Gallery Walk Questions on Weathering and Mass Wasting

This material was originally created for Starting Point:Introductory Geology
and is replicated here as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service.

created by Mark Francek, Central Michigan University

The following are potential questions that could be used in a gallery walk activity about weathering and mass wasting. The questions are organized according to the cognitive level at which students are engaged, using Bloom's Taxonomy.

Knowledge

What is soil creep?

Comprehension

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Application

Develop a set of instructions for homeowners to evaluate whether their property is prone to mass wasting or weathering damage.

Analysis

1. What variables would you use from soils, topographic, and bedrock maps in siting a new subdivision in a hilly region near San Francisco?

2. Look at the following topographic quadrangles. Examine how structure, lithology, and geomorphic process contribute to the landforms depicted on the map. (Instructor picks out quadrangles.)

Synthesis

Write an experiment, with hypothesis, methods, and analysis section, showing how food can illustrate weathering or mass wasting.

Evaluation

1. Based on the soils, topographic, and bedrock maps, what is the problem with siting the dam at Pt. A?

2. Look at the posted topographic quadrangle. Argue for/against the mass wasting potential on this map of glacial features. Place a red sticker on areas depicted on the map that are unlikely to have a mass wasting event. Justify your assessment. Place a green sticker on areas where a mass wasting event is promising. Justify your assessment.



Visit the introduction to Gallery Walks for more information about using Gallery Walks in your classes.

Learn more about creating questions for Gallery Walk using Bloom's Taxonomy

To see a more fully fleshed out example of a Gallery Walk activity, check out either Weather Map Interpretation or Soil Morphology.