Describes an activity that uses a simulation of glacial movement to stimulate middle school students' interest in geology. (JRH)

Points out that large earthquakes can take place not only on faults that cut the earth's surface but also on blind faults under folded terrain. Describes four examples of fold earthquakes. Discusses the fold earthquakes using several diagrams and pictures. (YP)

Stream alterations can occur in channels or in the watershed. This article describes the environmental impacts of channel manipulation. (PR)

Describes activities in which students explore composting. Enables students to learn that all organic material returns naturally to the earth through a process of decomposition that involves many living organisms. (JRH)

Describes how to construct a safe, inexpensive rocket for use with young children. (MKR)

Presents student survey results (n=708) of misconceptions held regarding the atmosphere. Results indicated a basic lack of understanding concerning atmospheric processes and phenomena. Although misconceptions generally decreased with increasing education, some seemed to be firmly rooted. (PR)

Describes two activities to help students think about and understand the concepts of star brightness and apparent and absolute magnitude, as well as how a star's location in the universe affects these characteristics. (JRH)

A survey listing 21 major oceanographic concepts and several sub-concepts was mailed to all Ohio earth science teachers. Respondents indicated that most of the oceanography topics taught were geologically-oriented. Oceanography concepts relating to ecology, chemical, physical or life science are considered less important. (DH)

Presented is an in-class earth science activity on the weathering of rocks. The materials, procedures, and results of this activity are discussed. (CW)

Investigates the nature of catastrophic volcanism and the rifting process. Describes two kinds of evidence: quantitative descriptions of rock melting and a wide range of observations. Discusses examples of continent growth in the North Atlantic, India and the Seychelles islands, and the South Atlantic. (YP)

Describes a long-term project, Moonwatch, which introduces the relationships between the earth, sun, and moon, highlighting the broad conceptual themes of patterns and change. (MKR)

Presents three activities that uses three dimensional models to help teach geologic concepts such as geologic land forms and rock strata. (ZWH)

Gold's physical and chemical properties are without equal for use in high-tech fields such as medicine, space, architecture, and electronics. This article, with an accompanying poster on gold, contains the following sections: Lore and Legends; Matter, Metals, and Minerals; The Origins of Gold; Mining and Recovery; Cultural Crossroads; Modern…

Describes a lab involving a cloud formation activity that uses the constructivist learning model to get students more involved in creating the lab. Enables students to develop a greater understanding of the concepts involved and more interest in the lab's outcomes. (JRH)

Children in grades two and five explained such weather phenomena as wind, clouds, thunder, lightning, rain, snow, and rainbows during interviews. Results indicate that most students in both grades were at a stage of nonreligious finalism and do not use true causality in explanations. Implications for teaching are discussed. (DH)