Blog

New Earth Science Website Hub in Collaboration with National Geographic Society

Exploring with Models page on National Geographic

We are delighted to celebrate five years of partnering with the world-renowned National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. At the Concord Consortium we envision a world where teaching and learning seamlessly incorporate the best features of […]

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CODAP videos help teachers and students with NGSS practice of Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Screenshot of Messy Data video

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) describe eight science and engineering practices with the goal of having students engage in authentic science practices. Although many teachers are committed to three-dimensional NGSS teaching, doing so remotely during a pandemic was challenging, especially with 20, 30, or more students on Zoom, and without access to labs. At […]

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TecRocks

GeoCRAFT

TecRocks allows students to investigate the evolution of rock sequences created under different tectonic conditions.

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New project will transform how plate tectonics and the rock cycle are taught

Stone formation showing fault lines

Earth science classes typically present plate tectonics and the rock cycle as separate and unrelated concepts. Yet land and rock formation are directly related to the tectonic environments in which they form. Indeed, plate tectonic interactions are fundamental to understanding geological processes. A new project funded by the National Science Foundation is focused on teaching […]

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The risk and impact of COVID-19 on students

Julia LaCava

I’ve been thinking a lot about natural hazards while working on the GeoHazard: Modeling Natural Hazards and Assessing Risks project, which is developing curriculum materials for middle and high school students. While helping the team think about how to communicate about the materials being developed, I’ve also been thinking more about the hazards and risks I’m facing through the COVID pandemic and the impact it has already had on my life.

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What is causing all the dangerous wildfires?

A fire line in the Wildfire Explorer model

If you think wildfires are in the news more now than in the past, it’s not your imagination. Rather, the increase in wildfires is a trend that scientists have also noticed. One of the many factors driving this change is due to a rise in global temperatures. Because of climate change, droughts are intensifying and fire seasons are getting longer. Scientists are exploring all the factors that influence wildfire behavior and considering the results of experimental computer models with field data.

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