Intended End User: Teacher, Teacher Educator
Age Group: Lower Secondary; Upper Secondary
School Curriculum: Science; Social & Environment Science; Applied Science
Themes and Topics: Environmental Change; Futures Thinking; Information & Knowledge; Pedagogy Approaches
Duration: One to three 50-minute class periods, depending on the depth of exploration and discussion.
Type of Resource: Lesson Plans, Simulation, Online Tool, App/Software
Keywords: Earth History; Geology; Biodiversity; Tectonic Plates; Climate
Languages: English
Description
EarthViewer is an interactive educational tool developed by HHMI BioInteractive that allows users to explore Earth’s geological and biological history. By scrolling through billions of years, students can visualize continental movements, atmospheric composition changes, temperature fluctuations, biodiversity trends, day length variations, and solar luminosity shifts. The module includes additional resources such as worksheets focusing on mass extinctions and climate changes, as well as data files for further analysis. Accessible online or as a downloadable app for various platforms, EarthViewer serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding Earth’s dynamic history.
How to use this resource
Educators can integrate EarthViewer into their curriculum to enhance lessons on geology, climate science, and evolutionary biology. The interactive nature of the module allows students to engage with Earth’s history dynamically, fostering a deeper understanding of complex concepts such as plate tectonics, mass extinctions, and climate change. The accompanying worksheets and data files can be utilized for guided exploration, data analysis exercises, and discussions on Earth’s systems and their interconnections.
The resources
Exploring Climate Student Worksheet (PDF):
Mass Extinctions Student Worksheet (PDF):
Learning Outcomes (Teachers)
- Elicit prior knowledge and further develop knowledge and comprehension of key Sustainability Citizenship key concepts, challenging established worldviews and values.
- Apply a range of suitable tools and frameworks to promote student Sustainability Citizenship
- Reflect on practice and examine national curricula to identify opportunities to promote Sustainability Citizenship in interdisciplinary ways and engage with external stakeholders.
Green Competencies
- Embodying Sustainable Values: Valuing Sustainability; Promoting Nature
- Embracing Complexity in Sustainability: Systems Thinking; Critical Thinking
- Envisioning Sustainable Futures: Futures Literacy; Adaptability; Exploratory Thinking
Creative Commons
© 2022 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. All rights reserved.
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