Dry lake
A dry lake was once a pond. The sun dries the water away. It leaves behind white salt. This salt makes a flat floor. Animals come to drink after rain. Can you find a dry lake?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth Science articles — Page 3
Explore rocks, volcanoes, weather, oceans and the processes that shape Earth. Choose an article below; its reading controls let you move between the available levels.
1,427 public articles · Page 3 of 30
Dune
A dune is a hill of sand. Wind moves the sand. It pushes sand up the hill. Then the sand slides down. Dunes can be in deserts. They can be by the sea too. Do you like the sand?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleDust storm
Strong winds blow dirt and sand. This makes a big dust storm. The storm can hide the sun. It can make it hard to see. Dust can also blow far away. We must stay safe. Do you like the wind?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth's crust
The Earth has a hard shell. This shell is made of rock. It sits on top of the hot inside. The rock floats on the deep part. It makes the land and the sea. Do you like to walk on rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth's magnetic field
Earth has a hidden force. It acts like a big magnet. This force protects our air. It keeps us safe from the sun. It is very helpful to us. Do you see a compass?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth's mantle
The Earth has a big middle part. It is made of rock. It is very hot and deep. This part helps the ground move. It is a big part of our world. Can you imagine a world so deep?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEarth's outer core
Deep inside Earth, there is a hot layer. It is like a thick soup. It is made of metal. This layer helps make a shield for our world. It keeps us safe. Can you feel the heat?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEl Niño–Southern Oscillation
The ocean can change. Sometimes the water gets warm. This is called El Niño. Other times the water gets cold. This is called La Niña. These changes change the weather. It can bring rain or dry days. Do you like the rain?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEmerald
An emerald is a green gem. It is very pretty. It comes from the ground. Some are found in a place called Colombia. They are very special to see. Do you like the color green?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEstuary
Rivers meet the sea in an estuary. Fresh water mixes with salt water. This makes a special home for many fish. It is like a nursery for small sea life. It is a busy place! Can you find an estuary near you?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleEverglades
The Everglades is a land of water. It is a big, wet field. The water moves very slowly. This place helps many plants and animals. It is a special place to see. Do you like to see water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleExtratropical cyclone
Big storms move across the Earth. They bring wind and clouds. Some storms bring snow or rain. They can change the weather fast. These storms help move air around. Do you like the rain?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFault (geology)
Rocks can break and move. This crack is called a fault. The ground can slip. This can make an earthquake. It is how the Earth moves. Do you feel the ground shake?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFeldspar
These rocks are everywhere. They make up much of the Earth. You can find them in many rocks. They help make things like glass. We use them every day. Do you see them in the ground?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFloodplain
A floodplain is land near a river. It gets wet when rivers overflow. This brings good food for plants. It helps farmers grow food. It is a busy place for animals. Can you see the water near the land?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFog
Fog is like a low cloud. It stays near the ground. It is made of tiny water drops. These drops hang in the air. Fog can make it hard to see. Have you ever seen fog?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFold (geology)
Rocks can bend like paper. They form in wavy shapes. These waves can be tiny. They can also be big as mountains. This helps us see how the Earth moves. Can you find a wavy rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFossil
Fossils are old things from long ago. They can be bones or shells. They are often found in rocks. They help us learn about life. It is like a puzzle from the past. Do you want to find one?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleFrost
Frost is a layer of ice. It sits on the grass. It forms when the air gets very cold. It looks like white crystals. It can be very pretty. Do you like to see the ice?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGemstone
Gems are pretty stones. People use them for jewelry. Some gems are very hard. They can shine in the light. You might see them in a ring. Do you have a favorite color?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeochronology
Scientists find out how old rocks are. They look at rocks and old bones. This helps us learn about our world. It tells us what happened long ago. We can see the past! Do you like old things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeodesy
We study the shape of Earth. It is not a perfect ball. We use tools to find where we are. This helps us make maps. It helps us find our way. Can you find your way home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeodetic datum
Maps need a starting point. This helps us find where we are. It tells us where land is. It helps us make good maps. It is very helpful for you. Do you like maps?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeological history of Earth
