Pictorial Geologic History Book
This activity has benefited from input from a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop.
This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop. Workshop participants were provided with a set of criteria against which they evaluated each others' activities. For information about the criteria used for this review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/teacherprep/workshops/workshop07/activityreview.html.
This page first made public: May 9, 2007
In this project the student creates a 10-part written & pictorial geologic history book of a region (the assignment below mentions the Pacific NW specifically because that is the emphasis of the class for which it was developed, but this project can be adapted for any region). Each of the 10 parts pertains to one interval of time during which something geologically significant occurred in their region of interest. The student is asked to evoke—with pictures and simple language—what the processes of rock formation, climate, and life was like at that time in a way that a secondary student would be able to understand. The book also includes a glossary of geologic terms used and an overview description of the geologic history in 1-2 pages. The book is assessed based on the rubric in the assignment below.
Learn more about the course for which this activity was developed.
Context for Use
This assignment was developed as part of a 300-level Pacific NW Geology class that is specifically designed for earth science teaching majors. The only prerequisite for the class is Geology 101 - although actual student geologic experience ranges from only 101 to more than 6 prior geology classes. The course averages about 10 students, but the assignment could certainly be used in a class with more students. The scope and expectations of the assignment are described in class but the work is all done on the student's own time. It is one of the larger assignments for the course (points and student time-wise) and is due at or near the end of the quarter. A related assignment is that each student leads a class period (20-30 minute lecture followed by class discussion) about the geology of their chosen region.
The attached assignment is specific to the Pacific NW because that is the focus of the class for which it was developed, but it could easily be adapted for use in any region.
Teaching Notes and Tips
References and Resources
The following are websites I point my students towards to get started on their project.
Paleomap Project - global plate tectonics and climate through time (http://www.scotese.com/)
Detailed earth history - http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/geotime/main/index.html
Controlled Vocabulary Terms
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):Introductory Level