The rocks and soil that make up Earth's surface are constantly being affected by a variety of forces, ranging from heat and frost to water and wind. In Weathering and Erosion, students will discover the natural forces that cause weathering, erosion and deposition, and see the many effects that these processes have on Earth's surface. Students will examine natural structures around the world and see how weathering and erosion have affected them, while discovering ways in which people have become better prepared to battle these forces through conservation. In addition, a fun, hands-on experiment demonstrates how running water erodes different types of soil. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Water is vital to all life on Earth and covers nearly three-fourths of our planet's surface. Where does it come from? Will we use it up eventually? In The Water Cycle, students learn that Earth has the same water supply today as it did millions of years ago. Examine the amazing process by which water is continually recycled and transported from place to place through evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Also find out how energy from the sun drives the water cycle and how the atmosphere prevents water from slipping away from Earth. A fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates how an artesian well works, while a visit to a desalination plant showcases how salt water is purified. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Volcanoes are one of Earth's most fascinating and destructive forces. In Volcanoes, students will get an up-close look at these fiery formations, discovering how they form and what causes them to erupt. Learn the difference between magma and lava, and discover the characteristics that enable volcanologists to classify a volcano as cinder cone, shield or composite. Examine the anatomy of an active volcano, and learn about historical eruptions that have left a mark on our planet. A fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates how a tilt meter is used to predict when a volcano might erupt by charting changes in the slope of the surrounding ground, while a visit to Horseshoe Lake at Mammoth Mountain, California, highlights an invisible sign of volcanic activity -- poisonous carbon dioxide fumes. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A teacher's guide is available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
From the highest mountains to the deepest chasms, Earth's terrain is comprised of varying levels and unique features. In Topography, students will learn how the features of Earth's surface are arranged while exploring the art and science of re-creating these terrains on maps. See how forces like earthquakes, volcanoes, water and wind have changed Earth's surface over countless centuries, and learn why studying these changes is important to learning about our planet's past and future. See how cartographers map the floor of the oceans, while an informative demonstration shows students how they can make a simple topographic map of their own. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
The study of rocks is an essential part of studying the age and evolution of Earth. In Rocks, students will examine the characteristics of each of the major types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. From stalactites and stalagmites to intrusive and extrusive rocks, students will examine how rocks are formed in this exciting program. A visit to Mammoth Mountain in California showcases the interesting rock formation known as the Obsidian Dome, while a fun, hands-on demonstration illustrates how different sized-particles of sediment settle out of water at different rates. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Natural resources are created by Earth's processes and used as a source of energy for all life on Earth. While some are created over the course of millions of years, others are continually generated each and every day. In Natural Resources, students will examine both renewable and nonrenewable resources, touching on their sources and many uses. Discover the best methods of conserving nonrenewable resources, including how they are recycled and cleaned. A fun, hands-on investigation illustrates how students can observe the many different kinds of particles that can be found in the air, while a geothermal plant provides the setting for a look at how people can turn volcanic heat into electricity. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Ninety percent of Earth is made of minerals, natural materials that form the building blocks of the solid structures on our planet. In Minerals, students will examine the makeup of a mineral as they review such properties as hardness, luster, cleavage, streak, color and density. Learn where minerals can be found, and see the many different uses of these natural wonders, which include powder, tools, jewelry and medicine. A visit to an old silver mine shows how miners removed valuable silver ore over 100 years ago, while a fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates the crystalline structure of minerals. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Ninety percent of Earth is made of minerals, natural materials that form the building blocks of the solid structures on our planet. In Minerals, students will examine the makeup of a mineral as they review such properties as hardness, luster, cleavage, streak, color and density. Learn where minerals can be found, and see the many different uses of these natural wonders, which include powder, tools, jewelry and medicine. A visit to an old silver mine shows how miners removed valuable silver ore over 100 years ago, while a fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates the crystalline structure of minerals. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Earth is filled with a variety of land formations -- from mountains to valleys, canyons to plains. But what's the difference between a folded and a block mountain? A mesa and a butte? A bay and a peninsula? In Land Formations, students learn the answers to these and other questions as they examine how forces such as weathering and continental drift have impacted the rise and fall of land on Earth. A fun, hands-on demonstration showcases the effects of the seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges and sinking in deep trenches, while a visit to the dramatic Devil's Postpile illustrates how the forces of nature can shape and define the land. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
The geological history of Earth covers billions of years! In Geological History, students will examine a time line of Earth, tracking its violent beginnings and ever-changing face. Discover the four major segments of geologic time (the Precambrian and the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras), and learn about the plant and animal life that developed during each era. A journey under the sea shows how geologists study the layers of rock that lie deep under the ocean floor, while a fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates how geologists can "read" unusual formations in rock layers. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
The geological history of Earth covers billions of years! In Geological History, students will examine a time line of Earth, tracking its violent beginnings and ever-changing face. Discover the four major segments of geologic time (the Precambrian and the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras), and learn about the plant and animal life that developed during each era. A journey under the sea shows how geologists study the layers of rock that lie deep under the ocean floor, while a fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates how geologists can "read" unusual formations in rock layers. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Fossils are historic blueprints -- remnants of plant and animal life that preceded us. In Fossils, students will examine molds, casts and imprints of various living things, and discover how scientists place the age of these ancient remains and the methods they use to preserve them for future generations. Find out how paleontologists discover fossils and what these discoveries tell us about the past. Take a trip to the Petrified Forest, and examine tree trunks that were turned to stone millions of years ago. A fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates for students how they can create four different simulated environments in order to test each for its ability to preserve remains. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
Fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago as part of a natural process in which the remains of dead plants and animals were buried and placed under extreme pressure and heat. Coal, oil and natural gas are the most important fossil fuels. But what are they used for, how do we find them and what can we do to preserve our limited supplies? Students will find the answers to these questions and more in Fossil Fuels as they explore these nonrenewable resources of Earth. A fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates a creative alternative to using fossil fuels in the creation of plastic and a visit to an oil platform showcases how this valuable fossil fuel is pumped up from the bottom of the ocean. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.
In Earthquakes, students discover how the underground movement of rocks, along with stresses on Earth's crust, produce surface-level tremors. Learn how scientists determine where the hypocenter and epicenter of a quake occur while exploring the destructive power of seismic waves. Investigate some of the most destructive earthquakes of the 20th century, and learn how seismologists predict where they will occur. A visit to the University of California at Berkeley showcases the use of a "shaker table" by engineers designing buildings, while a fun, hands-on investigation demonstrates how students can build a simple model of a seismograph and put it through a simulated earthquake. Part of the Earth Science in Action DVD Series. A Teacher's Guide is included and available online. 23 minutes. Grades 5 to 8.