Earth is very old. Long ago, it was hot and melted. Then it cooled down. Water filled the oceans. Land moved around for a long time. Now we live here. Do you like our home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeologic time scale
Earth is very old. Scientists study rocks to learn about it. Rocks tell us about long ago. They show when things lived. This helps us know our world. Do you like old rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeomorphology
People study how the land looks. It shows how hills and valleys form. Wind and water change the ground. Even ice can shape the land. This helps us know our world. Do you like to explore outside?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeophysics
We study our big Earth. We look at how it works. We study rocks and the sea. We look at space, too. This helps us stay safe. Do you want to explore the world with us?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGeyser
A geyser is a hot spring. It shoots water into the air. Hot rocks deep down make the water boil. The steam pushes the water up high. It is a fun thing to see! Have you ever seen a geyser?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGlacial landform
Big ice moves over the land. It can crush rocks. It can make deep valleys. It can leave piles of sand. These shapes change our world. Do you like the snow?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGlacier
A glacier is a huge mass of ice. It moves very slowly. It forms from lots of snow. The ice can look blue. It helps give us fresh water. Do you like the cold?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGneiss
Some rocks have stripes. These stripes are light and dark. Heat and weight make them. They can be very old. This rock is strong. We use it for roads. Do you see stripes in rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGrand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a big hole in the ground. A river flows through it. The river cuts through the rocks. It makes the canyon very deep. It is a beautiful place to see. Have you ever seen a big canyon?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGranite
Granite is a very hard rock. It forms deep under the ground. It starts as hot, melted rock. Then it cools down slowly. This rock is used to build things. It can be pink, white, or gray. Do you like this rock?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGravel
Gravel is made of small rocks. These rocks can be found in rivers. Some people use them to make roads. They also help make hard concrete. It is very useful! Can you find some small rocks outside?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGreat Artesian Basin
Deep under the ground is much water. It is in a big layer of rock. This water helps people and animals live. It is a lifeline for the land. It is very important. Do you like to swim in water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is huge. It is in the sea. Tiny living things built it. Many fish live there too. It is a wonder to see. Can you see it from space?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGreat Oxidation Event
Long ago, the air was different. It did not have much air to breathe. Tiny life made more air. This changed the whole world. It helped new life grow. Do you like fresh air?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGreenhouse effect
The air keeps our world warm. Sunlight comes down to Earth. The air traps some heat. This helps us live here. Without it, we would be too cold. Do you feel the sun's warmth?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGreenland ice sheet
A giant sheet of ice covers Greenland. It is very, very thick. The ice is very old. It is getting warmer now. This makes the ice melt. The ice flows into the sea. Can you imagine all that ice?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGroundwater
Water hides under the ground. It stays in the dirt and rocks. We can use wells to find it. Many people drink this water. It helps us live. Do you like to drink water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGulf of Alaska
The Gulf of Alaska is a big part of the sea. It is near high mountains and cold ice. Many fish live in this blue water. It helps bring rain to many places. We can see many islands there too. Do you like the ocean?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleGulf Stream
The ocean has a warm river. It flows in the sea. This warm water helps keep places not too cold. It even helps fish swim north. It is a very big stream. Can you feel the warm water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHadley cell
Warm air moves in big loops. It rises near the middle of Earth. Then it moves toward the top and sides. It cools and sinks down far away. This helps move heat around our world. Do you feel the wind blow?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHail
Hail is ice that falls from the sky. It looks like small balls of ice. These stones fall during big storms. They can hit crops or cars. We stay inside when it hails. Have you ever seen hail?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHigh-pressure area
A high is a type of weather. It brings clear blue skies. The air moves out from the middle. This can make the weather warm. It helps make dry deserts. Do you like sunny days?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHill
A hill is a high part of the land. It is higher than the ground around it. It is not as tall as a mountain. Hills can be fun to climb. Do you like to walk on hills?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHistory of geology
People study our Earth. They look at rocks and old shells. They learn how the ground changes. This helps us know our world. It is very cool! Do you like rocks?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleHolocene
We live in a new time. It started after the ice melted. This time is for all people. We build big cities now. We change the world too. Do you like our world?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the article