Earth Connections -- previously a column in our journal Washington Geology, now a stand-alone publication -- was created to help parents, homeschoolers, and teachers with K-12 geoscience education. Our aim is to provide suggestions or sources for low-cost or free, easy-to-use materials, lessons, activities, or field trips.
Earth Connections No. 1 [PDF; 95 Kb]
originally published as an insert in Washington Geology, v. 27, no. 1, July 1999
- Sources for free teacher materials
- Sources for earth science career information
- Mount Rainier National Park's 100th birthday
Earth Connections No. 2 [PDF; 118 Kb]: Simple Experiments for Bringing Geology to Life
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 27, no. 2/3/4, December 1999
- Shake, Rattle, and Liquefy: This experiment shows what happens when sediments liquefy during an earthquake
- Condensing Geologic Time, or The Art and Science of Making Fossils: This experiment teaches about the process of fossil burial, preservation, and discovery
Earth Connections No. 3 [PDF; 899 Kb]
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 28, no. 1/2, September 2000
- Hills, Scales, and Hiking Trails: This lesson teaches how to recognize topographic features and human-made structures on a topographic map
- Virtual Vacation: This lesson encourages students to visit the national parks on the Internet and explore their geologic wonders
Earth Connections No. 4 [PDF; 921 Kb]
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 28, no. 3, May 2001
- Reading a Wall: This lesson shows how observing differences in shape, size, color, mineralogy, and other characteristics of the stones in a wall can tell a lot about the history of the wall and of the stones themselves
- Do Rocks Last Forever?: This lesson contains two experiments that illustrate the effects of weathering on rocks
Earth Connections No. 5 [PDF; 120 Kb]
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 29, no. 1/2, September 2001
- Back to School—Tips for Classroom Speakers
Earth Connections No. 6 [PDF; 142 Kb]
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 29, no. 3/4, December 2001
- Mudpile Mountain: This lesson demonstrates the effects of erosion and deposition on a mountain
Earth Connections No. 7 [PDF; 105 Kb]
originally published in Washington Geology, v. 30, no. 3/4, October 2002
- Natural Resources and Your Holiday Tree: This lesson is about the natural resources go into manufacturing holiday decorations and gifts
Earth Connections No. 8 [PDF; 1.1 Mb]
March 2003
- Mining Cut-out Collage Lesson: This lesson illustrates the interrelationship of mining and society
- Everyone Needs a Rock: This lesson illustrates the different ways in which rocks are valued