What you should know

Name:

ReaL Earth Systems Science

who sponsors Real ess?

The Paleontological Research Institution, its Museum of the Earth and the National Science Foundation

Project Staff

Robert M. Ross, Principal Investigator

Don Duggan-Haas, Co-Principal Investigator + Primary Contact

Richard Kissel, Director of Teacher Programs

Carlyn Buckler, Content Developer

Alex Wall, Content Developer

ReaL Earth System Science is a project of the Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth that helps teachers teach Regional and Local Earth system science using an inquiry approach.  The project is grounded in the idea of using the local environment to understand the global environment. 

ReaL Earth System Science builds on prior work.  A Teacher-Friendly Guide to the Geology of the Northeastern US was created with funding from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.  This popular teacher resource proved to be an accessible content resource. 

Here are selected products from the earlier work:

1. A Teacher-Friendly Guide to the Geology of the Northeastern US (revisions to the guide will be posted soon).
   

2. Virtual Fieldwork Experiences and related materials:
   

3. Virtual Fieldwork Experiences has links to and downloadable files of the VFEs created by teachers and project staff.
   

4. A Google Earth Tour connecting ReaL VFEs.
   

5. The VFE Vignette is an illustrative vignette on VFE use in the form of vignettes used in The National Science Education Standards.
   

6. The Mother of All VFEs illustrates how virtual fieldwork can be real science.
   

7. Curriculum frameworks incorporating big ideas and essential questions:
   

8. Earth Science Big Ideas, Essential Questions and Unit Questions
   

The current project expands these practices beyond the Northeast, clarifies big ideas and more. 

Want more information?

Contact Don Duggan-Haas -- [email protected]; 607-821-0910 or via Skype at dugganhaas.