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- Earth Science (2003)
Earth Science (2003)
Unit 1: Investigating Earth
Chapter 1: Earth as a System
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Rock Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Rock Cycle
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered, eroded, and reformed as they move from Earth's surface to locations deep within the crust. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 3: Models of Earth
![Screenshot of Ocean Mapping](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Ocean Mapping
Use a sonar on a boat to remotely measure the depth of an ocean at various locations. Describe multiple points on the ocean floor using their latitude, longitude, and depth. View maps of ocean depth in two and three dimensions, and use these maps to plot a safe route for ships to follow. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 2: Earth's Matter
Chapter 4: Earth's Structure and Motion
![Screenshot of Seasons: Why do we have them?](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Seasons: Why do we have them?
Learn why the temperature in the summertime is higher than it is in the winter by studying the amount of light striking the Earth. Experiment with a plate detector to measure the amount of light striking the plate as the angle of the plate is adjusted (and then use a group of plates placed at different locations on the Earth) and measure the incoming radiation on each plate. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 6: Rocks
![Screenshot of Rock Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Rock Cycle
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered, eroded, and reformed as they move from Earth's surface to locations deep within the crust. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Rock Classification](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Rock Classification
Try to classify a dozen different rock samples based on their appearance. Common characteristics of each major rock type are described. Rocks also can be classified by where they formed. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 7: Resources and the Environment
![Screenshot of Household Energy Usage](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Household Energy Usage
Explore the energy used by many household appliances, such as television sets, hair dryers, lights, computers, etc. Make estimates for how long each item is used on a daily basis to get an estimate for the total power consumed during a day, a week, a month, and a year, and how that relates to consumer costs and environmental impact. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 3: Dynamic Earth
Chapter 8: Plate Tectonics
![Screenshot of Plate Tectonics](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Plate Tectonics
Move the Earth's crust at various locations to observe the effects of the motion of the tectonic plates, including volcanic eruptions. Information about each of the major types of plate boundaries is shown, along with their locations on Earth. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 9: Volcanoes
![Screenshot of Plate Tectonics](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Plate Tectonics
Move the Earth's crust at various locations to observe the effects of the motion of the tectonic plates, including volcanic eruptions. Information about each of the major types of plate boundaries is shown, along with their locations on Earth. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 10: Earthquakes
![Screenshot of Earthquakes 1 - Recording Station](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Earthquakes 1 - Recording Station
Using an earthquake recording station, learn how to determine the distance between the station and an earthquake based on the time difference between the arrival of the primary and secondary seismic waves. Use this data to find the epicenter in the Earthquakes 2 - Location of Epicenter Gizmo. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Earthquakes 2 - Determination of Epicenter](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Earthquakes 2 - Determination of Epicenter
Locate the epicenter of an earthquake by analyzing seismic data from three recording stations. Measure difference in P- and S-wave arrival times, then use data from the Earthquakes 1 - Recording Station Gizmo to find the distance of the epicenter from each station. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Plate Tectonics](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Plate Tectonics
Move the Earth's crust at various locations to observe the effects of the motion of the tectonic plates, including volcanic eruptions. Information about each of the major types of plate boundaries is shown, along with their locations on Earth. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 4: Earth's Changing Surface
Chapter 12: Weathering, Soil, and Erosion
![Screenshot of Rock Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Rock Cycle
Play the role of a piece of rock moving through the rock cycle. Select a starting location and follow many possible paths throughout the cycle. Learn how rocks are formed, weathered, eroded, and reformed as they move from Earth's surface to locations deep within the crust. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Porosity](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Porosity
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability). 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 13: Surface Water
![Screenshot of Porosity](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Porosity
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability). 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 14: Groundwater
![Screenshot of Porosity](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Porosity
Pour water on a variety of sediment samples to find how much water can be absorbed by the sample (porosity) and how easily water flows through the sample (permeability). 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 16: Wind, Waves, and Currents
![Screenshot of Coastal Winds and Clouds](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Coastal Winds and Clouds
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 5: Atmosphere and Weather
Chapter 17: Atmosphere
![Screenshot of Greenhouse Effect](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Greenhouse Effect
Within this simulated region of land, daytime's rising temperature and the falling temperature at night can be measured, along with heat flow in and out of the system. The level of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere at any given time can be adjusted, allowing the long-term effects to be investigated. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Heat Transfer by Conduction](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Heat Transfer by Conduction
An insulated beaker of hot water is connected to a beaker of cold water with a conducting bar, and over time the temperatures of the beakers equalize as heat is transferred through the bar. Four materials (aluminum, copper, steel, and glass) are available for the bar. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Coastal Winds and Clouds](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Coastal Winds and Clouds
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Seasons: Why do we have them?](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Seasons: Why do we have them?
