Understanding how convection moves many Earth processes by simulating the convection process with beets and water.

Build models of structures and simulating earthquakes on them to examine how different magnitudes of earthquakes affect structures in different ways.

Students will be able to make connections between the different spheres of the Earth system by observing their outdoors and categorizing their observations.

Understand how systems work by examining objects that work as a system.

Investigate the properties and origins of soil by making and recording observations on different soil samples.

Examine how heat and pressure affect rocks by making observations of crayon shavings that are placed under heat and pressure.

Using indicator solutions to find the pH and concentrations of nitrates, phosphates and potassium in three soil samples.

Understand the significance of different seismic waves by recognizing how they travel through the earth.

Relate characteristics of individual fossils and fossil assemblages to probable living environments by investigating fossils and appling their interpretation to models of past Earth conditions that might be very different from present day at any given location.

Learn to identify minerals according to physical properties by using color, luster, Moh’s hardness scale, the streak test and an identification sheet.