Volcanoes(2025-2026)

Vocabulary: Magma, lava, "Ring of Fire", shield, composite, cinder cone

Volcanoes are one of the most awe-inducing, yet terrifying features on our planet.

Earthquakes(2026-2026)

Vocabulary:  Earthquake, Richter scale, focus, epicenter, seismic waves

Earthquakes are closely connected to what we learned about Tectonic Plates.

They are an awe-inspiring show of the power of our planet.

Plate tectonics(2025-2026)

Vocabulary:  tectonic plates, divergent, convergent, transform, subduction

Ever felt the earth move under your feet?

Probably not, because it's only moving a few centimeters a year😄!

Check out the new PPT for GIFs of plate tectonics.

This video gives the history of and explains plate tectonics . . .

While this video ( love the accent ) says much the same thing, but the animation is really cool!

Layers of the Earth & Atmosphere(2025-2026)

Vocabulary:  Crust, mantle, core, Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

The Lithosphere is the part of the planet upon which we live.

The Atmosphere is all the air around the Earth.

Both of these "spheres" have layers.

This video gives an amazing idea of the scale of the layers of the Earth and Atmosphere.  Numbers may not exactly match those given in class.

This video gives details of each of the layers of the Earth.  It also gives more detail about the top of the Mantle and the Crust.

Characteristic Properties(2025-2026)

One big question students always have when looking at a test tube of liquid or a solid in a Science lab is    "What is it?"

Well, certain properties can identify a substance OR at least narrow it down to a group of substances, like Acids.

Those properties that can help I.D. a substance are called Characteristic Properties.

Learn more from the Powerpoint: