Are your students excited by earth science and just itching to dig deeper? No worries! With Earth Science Week around the corner (October 10 through 16 this year!), The Walking Classroom provides plenty of support for studying this timely topic!
Part of physical science, or the study of non-living systems, earth science encompasses geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. With plenty of podcasts covering these topics, it will be a breeze (meteorological pun intended!) to address earth science in your classroom!
From Land . . .
Introduce your students to the Earth from the inside out with a study of geology. You have your pick of podcasts from which to choose!
- Geology (5-#74, STEM-#15, Complete-#132)
Continental Divide (5-#30, STEM-#22, Complete-#135)- Deserts of the World (5-#73, STEM-#20, Complete-#139)
- Layers of the Earth (4-#74, STEM-#16, Complete-#133)
- Mountains (4-#77, STEM-#21, Complete-#136)
- Rocks of the Earth’s Crust (4-#75, STEM-#17, Complete-#134)
- Hot Springs and Geysers (4-#73, STEM-#18, Complete-#137)
- Volcanoes (4-#76, STEM-#19, Complete-#138)
Covered the basics? Then focus on someone significant in the field, William Morris Davis (4-#26, STEM-#24, Complete-#160). An American geographer and geologist, Davis is known as “the father of American geography” for his explanation of how land evolves. His work on cycle of erosion was not only groundbreaking (geological pun intended!); it was influential in the field for the better part of the early twentieth century!
Be sure to make time for some hands-on activities like games and experiments to enhance your students’ understanding. If you are suddenly finding yourself surrounded by rockhounds, you can even form your own geology club!
To Sea . . .
Journey to the depths of the sea with a trio of podcasts addressing oceanography.
- Currents and Tides (5-#77, STEM-#28, Complete-#141)
- Marine Life (5-#76, STEM-#34, Complete-#142)
- The Ocean Floor (5-#75, STEM-#27, Complete-#143)
Incorporate some oceanography lesson plans! Or, try out hands-on experiments covering topics from waves and currents to marine animals and adaptations.
Seeking more to explore? Check out the online resources of the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Administration and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
. . . To Weather!
Program 4 and the STEM Program present a nice grouping of weather-related topics to investigate. Just take your pick!
- Gabriel Fahrenheit (4-#25, STEM-#6, Complete-#164)
- Water Cycle (4-#30, STEM-#12, Complete-#148)
- Hurricanes (4-#28, STEM-#13, Complete-#150)
- Tornadoes (4-#31, STEM-#14, Complete-#149)
Or pick a Program 5 (and STEM Program) podcast to learn about the basics of Meteorology (5-#11, STEM-#11, Complete-#147)!
Continue your study of the topic after your walk. Share one of the fascinating supplemental videos we have gathered. The visuals are sure to hold your kids’ attention and keep the discussion going! Extend the lesson with other ideas we have compiled.
And, if the actual weather is keeping you indoors, there are plenty of weather-related activities to engage your audience! You can even make your own thermometers!
There’s More to Explore!
Beyond the podcasts, check out this array of resources from the American Geosciences Institute!
And if you’re looking for lesson plans or earth science experiments you can use with your students, have no fear! Classroom activities to cover all earth science areas of interest abound! You can even find some great cross-curricular activities! There are a wealth of ways to connect math, language arts, and even art, with earth science!
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