1. Earth Observations: Pattern Recognition of the Earth System
Matt Nyman, Amy Ellwein and Michael Crane
Natural Science Program
University of New Mexico

2. The learning goals of Earth Observation Day are:
To work on observation and pattern recognition skills.
To learn about the Earth System through observations of specific features and processes on the Earth. Some of these will form the basis for future activities and projects.

3. The tasks of Earth Observation Day are:
Make detailed observations of visualizations.
Examine relations between patterns of three visualizations.
Hypothesize

4. Class Context Natural Science 261L – Physical Science
Mixed lecture/lab course for K-8 pre-service teachers
Content – Physics, Earth Science, Astronomy
Method – 2 x 21/2 hour classes; mixed lab/lecture
Model various instructional strategies and pedagogy

5. Class Goals Science content Transferable activities
Science process and thinking
Confidence in learning, doing and teaching science

6. Class Goals Science content Transferable activities
Science process and thinking
Confidence in learning, doing and teaching science

7. Framework: Scientific Process
Activity Model for Inquiry (AMI) Harwood (2004)

8. 1, 2, 3, 4, ….
2, 4, 6, 8, ….
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, …

9. As the wind does blow
Across the trees, I see the
Buds blooming in May

13. Magnetic Field Intensity
Other Datasets
Crustal thickness
Earthquakes
Physiography
Volcanoes
Biomes
Population Density
Surface Sea T
Land T
S- and P-wave V
Geothermal Gradient
Gravity
Magnetic Field Intensity
Example – Heat Flow:
North-South oriented bands.
Oval shaped bulls-eyes of high mWm-2.
Large areas of mWm-2.
Round irregular spaced areas of low mWm-2.
High areas along boundaries in ocean

15. As a result of this activity,
my ability to recognize patterns
on the visualizations:

16. Integrate visualizations throughout semester
Extensions
Integrate visualizations throughout semester

17. Challenges and Future Student buy-in
Student frustration w/ not knowing (a good thing)
Skimmers
Data sets on same scale