Tipping points in earth’s history:
Classroom activities
The activities in this section will give students the opportunity to develop an understanding of tipping points in Earth’s history. The list contains links, suggested grade levels, and short descriptions. For more detail, click on the title of each activity.
GRADES 5-8
- Students use this activity to supplement the JR Time Machine video to learn how the JOIDES Resolution is used to investigate Earth’s history.
GRADES 5-12
Mohawk Guy and His Band of Neogene Planktic Foraminifer Friends Â
- In this extensive investigative activity, students use Bio Cards with authentic fossil data from forams to unlock ancient history stored within sediment cores from the western equatorial Pacific.
Recognizing Patterns in Earth’s Climate HistoryÂ
- Students will make observations about marine sediments cores drilled by the JOIDES Resolution in various locations on Earth.
- Explain how a paleomagnetic record is recorded in rock and obtained by scientists.Measure and record declination in model cores.
Grades 9-12, Undergraduate
Investigating Sea Floor Sediments Â
- Students use the process of science to answer the question “What makes up the seafloor”?
Finding Fossils: A biostratigraphy Activity Â
- Students work in groups to identify the ages of fossils in different samples to determine the ages of sections of core.
How do scientists conduct research on ancient environments? Â
- Students look at a powerpoint presentation and discuss the process of science involved in using ocean drilling to understand ancient environments.
Interpreting Antarctic Sediment Cores Â
- This set of investigations focuses on the use of sedimentary facies (lithologies interpreted to record particular depositional environments) to interpret paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes in Neogene sediment cores from the Antarctic margin.
The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum in Review Â
- Students investigate climate change through carbon dioxide and temperature data.
Recognizing Patterns in Earth’s Climate HistoryÂ
- Students will make observations about marine sediments cores drilled by the JOIDES Resolution in various locations on Earth.