Geology: Tectonic Fury

Students gain access to 4 unique missions, each comprising of written articles, labs, field assignments, interactive games, video, and animations.

Mission 1: The Building Blocks – Earth’s Rocks and Minerals
Led by Dr. Mike Wise, Geologist at Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History, students will search for and discover invaluable rocks and prized minerals hidden deep under our feet.

Mission 2: Earth’s Changing Face – Weathering, Erosion, and Soils
Students join mathematical ecologist Dr. Virginia Dale, the Director at Center for BioEnergy Sustainability and Oak Ridge National Lab, as they scour the Earth’s surface for evidence of weathering and erosion, processes that sculpt and shape our ever-changing planet.

Mission 3: Analyzing the Evidence – Dating, Fossils, and Geologic Time
Dr. George Guthrie, Focus Area Leader of Geosciences at National Energy Technology Laboratory, leads students to unravel the mysteries of Planet Earth using ancient clues and cutting-edge technologies.

Mission 4: Earth on the Move – Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes
Students follow Dr. Walter Smith, Geophysicist at NOAA, on a journey through the oceans and Earth’s outer layers to its core to better understand the dynamic nature of our planet.