Geology of Crater Lake

Carol Ormand
,
SERC, Carleton College
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Summary

Students examine and interpret geologic and topographic maps of Crater Lake.

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Context

Audience

Geology of the National Parks (intro level course for majors and non-majors)

See the course description, including links to all of the other teaching activities for this course.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should be familiar with geologic maps and how to read and interpret them.

How the activity is situated in the course

This is an early lab exercise, the fourth of several related to volcanoes and volcanic processes. It follows labs on the geology of Hawaii and Yellowstone, so students have seen a variety of volcanic rocks and terranes.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Students will be able to describe the shape of a stratovolcano and the rocks of which it is composed.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Geologic and topographic map interpretation

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

Students examine geologic and topographic maps of Crater Lake in order to describe the shape of a stratovolcano and the rocks of which it is composed.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Working alone or in groups, students write a brief report synthesizing what they have learned from the maps. I evaluate the report using a rubric.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs

Geologic map of Mount Mazama and vicinity
Geologic map of the caldera floor of Crater Lake
Topographic map of Crater Lake and vicinity