Geoscience Is for Everyone Earth Science Activity Calendar 2019-2020 School Year This publication was produced with support from the U.S. Geological Survey; National Park Service; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; American Earth Science Week 2019 Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation; ExxonMobil; American Geophysical Union; Society for American Geosciences Institute Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration; AmericaView; Geological Society of America; Association of American www.americangeosciences.org State Geologists; Energy Day (CEEF/CEA); Geothermal Resources Council; Keystone Policy Center; IF/THEN (Lyda Hill Philanthropies); Nautilus; Schlumberger; Society of Exploration Geophysicists; and Water Footprint Calculator. Geoscience Is for You How many of us lead lives shaped by Earth science? All of us. We all live, survive, and thrive through our relationship to — and the interrelationships of — the Earth systems of the geosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things). That’s why Earth Science Week 2019 focuses on the theme “Geoscience Is for Everyone,” emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the geosciences. The celebration is engaging young people and others in exploring this theme through learning resources and activities. No matter who, where, or how old you are, you can learn about and promote understanding of the complex interactions of the planet’s natural systems and processes. Start with a visit to the Earth Science Week website (www.earthsciweek.org). Check out new links to educational materials and information. Engage young people and others in the vital role they can play in Earth science. And keep learning about the geosciences throughout the school year. Use this calendar, which features education resources, important geoscience dates, and exciting academic activities. Connect with geoscience learning all year long! Geoff Camphire Associate Director, Communications Images clockwise from top right: ©Getty Images/iStockphoto/SolStock; ©Shutterstock.com/Jason Patrick Ross; ©iStock.com/olof vandersteen; American Geosciences Institute ©Shutterstock.com/valdezrl; ©iStockphoto.com/Cynthia Baldauf All Aboard for Earth Science Week This year, you’re invited to join the tens of millions of participants in all 50 states and nations worldwide who are celebrating Earth Science Week. Now in its 21st year, this exciting event has grown steadily in momentum and participation since the American Geosciences Institute held the first Earth Science Week in 1998. Every year, people in schools, workplaces, civic centers, and elsewhere www.earthsciweek.org celebrate Earth Science Week to help build public understanding and How can you get involved? Explore appreciation of the Earth sciences, promote recognition of the value of Earth the Earth Science Week website at science research, and encourage stewardship of the planet. Earth Science Week www.earthsciweek.org. You’ll find serves the geoscience community by: a host of tools designed to make Credit: Malika Gunasekara/ Earth your event experience easy, fun, Science Week 2018 Photography Contest Entry • giving students new opportunities to Whether you are a faculty member, and rewarding! discover the Earth sciences, student, parent, geoscientist, or ordinary citizen, you can play a leading role in Earth On the website, you’ll see a list of tips • highlighting the contributions made by Science Week. On the event’s website at to help you share your Earth science the geosciences to society, www.earthsciweek.org, you’ll find ideas and knowledge with young people, lead tips for planning activities at your school or an excursion, or attend an event in • publicizing the message that Earth workplace, along with contact information your area: A planning checklist, tips science is all around us, for geoscience resources in your area where for fundraising, recommendations for you can work with local geoscientists to working with the news media, ideas • encouraging responsible stewardship of plan activities. for events, educational activities, Credit: Celia Payne/AGI the planet through an understanding of ways to get official recognition, Earth processes, In addition, this calendar features a variety of downloadable logos and images, exciting activities that you can conduct — in kit ordering information, a map of • providing a forum where geoscientists the schoolyard, at home, or elsewhere in potential partners and activities near can share their knowledge and the community — to explore the theme you, and much more. enthusiasm about the Earth and how it “Geoscience Is for Everyone.” This year’s works, and theme celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, To stay up-to-date on the latest and accessibility in the Earth sciences. developments and upcoming • making learning about