Introduces activities published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that can be used to explain the physical properties of a thunderstorm. Activities include cloud formation and the first step of thunderstorm development, cycle of a thunderstorm, the nature of lightning, ice in a thunderstorm, and tornado warning. Lists…

Evaluates the effect of an experimental introductory undergraduate course on female students' confidence and interest in geoscience and their attitudes toward classroom participation and praxis. Concludes that students in the course showed no significant change in confidence, modest gains in interest, and highly significant improvements in…

Reviews scientific evidence for the age of the earth, solar system, galaxy, and universe instead of following creationist beliefs about the history of Earth, the universe, and Earth's biota. (ASK)

Makes the case that religions perceive their doctrines not as opinions or subjective personal preferences, but as demonstrable facts, supported by historical documentation, experience, observation, and logical inference. Asserts that when scientists deal with issues like creationism, the widespread failure to understand how religions regard their…

Part of a series which aims to promote the use of mathematics in the undergraduate geosciences curriculum. Focuses on mathematical set theory and classification of rocks. (Author/MM)

Discusses students' misconceptions on evaporation of water considering the errors in geoscience textbooks. (YDS)

Introduces the analemma, a figure eight pattern of the sun's location over the course of a year. Presents a year-long science activity and explains procedures for indoor and outdoor models. (YDS)

Explains geoscience as a career choice and identifies it as an excellent tool for teaching mathematics and science. (YDS)

Reports on the use of 3D topographic models to teach Earth Science. Relates how students at a middle school made cardboard cut-out models to illustrate plateaus, a volcanic mountain, and other landforms. Provides teaching suggestions for the activity and a grading rubric. (MM)

Subjects like Earth science often rely on "ready made" hands-on materials such as kits and modules to support understanding and science inquiry. However, sometimes the materials need adaptations to make sure they suit students' and teachers needs. As part of the Allegheny Schools Science Education and Technology (ASSET) program, the authors…

During Earth Science Week (October 8-14, 2006), millions of citizen scientists worldwide will be sampling groundwater, monitoring weather, touring quarries, exploring caves, preparing competition projects, and visiting museums and science centers to learn about Earth science. The American Geological Institute organizes this annual event to…

Discusses how to address the issue of a course becoming too popular. Uses as an example the Age of Dinosaurs course at the University of Texas at Dallas. Describes some issues that can arise such as classroom overflow, overwhelmed labs, cheating, testing methods, and asynchronous instruction. Recommends looking to web-based course management…

As an instructor in courses for prospective teachers, I am interested in my students' ideas and ways in which they reconstruct their ideas in conversations about science. In the case study presented here, I reflect upon (a) ways in which I engaged prospective teachers in thinking together about their observations of a natural phenomenon, the…

Dubbed a "dialogue of life," community immersion in preservice science-teacher education aims at providing a true-to-life and empowering opportunity for prospective science teachers (both elementary and secondary) to become active participants in community life through field and service-learning experiences. It consists of a three-unit…

This paper focuses on a learning strategy designed to overcome students' difficulty in understanding evolutionary change within the framework of geological time. Incorporated into the learning program "From Dinosaurs to Darwin: Evolution from the Perspective of Time," this strategy consists of four scaffolded investigations in which…