Center, and seismology and earth science resources.
Science Gems

Dr. Frank Potter

web T K-12 lessons created at the UC Irvine Summer Science Institute are listed under "Special Resource Links". The site is searchable with a handy "search" feature. Not limited to earth science; includes math, physics, biology, and chemistry resources as well.
SEGWAY Project

UC Berkeley, NASA, Exploratorium, Lawrence Hall of Science, and Science Museum of Virginia

web T A well-organized and "high-tech" site featuring a large selection of astronomy, solar system, and space science lessons. The target grade level and content standards of each lesson are clearly indicated.


Science in the News
Resource Access Level
Description
The Why? Files

University of Wisconsin

S The Why? Files present the science stories behind the headlines. Current topics are generally covered and there is an archive of older stories. In Earth Science, there have been stories on volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes.
Science News

Science Service

T,S Science News is a weekly newsmagazine. The online version contains some (but I think not all) of the articles in the paper version. The site offers archives of older issues with search capability.
Science Now

American Association for the Advancement of Science

T,S Science Now contains short summaries on recent research results. Not full articles as with Discovery or Scientific American, this is more similar to press releases on particular topics. Meant to be brief and more general than Science, which is the weekly publication from AAAS. The site offers archives of older issues with search capability.
Discover Magazine

Discover Magazine

T,S An on-line version of the paper publication. Many interested articles, with related Web pages. Has a searchable index.
Scientific American

Scientific American

T,S An on-line version of the paper publication. Many interested articles, with related Web pages. Has a searchable index. Also includes "Ask the Experts".
The New York Times Science/Health Section

New York Times

T,S The New York Times provides excellent coverage of science news on a broad range of subjects. While some older stories are accessible, the primary focus is on current stories. Registration may be required to access articles.
Geotimes

American Geological Institute

T,S A monthly publication of AGI. The Web site lists the articles in the current publication and has other "teasers", but does not provide access to electronic articles.
BBC Science and Technology Headlines

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

T,S The BBC Sci/Tech News page contains textual summaries of current science stories as well as audio and video clips of features.
Earth Quest Online

DK Publishing Co.

T,S This page features a "mineral of the month", an article on a famous scientist, a quiz, and a very brief section covering science news.