Earth Science is a subject that teens study between seventh and tenth grades. It is the study of the earth and what is on it--including rocks, the makeup of the ground, the air and water, and the minerals. Sometimes, a general class in Earth Science will touch on things like plant and animal life, although those subjects are generally taught separately. Earth Science activities for teens can help heighten interest, delve into important subjects and clarify instructions.
Rock Classification
Classifying rocks is an important step in Earth Science. Send teens outside to collect several types of rocks. Stress that they should get the rocks from different places--woodsy areas, parking lots, creek beds and flat fields. Then, bring the rocks back to the classroom. Students can use their textbooks, Internet sites and posters around the room to classify the rocks into their correct categories. To incorporate technology, have students take digital photos of the rocks, label the photos and insert them into a slid show about the various types of rocks they are studying.
Plate Tectonics
The makeup of the earth and its plates are very important subjects in Earth Science. Have students create Styrofoam plates that are 1 inch thick and about 1 foot by 1 foot long. Then, float the pieces that they've made in a vat of water. Demonstrate how difficult it is to shove one plate under the other, and what happens to the one on top--which should rise above the water as you do it. Explain that the plates are similar to floating pieces of Styrofoam, and that when they bump into each other, one must sink below and one must rise above. Use illustrations in the textbook to help you explain plate tectonics.
Geological Maps
Have students visit the U.S. Geological Society website and download maps of the U.S. showing plate movement, natural landforms and the different heights of the various areas. Study the maps together in class, and then have students create topographical maps using clay and other sources. These maps can be displayed around the classroom.
Tags: Earth Science, Have students, important subjects, rise above, students create