Mystery Detectives

Classroom Activity Modules - For teachers



Middle School Activities

Topography

Be like a bat and use sonar to discover the topography of the mystery location - the Grand Canyon
Bathymetry

Be like a dolphin and use sonar to discover the topography of the mytery location - the East Pacific Rise
Inside the Earth

Analyze S and P wave arrival times to locate mystery earthquake epicenters and image the Earth's hidden molten core
Epicenter

Analyze seismograms to locate mystery earthquake epicenters and discover major active faults in southern California
Alien Landing

Analyze four clues related to igenous rocks & plate tectonics, sunlight & energy, ecology, and human artifacts to determine a mystery location.


Marine debris

Analyze marine debris to prevent plastic from killing Laysan albatross chicks on Midway Island in the northern Hawaiian islands.

Photo by Forest and Kim Starr (CC 3.0-BY)