To better understand the Earth, you have to get out and observe it. We can't have many field trips in a large introductory course, so if you really want to be able to pick up a rock, look at the landscape, and "read it", the best thing to do is to go on field trips, run by our department or community geology clubs, attend mineral exhibits, etc. You don't get credit for doing these things, and you don't have to do them for the course. But for those interested, here are some activities in the area: