Katie Morag Delivers the Mail
Introducing children to the purpose of addresses and how to plan routes is approached through presenting a story in which these topics are central.
"That Broke Down the Ethnic Barriers": A Steelworker Describes the Decline of Ethnic Hostility in th
Tensions among industrial workers of different ethnic backgrounds often proved a barrier to unionization in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was, for example, a key factor in the defeat of the 1919 steel strike. In the 1930s, however, that began to change, particularly under the auspices of the CIO. In this 1974 interview done by historian Peter Gotlieb in 1974, Polish-American steelworker Joe Rudiak recalled how ethnic hostility declined in the "CIO days," particularly amon
Suspicion of Subversion: Congressional Conservatives Attack the Federal Theater Project
Part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) was one indication of the breadth of that program. Perhaps best known for its trenchant political satire and innovative presentations, the FTP actually represented a much broader range of activity. But the FTP's mandate proved fragile. When the House Committee on Un-American Activities was established in May 1938, one of its first targets was the FTP, which it labeled a subversive organization. When FTP
"He'll Come Home in a Box": The Spanish Influenza of 1918 Comes to Montana
In 1918 and 1919, the Spanish influenza killed 550,000 people in the United States and 20 to 40 million worldwide. In a 1982 interview with Laurie Mercier, Loretta Jarussi of Bearcreek, Montana, described how people would pass through that tiny town seemingly healthy, only to be reported dead two days later. Her father went undiagnosed for many weeks and had plans to go to a nearby hot springs to rest. She believed that her father's death was averted only because the son of the local doctor was
University of California's Museum of Paleontology: Geologic Timeline
University of California's Museum of Paleontology has created a hyperlinked Geologic Timeline with all sorts of details about each time unit that may be useful later in the course. Each hyperlink contains a variety of information including stratigraphy, ancient life, localities and tectonics associated with that specific time period. Users can also link to an Introduction to Geology page and a description of the Museum's geology wing.
Reinforcing quantitative skills with applied research on tombstone-weathering rates.
This Journal of Geoscience Education article describes a tombstone weathering exercise that reinforces quantitative skills with applied research. The article describes an exercise designed and carried out by students in a surficial processes course. Students measured the rates of tombstone weathering, compiled and analyzed data. The complexity of the data involved in this exercise helps students demonstrate for themselves that mathematical analysis can give meaning to data.
Radar Resources
The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) provides radar data and derived products are on their Radar Resources webpage. The system from which these data are collected is the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler network (WSR-88 Radar) which began operation at a few sites in 1991. Users can get and view online radar data, access products and publications, review data inventories, access the online library and find information regarding NCDC radar research. Data sets include a storm events datab
Model United Nations Headquarters
Model United Nations (UN) is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. This Headquarters homepage offers an 'ask an ambassador' section, an overview of the Model UN, FAQ, information on how to get started and how to prepare for a conference. Users can also follow links to several interactive forums, a conference calendar, additional links and e-news.
Early Image: A collection of illustrations from popular sources.
Early Image is a collection of extinct-animal paintings and sketches produced before 1923 (and therefore in the public domain). Some of the works are of Victorian age and may lend atmosphere to a class emphasizing the history of geology. The works are divided into two categories; prehistoric life before KT and prehistoric life after KT.
A Golden Opportunity for Science
A Golden Opportunity for Science is an educational exercise developed by the Bureau of Land Management. This exercise uses activities about gold to teach science, centering on the following information: how the pursuit of gold shaped society; metaphors, myths, lores and legends about gold; the mineral properties of gold; lode deposits and placer deposits; mining and recovery of gold; and the technology of heap leaching. There is also a debate between different interest groups involving a small g
Rocks and Weathered Rocks
In this lab, students examine what happens when rocks weather, how different minerals weather at different rates, and what the ultimate byproducts are. This website builds context for lab use, details the learning goals and teaching notes, provides teaching materials and lab assessment recommendations, and additional references and resources.
European Starlings and Woodpeckers
In this Starting Point investigative case, students will explore niche competition and population ecology by developing plans for species density studies. They will also develop a plan to re-establish a species (the woodpecker) in an area where there are almost none left. Users can access information regarding learning goals, context for use, teaching notes and tips, teaching materials, assessment hints, references and topics covered.
Cemetery Geology
This field exercise determines the susceptibility of different rocks to weathering, and, using the dates on the tombstones, estimates some weathering rates. Placing the field lab in context for use, this site describes the learning goals, teaching notes and materials, assessment recommendations, and provides links to other resources and references.
Peer Review
This page is a portal to an in-depth exploration of integrating student peer review into introductory-level geoscience classes. It includes an introduction to the concept of peer review, reasons and methods for its use, examples of electronic peer review in a geoscience context, and extensive references. This page is part of the larger Starting Point collection.
Describe and Interpret Images: Folded Strata
This Starting Point exercise asks students to describe and interpret an image of folded strata at Dent De Morcles. There are several questions students must address with respect to the image. This Starting Point website includes suggestions for using this technique, as well as teaching notes, learning goals, and extensive additional resource links and references.
Presidential Transition
For nearly half a century, Paul Nitze was one of the chief architects of U.S. policy toward the Soviet Union. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Nitze assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs. In this video segment, Nitze describes key issues confronting the incoming Kennedy administration. This transition period focused on the goals of the country's nuclear-strategic policy; how to approach crises in every region, from the Middle East to Vietnam; and whether t
Radio Inside
A young man finds himself in a love triangle involving his brother and his brother's girlfriend, so he turns to Jesus, by calling him on a pay phone. An experimental narrative, 'Radio Inside' explores the struggle between faith and flesh, where black-and-white imagery is contrasted with the protagonist's own thoughts presented in the form of music from various radio channels, from gospel to rock and roll. Contemporary in its style and preoccupations, 'Radio Inside' expresses a particular kind of
Interstellar Real Estate – Defining the Habitable Zone
What makes Earth the perfect home for life as we know it? Students in this activity explore the orbital characteristics a planetary home needs to support Earth-like life forms.
Designer Genes for a Designer World
In this series of guided inquiry activities, students explore how organisms adapt to their environments through changes in their genetic codes. The learner will: create make-believe creatures and environments that have specific characteristics; rate the success of each creature in a randomly assigned environment by examining which of the creature's characteristics help, hinder, or have no effect on the creature's success in each environment; write the genetic code for their creatures from a lis
EngineSim and RangeGames Downloads
EngineSim was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center in an effort to foster hands-on, inquiry-based learning in science and math. EngineSim is a simulator that models the design and testing of jet engines. The program works in two modes: Design Mode or Tunnel Test Mode. In the Design Mode, you can change design variables including the flight conditions, the engine size, the inlet performance, the turbo machinery compressor and turbine performance, the combustors or burner performance, or th
