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From the course by American Museum of Natural History

The Dynamic Earth: A Course for Educators

95 оценки

American Museum of Natural History

The Dynamic Earth: A Course for Educators

95 оценки

The AMNH course The Dynamic Earth: A Course for Educators provides students with an overview of the origin and evolution of the Earth. Informed by the recently released Next Generation Science Standards, this course examines geological time scales, radiometric dating, and how scientists “read the rocks.” We will explore dramatic changes in the Earth over the last 4 billion years, including how the evolution of life on Earth has affected its atmosphere. In addition to looking at geology on a global scale, participants will take to their own backyards to explore and share their local geologic history. Course participants will bring their understanding of the dynamic Earth - along with content resources, discussion questions, and assignments - into their own teaching.

From the lesson

Introduction & The Mystery of Geologic Time

You will explore the ways scientists study the rock record to determine the geologic history of the Earth.

Course Overview2:20

Meet the Instructors

Edmond Mathez, Ph.D.
Curator and Professor
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ro Kinzler, Ph.D.
Senior Director
Science Education

[MUSIC]

How do we understand Earth?

How is it evolved?

How does it work?

Fundamentally, we look at rocks.

And that's what geologists do.

By observing rocks, by figuring out what minerals they're made of,

by determining their ages, we geologists deduce the processes that operate on

the planet, and we piece together its geological history.

This course presents Earth through the eyes of a geologist.

You'll learn how to read the rocks.

My name is Ed Monte, I'm a geologist at the American Museum of Natural History.

I study lavas and other rocks that were once molten to understand Earth.

>> Understanding Earth begins with observing it.

In this course, you'll be doing just that.

Early on, you'll use a digital camera and a notebook to make observations about

a geologic feature in your area, and you'll develop the tools to read

these rocks in order to piece together a small part of our planets history.

I'm Ruth Kinsler and I'm the Senior Director for

science education here at the American Museum of Natural History.

>> We start with the concept of geologic time,

a very difficult concept to master because of its enormity.

But if we can master that concept and understand how to read the rocks,

then we can peer into the distant past.

For example, we'll travel back 3.8 billion years to discover an atmosphere that

contained no oxygen.

And then we'll follow the changes of that atmosphere through time.

We'll discover that life had a profound influence in how the physical

planet evolved.

We'll visit the present day Earth and study its churning interior,

which accounts for mountain belts and other large scale features on its surface.

In short, we'll discover an Earth that is dynamic and changing.

A machine, in essence, in the word of James Hutton more than 200 years ago.

>> While you investigate this vast history,

you'll also be exploring the local geologic feature in greater depth.

Teachers find that this local geology activity helps students understand and

appreciate the world around them.

>> So, please join us.

This is an exciting way to learn about Earth history.

And in fact, to learn how geologists themselves learn that history.

[MUSIC]

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