Hunter Hall

This webquest has students visit the website https://geology.blogs.wm.edu/ to research the geology of Virginia. The assignment is broken up into physiographic provinces, features many helpful images, and introduces students to the geologic timescale. This can be completed in class as a lab or given to complete as sub plans.

The Mars rovers Spirit, Curiosity and Opportunity have collectively driven over 35 miles on Mars. Some days a rover may drive less than one meter, or not at all. Other days may see the rover drive over 100 meters. The engineers who plan the drives, called Rover Planners, must define their criteria for success–what the rover must do for the drive to be considered a success. They must also take into consideration the constraints that may limit the rover’s ability to successfully complete a drive.

We all know that rocks are not the most fun thing in Earth Science. This activity gets students up and moving (if you want them to) or can be completed all as a packet. In this activity, students get to choose what stage in the rock cycle they want to start as (Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, Sediment, or Lava/Magma), but then they'll roll dice to determine the rest of their journey. Watch out for getting trapped as sediments or magma for a long, long time!

Calculate the density of 8 mystery liquids. Draw in color what each mystery liquid looks like in its numbered box. First, measure the mass (minus the mass of the beaker ____ g). Then, use the beaker itself to measure the volume. Lastly, calculate the density and identify the liquid using the formula: D = m / v Once you have identified all substances, work with the teacher to create a density tower! (Draw & label the tower in color)

Mapping LabPart A: Parts of a Map Part B: Using a Map Scale Part C: Using a Compass Rose Part D: Label the Continents and Oceans Part E: Mapping the Earth Part F: Latitude & Longitude

Try to trace each of the items back to their original source, the Earth. The Sun’s energy, of course, is important to all of these. For example, the egg you had for breakfast came from a chicken which ate grain which grew from the Earth.

The word “coquina” is Spanish for “tiny shell” and is the name given to organic sedimentary rocks that are a mixture of shell fragments and quartz grains (sand) held together by calcium carbonate. It is essentially a rare form of limestone. In this hands-on lab, students will use pasta shells and glue to simulate the lithification of coquina.

This research assignment can be completed as part of your Geologic History and Fossils unit. It makes a great assignment to be completed when you have a substitute or to just keep in your emergency substitute folder. It can be paired with many different websites and builds research skills.