USGS Menlo Park Science Center Earth Science Day 22 April 2010 Exhibits
Learn more about our April 22, 2010 Earth Science Day
Download the exhibit list as a pdf.
| Exhibit Title USGS Scientists | Exhibit Description | CA grade 2-6 Science Standard and Link to USGS [or exhibitor] Topic Information |
| Teacher Resources Table | Free maps, posters, postcards, factsheets, and more are available for teachers and parents | Almost all areas http://education.usgs.gov |
| Natural Science Jeopardy | A unique opportunity for students to test their natural science knowledge. Play a game of Jeopardy and learn natural science facts of Geography, Hydrology, Geology, and more. | Almost all areas |
| Typical Rocks of the San Francisco Bay Area Mike Clynne | Examine rocks of the Bay Area. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Volcanoes and Rocks |
| How do Geologists Name Igneous Rock Mike Clynne | Display of Typical Igneous Rocks. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Volcanoes and Rocks |
| Do Soils breathe? Kristen Manies | Did you know that the microbes in soil breathe out CO2, just like people do? Come use some scientific equipment to measure how much CO2 can released by soils and see how plants take up some of that same CO2. Then learn more about the role of CO2 in regulating the global climate and see what makes the soils of Alaska so interesting to USGS scientists. | |
| Minerals in Our Lives Kent Fogleman | Examine minerals that are used every day in our lives. | Physical Sciences: Metals and Earth Sciences: Minerals http://minerals.usgs.gov/granted.html http://www.usgs.gov/corecast/details.asp?ID=95 |
| How Clean Is Clean? Jim Kuwabara, Brent Topping | Water-quality demonstration about specific conductivity | Resources http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/solutetransport/ |
| Fly Over the Seafloor Peter Dartnell | Take a virtual "flight" over sea-floor bathymetry using computer graphics. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Plate Tectonics http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/pacmaps/ And fly-by movie available from http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2006/01/outreach.html" |
| Mount St. Helens vs. Kilauea Joel Robinson and Dina Venezky | This year marks the 30th anniversary of the explosive eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. But Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, which is almost that long. Come learn about how the volcanoes are similar and different. There will be rock samples to examine. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Volcanoes and Rocks http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ and http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/30Years/framework.html |
| Why do we Care About Volcanic CO2? | Learn about CO2 and how it's release affected Lake Nyos and the Long Valley Caldera. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Volcanoes http://lvo.wr.usgs.gov/ |
| Reunite Gondwana - Plate Tectonics Puzzle Dina Venezky | Reunite the plates to how the earth looked 225 million years ago. This exercise for students is the first in a series to complement the This Dynamic Planet Map and This Dynamic Earth Book. | Investigations: Maps, Shaping Earth's Surface: Plate Tectonics http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/about/edu/dynamicplanet/wegener/index.php/ |
| Volcano Rescue | Use topographic maps to locate hikers who got trapped on a volcano that is showing signs of renewed activity. | Investigations: Maps |
| Earthquakes and Eruptions - The Lure of Yellowstone Jake Lowenstern and others | Learn how calderas are formed, like the those formed during the previous two supereruptions at Yellowstone. Compare the recent earthquake swarms with swarms from the past. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Volcanoes http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo |
| Coral Reef Ecosystems Nancy Prouty | This display will demonstrate the value of these ecosystems and provide an informational resource about coral and coral ecosystems through a coral reef "I Spy" Activity and coloring pages | |
| Microfossils and Tree Rings Tells Us About Age and Climate Change Mary McGann and Holly Olson | We will use microfossils and tree rings to show some methods scientists use to tell the age of fossils and how climates have changed through geologic time. Microscopes and dendrochronology equipment (a slice of a tree trunk and coring equipment) will be used. | Life Sciences |
| Rocks On Geologic Maps Dan Mosier and John Galloway | Using the Rock Formations Explanation of a geologic map, students place rock specimens on the appropriate rock formations on a geologic map. This helps students learn how to read a geologic map and relate it to rocks. | http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ncgmpproducts/ |