Learn why the temperature in the summertime is higher than it is in the winter by studying the amount of light striking the Earth. Experiment with a plate detector to measure the amount of light striking the plate as the angle of the plate is adjusted (and then use a group of plates placed at different locations on the Earth) and measure the incoming radiation on each plate. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 18: Water in the Atmosphere
![Screenshot of Relative Humidity](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Relative Humidity
Measure the temperature on wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine relative humidity. Measure the dew point by cooling a bucket of water until condensation forms on the surface. See how the relative humidity and dew point change over the course of a day. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Water Cycle](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Water Cycle
Control the path of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle. Many alternatives are presented at each stage. Determine how the water moves from one location to another, and learn how water resources are distributed in these locations. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Coastal Winds and Clouds](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Coastal Winds and Clouds
Observe daily weather conditions in a coastal region. Measure temperatures and wind speeds at any location and use this data to map convection currents that form during the day and night. Explain the origin of land breezes and sea breezes. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 19: The Atmosphere in Motion
![Screenshot of Weather Maps](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Weather Maps
Learn about standard symbols used in meteorology to construct weather maps. Rain, sleet, snow, temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure can all be recorded at two different weather stations on a map. Describe weather patterns characteristic of high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, warm fronts, and cold fronts. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 20: Weather
![Screenshot of Weather Maps](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Weather Maps
Learn about standard symbols used in meteorology to construct weather maps. Rain, sleet, snow, temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure can all be recorded at two different weather stations on a map. Describe weather patterns characteristic of high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, warm fronts, and cold fronts. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Hurricane Motion](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Hurricane Motion
Use data from up to three weather stations to predict the motion of a hurricane. The wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover and air pressure are provided for each station using standard weather symbols. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 21: Climate and Climate Change
![Screenshot of Greenhouse Effect](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Greenhouse Effect
Within this simulated region of land, daytime's rising temperature and the falling temperature at night can be measured, along with heat flow in and out of the system. The level of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere at any given time can be adjusted, allowing the long-term effects to be investigated. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 6: Earth's Oceans
Chapter 23: The Ocean Floor
![Screenshot of Ocean Mapping](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Ocean Mapping
Use a sonar on a boat to remotely measure the depth of an ocean at various locations. Describe multiple points on the ocean floor using their latitude, longitude, and depth. View maps of ocean depth in two and three dimensions, and use these maps to plot a safe route for ships to follow. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 24: The Moving Ocean
![Screenshot of Plate Tectonics](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Plate Tectonics
Move the Earth's crust at various locations to observe the effects of the motion of the tectonic plates, including volcanic eruptions. Information about each of the major types of plate boundaries is shown, along with their locations on Earth. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 7: Space
Chapter 25: Earth's Moon
![Screenshot of Moonrise, Moonset, and Phases](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Moonrise, Moonset, and Phases
Gain an understanding of moonrise and moonset times by observing the relative positions of Earth and the Moon along with a view of the Moon from Earth. A line shows the horizon for a person standing on Earth so that moonrise and moonset times can be determined. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Phases of the Moon](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Phases of the Moon
Understand the phases of the Moon by observing the positions of the Moon, Earth and Sun. A view of the Moon from Earth is shown on the right as the Moon orbits Earth. Learn the names of Moon phases and in what order they occur. Click Play to watch the Moon go around, or click Pause and drag the Moon yourself. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 26: The Sun and the Solar System
![Screenshot of Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
Learn Kepler's three laws of planetary motion by examining the orbit of a planet around a star. The initial position, velocity, and mass of the planet can be varied as well as the mass of the star. The foci and centers of orbits can be displayed and compared to the location of the star. The area swept out by the planet in a given time period can be measured, and data on orbital radii and periods can be plotted in several ways. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 27: The Planets and the Solar System
![Screenshot of Comparing Earth and Venus](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Comparing Earth and Venus
Observe the motions of Venus and Earth as the planets move around the Sun. Measure the length of a day and a year on Earth and Venus, and compare the length of a solar day to the length of a sidereal day. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Solar System Explorer](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Solar System Explorer
Survey the solar system, observing the length of a year and the orbital path of each object. The positions of the eight official planets are displayed, as well as one dwarf planet, Pluto. Learn about Kepler's Laws and how planets are classified. 5 Minute Preview
Chapter 28: Stars and Galaxies
![Screenshot of H-R Diagram](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
H-R Diagram
A collection of stars visible from Earth can be arranged and classified based on their color, temperature, luminosity, radius, and mass. This can be done using one or two-dimensional plots, including a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of luminosity vs. temperature. 5 Minute Preview
![Screenshot of Herschel Experiment](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Herschel Experiment
Shine sunlight through a prism and use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different regions of the spectrum. The thermometer can be dragged through the visible spectrum and beyond. This recreates the experiment of William Herschel that led to the discovery of infrared radiation in 1800. 5 Minute Preview
Unit 8: Earth's History
Chapter 29: Studying the Past
![Screenshot of Half-life](/Assets/img/blank.gif)
Half-life
Investigate the decay of a radioactive substance. The half-life and the number of radioactive atoms can be adjusted, and theoretical or random decay can be observed. Data can be interpreted visually using a dynamic graph, a bar chart, and a table. Determine the half-lives of two sample isotopes as well as samples with randomly generated half-lives. 5 Minute Preview
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Start teaching with 20-40 Free Gizmos. See the full list.
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About STEM Cases
Students assume the role of a scientist trying to solve a real world problem. They use scientific practices to collect and analyze data, and form and test a hypothesis as they solve the problems.
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Each STEM Case uses realtime reporting to show live student results.
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STEM Cases take between 30-90 minutes for students to complete, depending on the case.
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