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USGS Teacher Packets

Exploring Caves
Grades K-3. The study of caves entails at least five scientific disciplines: earth science, hydrology, mapping, biology, and anthropology. Each of these disciplines involves a unique content area as well as the development of particular intellectual skills. This unit helps teachers sort and organize the most important ideas in this rich scientific area. Detailed lesson plans serve as ways to pass these ideas on to very young students. The double-sided Exploring Caves poster (front; back) is a cost item that can be purchased through the USGS Store (product number 16634), or download the back side in pdf format.

Mud Fossils
Grades K-3. Students are invited to explore and observe real fossils and then make their own fossils using mud and found objects. Supplemental materials include Fossils, Rocks, and Time and Geologic Time. The Geologic Time Spiral poster can be downloaded or purchased through the USGS Store (product number 208540).

Global Change
Grades 4-6. Covers four themes: time, change, natural cycles, and the Earth as home. Includes a two-sided color poster, teacher guide, and three activities. Each activity includes background material, an experiment, three lesson plans, and suggestions for further reading. Additional information is available from USGS Climate Change Science.

Land and People
High School. Land and People is an environmental study project that engages high school students in studying ecosystems resource issues. The project focuses on the interaction between people and the environment in three regions on the United States: Cape Cod, Los Angeles, and the Everglades.

Geologic Age
Grades 7-12. Students investigate radioactivity as a tool for measuring geologic time and how geologists use this information to determine the absolute age of rocks or minerals. Divisions of Geologic Time is a good supplement along with the Geologic Time Spiral poster which can be downloaded or purchased through the USGS Store (product number 208540).

Volcanoes!
Grades 4-8. Students will explore questions such as "What is a volcano?" "Where do volcanoes come from?" and "Can scientists forecast volcanic eruptions?" The poster Geologic Hazards at Volcanoes (download or order free from the USGS Store, product number 208285) is an excellent companion product.

Map Adventures
Grades K-3. Students will learn basic concepts for visualizing objects from different perspectives and how to understand and use maps. The lessons center on a story about a little girl named Nikki who visits an imaginary amusement park. Nikki goes up in an unplanned balloon ride that gives her, and the students, different views of the park.

What Do Maps Show?
Grades 5-8. Covers geographic themes of location, place, relationships, movement, and regions. A map is a picture of a place. Different maps show different information. No single map can show everything. Students will compare shaded relief maps, road maps, and topographic maps.

Exploring Maps
Grades 7-12. Students will learn basic mapmaking and map-reading skills and will see how maps can answer fundamental geographic questions: "Where am I?" "What else is here?" "Where am I going?"