| Poetry Corner: Write Poems about Science and Nature Helen Gibbons | April is National Poetry Month! Students can celebrate science, the Earth, and the arts by writing a poem about science or nature, either before or during Earth Science Day. Bring poems written before the event to be hung up at the Poetry Corner, or have a seat during the event and write a poem there. Haiku (online guidelines available at http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?ID=250#rules), limericks (online guidelines at http://www.teachingk-8.com/archives/a_poetry_workshop_in_print/limericks_by_lee_bennett_hopkins.html), or any form welcome. Recommended books: "Spectacular Science," "Science, fresh squeezed," "Science Verse," and "101 Science Poems & Songs for Young Learners (Grades 1-3)" | |
| Quake Cottage-Mobile Earthquake Simulator Glen and Trish Granholm | Quake Cottage is a mobile earthquake simulator designed as a storybook-looking cottage with thatched roof and rests on a double-axle tandem trailer. It is self-powered and has three-dimensional movement. The interior can be set to resemble a typical family room or office environment. It features a fully equipped entertainment center, seating for two to three persons, a computer system, a cabinet with doors, and decorative framed art. All of the contents are seismically fastened to protect the occupants and demonstrate how violent yet survivable a major earthquake can be. http://www.safe-t-proof.com/index.html | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes http://www.quakecottage.com/ |
| The Great California ShakeOut-Drop, Cover, and Hold On! Susan Garcia | The ShakeOut is a chance for all California schools to prepare themselves for major earthquakes. Practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On! is one way to protect yourself from large earthquakes. Is your school registered to participate in the largest earthquake drill ever! Be an example that motivates other to participate and get prepared. Register today at: shakeout.org On-site registration will be available. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes http://shakeout.org |
| Real-time Seismograph Display Mark Goldman | Set up will include a single line of earthquake instruments referred to as geophones (60-ft long) along with a seismograph that will monitor the ground shaking signals the kids produce as they stomp around the exhibit area. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes http://quake.usgs.gov/recent/helicorders/index.html |
| Topo Salad Trays Mike Torresan, Carol Reiss | Stack clear plastic trays with a contour line drawn on each to create 3D models of Angel Island and Monterey Canyon. View 3D topo-salad-tray models of Mount St. Helens before and after its big 1980 eruption. | http://online.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/topo_instructions.html |
| Livin' on the Fault Line-How Close To A Fault Do You Live? | Display a map that shows earthquakes and fault lines in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students will be given an overview about earthquakes and why they happen in the Bay Area. A fault board will be used to demonstrate plate tectonics. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes http://earthquake.usgs.gov |
| A Human Seismic Wave�Seismic Waves and the Slinky | Activity is designed to introduce the concepts of waves and seismic waves that propagate within the Earth. The use of the slinky effectively demonstrates the characteristics of seismic waves and wave propagation. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes |
| Ask-A-Geologist Jim Calzia | Have questions about geology? Stop by the booth and talk with USGS Geologist Jim Calzia | Any http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/ask-a-geologist/ |
| Batteries and Bauxite Eileen O'Halloran | What are some common household materials and what are they made of? How and where should they be recycled? | Earth Sciences: Minerals |
| Title: Senseta MAX Rovers for Earth and Space Research John Spritzer, Florian Selch, Andrew Klofas, & Jacques Dolan | The Senseta MAX rover is a compact low-cost 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steer rover outfitted with sensors and electronics that make it ideally suited for supporting research relevant to intelligent teleoperation and as a low-cost autonomous robotic test bed. MAX rovers have been deployed to extreme environments such as the Arctic, the Atacama Desert, and the Mojave Desert and have been operated by NASA and Carnegie Mellon University as well as in collaboration with the USGS and the US Army. | http://senseta.com |
| How Can We Make Buildings Safer Chris Stephens and The NSMP Team | Students will test the resistance of structures to seismic shaking. The exhibit will demonstrate the sensitivity of structures of different heights to the frequency of ground motion. | Shaping Earth's Surface: Earthquakes http://jclahr.com/science/earth_science/shake/index.html |
| The REAL Dirt on Liquefaction Mike Bennett, Tom Holzer and Coyn Criley | Exhibit will show how ground conditions immediately beneath a structure affect how hard a structure shakes. | Shaping Earth's Surface http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/alameda.html |
