For Educators
This hall uses specimens, models, videos, and interactives to investigate the history and composition of Earth and the ongoing processes that shape it.
Educators Guide and Materials
Guided Explorations
Tour
Guided Exploration: How Earth Formed
How did our planet form 4.5 billion years ago, and how has it evolved? Examine meteorites, sulfide chimneys, and other specimens to find out.
Tour
Guided Exploration: The Rock Record
How do scientists read the rocks to learn about Earth's history? Find out by observing rock deposits, rock types, and the rock cycle.
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Guided Exploration: Climate & Climate Change
What regulates climate and causes it to change? Explore interactives and evidence such as an ice core to find out.
Tour
Guided Exploration: Natural Resources
How do Earth's resources, such as metal ores, oil, and gas, form? Observe ore specimens, a groundwater video, and the water cycle diagram to find out.
Tour
Guided Exploration: Plate Tectonics
What Earth process forms oceans, continents, and mountains? Investigate plate tectonics with these specimens, models, and videos.
More Resources
Curriculum Collection
Deep Sea Vents
Do your students think the age of exploration is over? Show them the shocking truth: the age of exploration has barely just begun at the ocean floor! Introduce your students to the incredible under water environment of the deep sea vents.
Curriculum Collection
Antarctica
Take your students to the world's most extreme environment with this curriculum. As they investigate Antarctica, they will also learn about world climate, day and night cycles, ocean circulation, animal adaptation, and scientists working "in the field."
Hands-on activities and interactives for kids, including "Plates on the Move" and "Edible Earth."
Hands-on activities and interactives for kids, including "What Is the Greenhouse Effect?" and "Make a Terrarium."
Hands-on activities and interactives for kids, including "Living on Ice" and "Be a Water Saver."
Delivering the latest developments in Earth science through HD video and animation.
At first glance, Earth's atmosphere seems like a chaotic swirl of clouds and currents. But patterns do emerge. Explore recent weather and climate events in satellite data from NOAA.
Seminars on Science: Online Graduate Courses for Educators
Connect to educators, researchers, and collections at the Museum without ever leaving home. Six-week courses include "Earth: Inside and Out," "The Ocean System," and "Climate Change."
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More About This Resource...
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The Museum's Hall of Planet Earth uses specimens, videos, models, and interactive to investigate the history and composition of Earth and the ongoing processes that shape it. This comprehensive guide will help you explore the hall with your students. It includes:
- detailed background information to help you prepare for your museum fieldtrip, including an overview of the hall's five themes and a glossary of terms;
- several pre-, during-, and post-visit activities to do with your students;
- essential questions to help connect the hall's themes to your curriculum;
- an exhibit map that makes it easy to find the five theme areas and use the essential questions; and
- a listing of online resources for further exploration.
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Topic
Earth Science -
Subtopic
History of Earth and Planetary Sciences
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