Earth science fun! activities, subscribe to the Earth Let us know how you are planning Science Week Update electronic Images top to bottom: Smithsonian Institution/James Di Loreto; to celebrate! Send us an email at newsletter at www.earthsciweek.org. Malika Gunasekara/ Earth Science Week 2018 Photography [email protected]. Celebrate Earth Check it out! Contest Entry; Celia Payne/AGI; Smithsonian Institution/James Di Loreto Science Week: October 13–19, 2019! August 2019 LEARNING ACTIVITY: State Soil Investigation GRADE LEVEL: 6–9 any states have a designated state bird, PROCEDURE flower, fish, tree, rock, and so on. Many 1 Choose (or be assigned by your teacher) a state MATERIALS Mstates also have a state soil — one that has soil to investigate. • Computer with significance or is important to the state. • Go online and find the relevant State internet connection Soil Booklet and the Investigation • State Soil Booklets The Soil Science Society of America has developed Worksheet (soils4teachers.org/state-soils). and Investigation a collection of state soil booklets, designed and Worksheet (soils4teachers. written by professional soil scientists from the 2 Use the worksheet to guide your investigation: org/state-soils) region to share in-depth information on each state • Which state are you investigating? soil. Each soil booklet includes a brief history of • What is your state soil’s name? how the state soil came to be, where it’s found, its • Why did you choose this state soil? importance and uses, limitations, management, • How did the state soil get its name? information on soil formation, ecoregions and land • Where in the state is this soil found? use, a glossary, and additional resources. • On how many acres is this state soil found? • What are common uses for this type of soil? In this activity, you will explore the state soil of your • What is grown in the state soil? choice and report important characteristics back to • What is CLORPT? the class. By the end of this activity, you should have • What is the “Parent Material” of this soil? an appreciation of your chosen state soil and be able • What do YOU find most interesting about to recognize the diversity of soil across the country. this soil? 3 Report your answers back to the class. Discuss how your state soil differs from those of your classmates. NGSS CONNECTIONS • Science and Engineering Practices — ​Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information • Disciplinary Core Ideas — Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics • Crosscutting Concepts — ​Stability and Change Source: Soil Science Society of America. Adapted with permission. Images courtesy of Soil Science Society of America. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Happy Birthday! Henry Darwin Rogers, American Structural Geologist, Contributed to the Theory of Mountain Building, Born 1808 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Happy Birthday! Johann Gottlob Lehmann, German Geologist Noted for Fundamental Work in Did You Know? Stratigraphy, Published the First Happy Birthday! U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour Geologic Profile, Born 1719 Neil Armstrong, American Astronaut Barbara Morgan, the Astronaut, the First Man to Walk First Educator to Safely Reach Friendship Day on the Moon, Born 1930 Space, 2007 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Did You Know? The First Three Fossil Bones of Happy Birthday! Did You Know? “SUE” Tyrannosaurus rex Skeleton Edward W. Gifford, American Hurricane Camille (Category 5) Discovered by Sue Hendrickson, Self-Taught Anthropologist and Strikes Mississippi, Louisiana 1990 Archaeologist, Born 1887 and Virginia, 1969 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Did You Know? Did You Know? Florissant Fossil Beds National Hurricane Andrew (Category 5) Monument, Renowned for Insect Hits Florida and Fossils, Authorized 1969 Louisiana, 1992 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Did You Know? Colonel Edwin Drake Drills First U.S. Oil Well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, 1859 Aug. 27–30, 2019: Geoscience Event: AAPG International Did You Know? Conference and Exhibition, Did You Know? Hurricane Katrina (Category 5) American Association of U.S. Challenger Astronaut Guion Strikes Florida, Later Louisiana, Petroleum Geologists, Buenos Bluford Becomes First Black 2005 Aires, Argentina Astronaut in Space, 1983 American Geosciences Institute | www.americangeosciences.org August 2019 September 2019 LEARNING ACTIVITY: Earth’s Magnetic Field GRADE LEVEL: 4–12 f you found yourself in the middle of the ocean, do you think you could find your way home? Sea turtles can, thanks in part to MATERIALS IEarth’s magnetic field! • Cereal box and a piece of paper All around the surface of the Earth, there is a magnetic field generated 5 Gently suspend a turtle above