Huge Earthquake Rocks Japan

On September 25, a huge earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan. The earthquake measured 8.5 on the Richter scale. The area of Hokkaido was severely affected with over 275 people injured and damage to many buildings.

Use these sites to look up earthquake information, as well as information on how relief agencies respond:

Preliminary Earthquake Report
 
Hokkaido Earthquake Information Bulletin
 
Maps of Recent Earthquakes

Below are some excellent connections to geoscience resources for teachers, each of which has a large list of links to education sites and activities or lesson plans:

Digital Library for Earth System Education
A library of digitally accessible resources and an open, organized community of users. This community, composed of educators, students, and developers of technology and content, is engaged in building the library at all levels.

Geological Society of America – A comprehensive list of lesson plans and additional earth science resource links, sorted by topic and by grade level.

NASA
An excellent source for resources on space science for all grade levels.

The Learning Web
Part of the USGS Web site,The Learning Web offers lesson plans and activities, a link to featured careers called “scientists in action” and information on the importance of teaching and learning the geosciences.

Mineral Information Institute
Information about natural resources. Free posters and activities.

Rock Hounds
Interactive learning experiences and suggested outdoor learning activities.
For grades K-6.

The American Geological Institute (AGI)

Earth Science and Geography Instruction
These links are organized around the sequence of topics typically taught in an introductory earth science or physical geography class.

Women make a mark in Paleontology in Australia

Paleontology, the study of fossil life, has to be one of the most fascinating of all the Earth Sciences. Discovering, describing and naming life that once existed in the Earth’s past has become an obsession for four dedicated women who are now all working in Australia. What better inspiration for female students than to see how these women have travelled the planet and become leaders in their field.

Dr. Mary White
Dr. White specialized in the plant fossils of Gondwana.

Dr. Pat Vickers-Rich
In 1982 Dr. Vickers-Rich discovered dinosaur bones in Victoria, Australia.

Dr. Zerina Johanson
Dr. Johanson has studied fossil fish, and is now doing postdoctoral research on broader aspects of fish evolution.

Dr. Sue Hand
Dr. Hand studies fossil bats, and spends a lot of her time on fossil digs in caves.

Eruptions Continue in Hawaii
Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has been erupting almost continually for the last 18 years. This volcano is caused by a stationary hotspot deep in the mantle that is melting the crust of the Pacific Plate as it slides toward the northwest. The entire chain of Hawaiian Islands was formed by lava from this hot spot.

Kilaeua is one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes.

Kilaeua Eruption Update

Recent Highlights from Kilauea's East Rift Zone

Updates on all the world’s active volcanoes

Mid-Ocean Ridge and Hotspots Collide in Iceland
Iceland is one of the only places on earth where a spreading zone between two huge tectonic plates can be seen above the ocean. Because of this reason, Iceland has become an exciting laboratory for scientists who wish to study the effects of spreading plates first hand.

Volcanoes in the Iceland Region

Iceland Volcanoes and Volcanics

Summer Workshops
Holbrook and GSA present two workshops for teachers during Summer 2004 to experience some of the world’s most amazing earth science first hand.

Join us in Hawaii or in Iceland to see the effects of volcanic activity, plate tectonics, glaciation and so much more.