Topics and Teaching strategies | ELI home

EARTH AS A SYSTEM

Atmosphere
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Rock Cycle
Water cycle

ATMOSPHERE

Title & Description Activity More Ideas and Video
Atmosphere and ocean in a tank: High flow, low flow?
Hot, cold and particle-filled density currents as they flow in the atmosphere and ocean
Atmosphere and ocean in a tank Extension
Video
Teaching Video
Atmosphere and ocean in a lunchbox
A model for all pupils – of hot, cold and cloudy density currents
Atmosphere and ocean in a lunchbox  
Earth’s atmosphere - step by step evolution
Using a physical model to show the development of our current atmosphere
Evolution of Earth’s atmosphere  
Greenhouse effect; is it happening outside today?
A classroom discussion to consolidate understanding about the greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect  

CARBON CYCLE

Title & Description Activity More Ideas and Video
Carbon cycle through the window
How much evidence of the carbon cycle can you see through the window?
Carbon cycle through the window  
Carbon goes round and round and round
Make your own carbon cycle
Carbon goes round and round  
‘Tag’ a carbon atom – and explore the carbon cycle
A thought experiment to investigate carbon cycle processes
‘Tag’ a carbon atom  

NITROGEN CYCLE

Title & Description Activity More Ideas and Video
‘Tagging’ nitrogen atoms – to explore the nitrogen cycle
A thought experiment to investigate nitrogen cycle processes
‘Tagging’ nitrogen atoms  

ROCK CYCLE

Title & Description Activity More Ideas and Video
From ‘Rock detective’ to ‘Laying out the rock cycle’
Investigate rocks to sort them into groups, add them to the rock cycle and name them
From ‘Rock detective’ to ‘Laying out the rock cycle’ Teaching Video
James Hutton - or ‘Mr. Rock Cycle’? (ELI+)
Thinking towards the rock cycle, the Hutton way
James Hutton Rock cycle song
Rock cycle at your fingertips
Modelling the rock cycle with your fingers
Rock cycle at your fingertips Teaching Video
Rock cycle song
Rock cycle in wax
Using a candle to demonstrate the rock cycle processes
Rock cycle in wax Extension
Teaching Video
Rock cycle song
Rock cycle - laying out the rock cycle: product and process
Sorting out the rock cycle products – and then adding the processes
Laying out the rock cycle Teaching Video
Rock cycle song
Rock cycle through the window
The rock cycle processes you might be able to see - and those you can’t
Rock cycle through the window Rock cycle song
Rock cycle: Not misunderstanding the rock cycle
Addressing common misconceptions about the rock cycle
Rock cycle misconceptions Rock cycle song
Rock cycle and plate tectonics: The deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: lithification
A model showing how plate tectonics can explain sediments becoming sedimentary rocks
Deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: lithification  
Rock cycle and plate tectonics: The deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: deformation and metamorphism
A model showing how plate tectonics can explain metamorphism and rock-deformation
Deep rock cycle explained by plate tectonics: deformation and metamorphism  
Sand on a sill
What will happen to a sand grain left on a window sill? – a rock cycle discussion
Sand on a sill Rock cycle song

WATER CYCLE

Title & Description Activity More Ideas and Video
Changing state - transforming water
Practical activities to change the state of water; solid, liquid, gas
Water - changing state Teaching video
Cycling water and heat in the lab - and the globe (ELI+)
Demonstrating the water cycle, latent heat and global energy transfer
Cycling water and heat in the lab  
From rain to spring: water from the ground
Demonstrating how water flows through the ground - and how it can be used and polluted
From rain to spring: water from the ground Teaching video
Extension
Limestone springs – the wells of Wells
Modelling the underground flow of water through limestone passages to springs
Limestone springs - the wells of Wells  
Make your own aquifer - 1 with sponges
A clean way to demonstrate water in pores in rocks
Aquifers 1 Teaching video
Make your own aquifer - 2 The London Basin
Model the aquifers in the London Basin with sponges
Aquifers 2 Teaching video
Mini-world water cycle
A water cycle demonstration model in a box
Mini-world water cycle Teaching video
Extension
‘Tagging’ water molecules - to explore the water cycle (ELI+)
A thought experiment to investigate the water cycle
‘Tagging’ water molecules  
Water - a matter of taste or a taste of matter?
Is all water the same?
Water Extension
Water cycle world
A discussion activity on the natural water transformations on Earth
Water cycle world Extension
‘Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink’
Investigating how to get clean water from dirty ‘pond’ water
How to get clean water from dirty ‘pond’ water  
Watery world game (ELI Early years)
Climb through the watery world but watch out for snakes!
Watery world game  
Well, well, well!
Making a working model of a well
Well model