pH Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the pH of water. Students use either a pH meter or pH paper to measure the pH. If using the pH meter, the meter needs to be calibrated with buffer solutions that have pH values of 4, 7, and 10.
Nitrate Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the nitrate-nitrogen of water. Students will use a nitrate kit to measure the nitrate-nitrogen in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the nitrate kit used.
Salinity Titration Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the salinity of the water using a salinity titration kit. Students will measure the salinity of saltwater using a salinity titration kit.
Relative Humidity Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure relative humidity using both a sling psychrometer and a digital hygrometer. Intended outcomes are that students learn to quantify humidity and that there is a limit to the amount of water vapor that the air can hold. Students gain insight into why rain drops and snow flakes form and why there is precipitation. Supporting background materials for both student and teacher are included.
Dissolved Oxygen Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. Students use a dissolved oxygen kit or meter to measure the dissolved oxygen in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the dissolved oxygen kit or meter used. The meter requires calibration before use.
Electrical Conductivity Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the conductivity of water at a freshwater hydrology site. Students calibrate and take electrical conductivity measurements using an electrical conductivity meter. Students estimate the total dissolved solids from the electrical conductivity measurements.
Model a Catchment Basin
The purpose of this resource is to introduce what a catchment basin is and how it works. Students will make a 3-dimensional model of a catchment basin to understand how water moves through the basin and explore how water is affected when there are changes in the basin.
Alkalinity Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to meaure the alkalinity of a water sample. Students will use an alkalinity kit to measure the alkalinity in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the alkalinity kit used.
Soil Particle Size Distribution Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to sure the distribution of different sizes of soil particles in each horizon of a soil profile. Using dry, sieved soil from a horizon, students mix the soil with water and a dispersing solution to completely separate the particles from each other. Students shake the mixture to fully suspend the soil in the water. The soil particles are then allowed to settle out of suspension, and the specific gravity and temperature of the suspension are measured using a hydrome
The Documentary Project for Refugee Youth
The Documentary Project for Refugee Youth is a collaboration between refugee youth, Raeshma Razvi, Global Action Project, the International Rescue Committee and other community organizations and artists in New York City. The Project revolves around a core group of 12 refugee youth living in New York ...
Growing Slime Mold
This is a short activity for growing the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. It includes materials needed, a three-step procedure, and helpful tips. The site is part of the Turbulent Landscapes exhibit at the Exploratorium. Links to other activities and features of the exhibit are also included.
Extreme Global Makeover
Modernization is an important issue in the New York State Global History and Geography curriculum. Students are expected to understand how modernization may impact such areas as society, politics, the economy, and the environment. In the Global History and Geography curriculum, a study of historical examples of modernization includes examples of attempts to transform society, such as the Meiji Restoration or Kemal Ataturk. In this lesson, two PBS WIDE ANGLE documentaries -- "To Have and Have Not
Girls Speak Out
Today, over 115 million children have never set foot inside a school. The fact is that for children living in developing countries, the dream of a first day of school is yet to be realized. The daily realities of poverty, political instability, regional conflict, geography, and cultural or traditional values all play a role to varying degrees -- and the issue of gender disparity makes this fact even more staggering. Full and equal access to education (Article 26) as outlined in the 'Universal De
Earth's history in 4.56 meters: constructing a timeline with calculator tape
In this short activity, students make a timeline of Earth's history using calculator tape. The tape is 4.56 meters long, so that one billion years is equal to one meter. This exercise is designed to introduce students to the scale of Earth's history and help them gain a familiarity with some major events. It also teaches about scaling, the metric system, as well as the concepts of large numbers and deep time. The activity may be used in an introductory geoscience course. Learning goals, context
FishBase
This webpage presents the searchable section of FishBase, a global information system with all you ever wanted to know about fishes. FishBase is a relational database with information that may be useful to professionals such as research scientists, fishery managers or zoologists. The site has pictures and information on more than 28500 species of fish.
GEOLogic: How Much of the State is Wet
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to match up students with their home state, and their states with the area and percentage of area of surface water that they contain, as well as where each of the states rank nationally in terms of water area. Students are given clues from various perspectives to help them deduce
The Floating Lithosphere - Isostacy
This activity lays the mathematical underpinning for studying isostasy in the earth. Students numerically and then analytically determine the relations governing the depth of compensation in a variety of situations including a block of ice floating in water. They recreate spreadsheets shown in a Powerpoint module with formulas that answer various pieces of the overall question. This module is the first in a set of three exploring isostasy, and was designed for an undergraduate class where studen
Winter Field Lab: Pond Hydrology
This field activity may be implemented during late winter or early spring when things have not quite thawed. From a frozen pond, students collect bathymetric data, measure water temperature and conductivity, locate ground-water inputs, and extract a sediment core. Back in the lab, they make hand and computer-contoured bathymetric maps, temperature and conductivity cross-sections, and run visual-core log, loss-on-ignition, and magnetic susceptibility tests. Then they draw conclusions about water
Winter Field Lab: Snow Hydrology
This field activity may be implemented during late winter or early spring when things have not quite thawed. Students collect their own data from a snowpack, including measuring water equivalent, identifying types of snow metamorphism, finding evidence of precipitation patterns, and judging possible snowpack hazards. Back in the lab, students evaluate their data, draw conclusions, and make a report. This activity is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level geohydrology courses.
Angle of Repose
In this activity, students explore how different sediment properties influence slope stability. They make piles of sediments with varied grain size, angularity, and water content and measure the maximum slope at which the grains are stable. The results are then used to examine the nature, frequency, timing, and causes of landslide events in Seattle. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
