Earth Science Fair - Events and Activities

Aerial Photo and Satellite Image Interpretation

We've pulled together some intriguing aerial photos and satellite imagery for your students to interpret. They will work together in small teams to unravel information hidden within the imagery and answer a question about each image. We will then convene as a group and discuss what they observed.

Astrobiology and Extremophiles

In this activity, students learn about life in extreme environments and the search for life in the universe. Students will explore how changing environmental conditions affect water bears. A microscope will be used to view an extremophile.

Climb Through Time

Explore the immensity of time from the Earth's origin some 4.6 billion years ago through the present day along a path where every step represents millions of years of Earth's history. Highlights will include the origin of life, how the atmosphere became rich with oxygen, and the extinction of the dinosaurs. Note that this activity involves a substantial amount of climbing stairs.

CSI and Geophysics: How to look for buried evidence without digging BACK BY POPULAR DENMAND

Students will use ground penetrating radar and other geophysical instruments to locate buried items. Using a map of the site they will see how challenging it is to perform GSI investigations.

Do You Dig Archaeology? NEW!

What do archaeologists do? No, we do not dig for dinosaurs! Learn about archaeology - why we dig and what we are looking for in the dirt. We will then 'excavate' a mock prehistoric site with actual artifacts that are thousands of years old to see what we can learn about people of the past.

Gold Panning & Mineral Resource Mining

Man has been mining mineral resources, including gold, from the Earth for thousands of years. Look around and see some of the results of these mining activities. From shopping malls to footballs to cell phones...all produced using materials mined from the Earth's crust. In this activity, students learn how to pan for gold (as in the days of old where only fools would take all that glitters to be gold!) as well as modern mineral extraction techniques.

Groundwater and Contamination

In this activity, students learn how water moves in the ground and is extracted for consumption. Also, students will learn how over-extraction and contamination of our precious groundwater can potentially lead to environmental and health disasters.

Impact Craters

Learn how impact craters form and how large impacts have led to the mass extinction of life on Earth. See an "explosive" demonstration that will produce an impact crater before your very eyes!

Investigating Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic eruptions can be either explosive or effusive. Using demonstrations, we'll learn how these eruptions styles are different and how each type can (and has) effected the Earth through time.

Journey to the Moon

In the next 10 years, the United States is planning to return humans to the Moon to establish a Lunar Base. Current plans are based on research from the Apollo Era. Experience the thrill of these ventures to the moon! Learn how we plan to use lunar rocks and soils to sustain life on the Moon! See actual lunar rocks and meteorites up close and personal! Join us in our mission to discover the wonders of the Moon.

Light, Lasers an Interferometry

Lights, lasers, and interferometry measure distances ranging from the very small to the very large and help us understand and characterize our universe. Experiments will be performed illustrating the principles of interferometry, wavelength shifts, and laser ranging.

Make your own earthquake BACK BY POPULAR DENMAND

Students are shown how to use the geophone/seismograph to detect earthquakes and how triangulation is used to locate the location of an earthquake. Students will be able to create their own earthquake and see it register on the seismograph.

Map Interpretation and Remote Sensing

Learn to see exciting parts of our Earth through the medium of the electromagnetic spectrum! Find out how radar imagery and color infrared aerial photography capture important information about processes that affect our Earths surface such as: sinkhole collapse, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes! See images and maps of the geologic provinces of the American Southeast formed by plate tectonic activity and shaped by erosion!

Minerals in Everyday Life

Do you use a car? TV? Computer? Do you wear make-up? How about brushing your teeth? In this session, students will do hands on activities matching minerals to everyday household items that we all use but never consider as being made from or using minerals as part of their composition. This activity will help students gain an appreciation of how geology is a part of their everyday life. They may never want to drink a milkshake again!

Natural Hazards & Mineral Resources of East Tennessee

Hosted by four geologists, this exhibit offers students a chance to view a series of displays with maps, fossil, mineral, and rock specimens; and to participate in three hands-on activities that focus on the geology, mineral resources, and geologic hazards in Tennessee.

The Physics of Magnetism

The basic priciples of magnetism, the magnetic effects on moving charges, and magnetic properties of materials are important for understanding our world and universe. Experiments and demostrations of paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, diamagnetism, magnetic fluids, and superconductivity at liquid nitrogen temperatures will be offered.

Thermal Infrared (IR) Remote Sensing

Students will given a basic understanding of thermal infrared (IR) remote sensing, starting with simple examples of thermophysical properties of different objects and how particle size affects geologic formations IR signatures. Then they will be shown how these properties are used and interpreted with examples from ASTER satellite images on earth and THEMIS satellite images of Mars. Finally, the IR camera will be set up so that the students can see themselves in the thermal infrared.

Guided Tour at McClung Museum

Students will be guided through the exhibits at the McClung Museum.

Understanding Our Solar System

Astronomical distances are sometimes difficult to comprehend. We will take a walking tour of the solar system as a way of understanding the great distances between the planets. We will use another scale to compare planet sizes and a third scale to see how far the Moon is from the Earth. An alternative activity in inclement weather will take us indoors to make a spectroscope and discuss the importance of spectroscopy in astronomy and planetary science.