Download lesson plans designed by the American Geosciences Institute and import ready-made fold, fault, unconformity and real-world proxy models to support your lessons in Visible Geology.
Inspire students with immersive 3D geological modelling
Lesson plan: Interpreting and modelling Mount St. Helens
Your students will explore the geological processes that formed Mount St. Helens, including the formation of magma, plutons, and dikes, and their implications for geothermal energy potential. This lesson plan also includes a guide for students to re-create a 3D geological model of Mount St. Helens in Visible Geology.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
- PE: HS-ESS2-1
- DCI: Earth’s Materials and Systems; The History of Planet Earth; Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
- SEP: Developing and Using Models
- CCC: Stability and Change; Energy and Matter
Lesson plan: Exploring the geology of the Grand Canyon
Your students will explore the geological structures and processes that formed the Grand Canyon by exploring a 3D geological model, complete with cross sections and core samples, built in Visible Geology.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
- PE: MS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-6
- DCI: ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems, ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions, ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- SEP: Developing and Using Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- CCC: Patterns; Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models
Lesson plan: Build your own geological model
Put your students in the drivers seat! This lesson plan coaches students through building their own geological model in Visible Geology. They’ll explore geological events like faults and folds, as well as apply topography, take cross-sections, and core samples.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
- Performance Expectations (PE): MS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-6
- Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI): ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems, ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions, ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Developing and Using Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
- Cross Cutting Concepts (CCC): Patterns; Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models; Stability and Change
Lesson plan: Explore geothermal energy and granitic plutons
This quick lesson plan gets students to explore a geological model of a geothermal system in Visible Geology. Perfect for a homework activity, students can then self-check their work.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
- PE: MS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-3
- DCI: ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems, ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions, ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- SEP: Developing and Using Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- CCC: Patterns, Systems and System Models
Experience the revolutionary shift in earth science education
Pre-built models for use in Visible Geology
You can now save and share your geological models and stereonets for others to view, edit, and explore in Visible Geology. This, along with the ability to create groups and assignments, will be particularly useful for earth science educators creating lessons for their students.
To get you started, we’ve created a range of pre-built models. To import a model, simply click ‘Input via code’ on the main screen of Visible Geology, and copy and paste the applicable code from the tables below. You can also join our shared group in Visible Geology to view read-only versions of this model using the group code: Group-R24hJMtkrUkPAeqjtqzEb8
Please note: To access these models and join groups, you need to be logged in. Logging in is simple and free, simply click ‘Create Seequent ID’ in the top right corner. For step-by-step instructions on how to import shared models, and how to create and join groups, check out the how-to videos on our Visible Geology Help and Resources page.
Fold models
West-East plunging anticline fold
Code: Project-9vXer78wEe3cGEC3Hq9S3z
Description: Accompanying stereonet to show fold hinge: Project-3qtWBMGLr8iBodwSzqSpSh
West-East plunging syncline fold
Code: Project-DvTcaszLSR6LDQg4VpPjWn
Description: Accompanying stereonet to show fold hinge: Project-8cfBeqQLsHAD8pnu9kiJmW
Asymmetric fold
Code: Project-DvTcaszLSR6LDQg4VpPjWn
Description: Accompanying stereonet to show fold hinge: Project-8cfBeqQLsHAD8pnu9kiJmW
Fault models
Normal (dip-slip) Fault
Code: Project-apNocvrr7PwthFXQFx9xBX
Thrust Fault
Code: Project-XKX6f7oa3eiqjMepHhNW4L
Sinistral Strike-Slip Fault
Code: Project-k6rcAJNLGDDaGQ6B3dvvDy
Description: Standing on the fault block to the west, movement along the strike is to the left forming a sinistral strike slip fault.
Dextral Strike-Slip Fault
Code: Project-9ihnkrCRogE4qfh7c36Z6b
Description: Standing on the fault block to the west, movement along the strike is to the right forming a dextral strike slip fault.
Unconformity models
Angular Unconformity
Code: Project-AxbCUxP7bvaRhbdMs7zKDx
Nonconformity
Code: Project-ahmymSD5DPYdAktkwzLCo9
Description: Basement of gneiss, pegmatite, migmatite and schist. Younger layers of diatomite, mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate. Could also be used to demonstrate sea level rise/incursion.
Lesson models
Rule of the V's 1
Code: Project-5R28srXpUkudnHLD299aRQ
Description: Dipping beds in valley. Simple principle
Rule of the V’s 2
Code: Project-TfzBFpyNZMhziwWLtFuovY
Description: Contours of a sloping valley will point in the opposite to the down dip direction of the beds. The V patterns are opposing.
Magma Chamber & Feeders
Code: Project-3piCNsV84YtxEEmpfakJTG
Description: Using tilt and plutons, build a model to show magma chamber, feeder dykes, and extrusive lava flows.
Rule of the V’s 4
Code: Project-639Zeee69ayb2M5FB2owyK
Description: Horizontal beds with a cross cutting dipping vein shows the behaviour as dipping beds, i.e. the pointy end of the vein points in the down dip direction.
Rule of the V’s 3
Code: Project-VsQfoaG2JL47iQnZg4KgAX
Description: Contours of the sloping valley will point in the same direction of the bedding dip when the beds dip “into” the valley.
Real-world proxy models
Whakaraupo Harbour (Lyttelton, New Zealand)
Code: Project-AJ9at3SKEpVMKfnmwC4UbT
Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA)
Code: Project-czePNJ8H76kPYJhiwCqzBZ
Zion National Park (Utah, USA)
Code: Project-oSX9sKrTWjpvg6Du6mWf3w
Dinosaur Provincial Park (Alberta, Canada)
Code: Project-epeyWGjM9izwN4m5ASmaTo
