Interpreting the Geologic History of Canyon de Chelly
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection
This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.
This page first made public: May 11, 2012
Summary
This is a two-part lesson designed to give secondary Earth Science teachers an opportunity to experience what it is like to be a field geologist. Teachers will combine field observations with information given in the lesson to interpret the geologic history of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. Part one of the lesson occurs in the classroom with an overview of the regional geology and a review of some basic geologic concepts. Part two occurs in the field where teachers make observations about rock type, unconformities, structures, and erosion. The lesson concludes with a discussion about interpretation of data and multiple hypotheses.
Learning Goals
Higher-order Thinking Skills: Students will integrate several different geologic concepts with their observations to interpret the geologic history of the area. Students will think critically about multiple hypotheses and determine if they make sense given the available data.
Other goal: To give teachers and students an opportunity to experience doing geologic field work and using the scientific method as it applies to the geosciences.
Methods of Geoscience
- Making detailed observations in the field.
- Development of hypotheses based on observations.
- Comparison of data and hypotheses to present knowledge base.
Context for Use
Description and Teaching Materials
- Background and Instructional Procedures for Interpreting the Geologic History of Canyon de Chelly (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 132kB May10 12)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Assessment
References and Resources
- Stratigraphy of Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
- National Park Service geology handout of Canyon de Chelly.
- Overview of the geologic history of the Colorado Plateau. (more info)
- National Park Service overview of Colorado Plateau province.
- Hopkins, R.L, 2002. Hiking the Southwest's Geology, Four Corners Region. The Mountaineers Books, Seattle, WA.