Earth Science

This is a selection of resources from the Association for Science Education (ASE) which support earth science teaching for students aged 11-16.

Rock cycle: A PowerPoint template that students use to produce their own ICT presentation based on the formation of the different types of rock. This is approached through reference to specific websites, which are accessed through hyperlinks in the PowerPoint template.

Students are expected to use the information from these websites to answer questions in the template, thus preparing their own presentation, which can also be turned into a hard copy by using the tools in PowerPoint to put six slides onto one side of A4.

Viewing crystals: Not sure how? This is a step-by-step video clip guide to producing salol crystals for viewing under a microscope.

Erosion of rocks: A practical activity using Plaster of Paris cubes to represent rocks, students can investigate changes to rock mass during erosion. This activity comes complete with a ready-made Excel spreadsheet, which will produce a graph of students' results, together with a question sheet to be completed on screen. The question sheet may also be printed off for students to complete away from the computer, and there is a graph sheet if a teacher would prefer them to produce a hand-drawn graph.

Erosion model: How can you make one? This video clip illustrates one way of building a large scale demonstration model of erosion along the course of a river, using a long trough and sand. The clip shows the 'river bank' eroding as water travels through it.

Seismic waves and eruptions: Seismic Waves is a software modelling programme which illustrates how seismic waves travel through the Earth after an earthquake. The programme allows students to see a variety of data about recent seismic events and to see how S and P waves from these events are transmitted through the Earth.

Seismic Eruptions maps the occurrence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions since 1960. This would be very useful in helping pupils to understand more about the relationship between plate tectonics and seismic activity.

Within both programmes it is possible to control the amount of data that is displayed. In their original form the graphics are overly complex for the average Key Stage Four student and contain information in excess of what is required at GCSE although it may be considered to be appropriate as extension/ enrichment work for the most able or those taking separate sciences. The instructions given in the technician notes allow for the setting up of a simplified version which is more appropriate within the general context of Key Stage Four.

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/rxfd