Exploring Earth Science in ShenandoahNational Park provides middle and high school teachers with the support materials and training necessary to use ShenandoahNational Park to instruct earth science and geology. Teachers must attend an instructional workshop to receive the materials and training.
The curriculum contains lesson plans provide opportunities to study outstanding examples of different geologic processes and concepts. Pre-visit activities introduce students to relevant concepts in preparation for their park visit. On-site activity descriptions, maps, and worksheets are included for the park field trip itself. Post-visit activities are included to be completed after returning to school so that students can apply what they learned to their home environment.
The Hydrology and Groundwater unit focuses on how surface water and groundwater affect limestone terrain, and how karst topography evolves. Students explore the hydrology of a karst stream, investigate solution and deposition features in a cave, and create a hypothetical plan for developing a wetland.
Landforms and Life Forms focuses on the interconnections between rock type, elevation, climate, weathering, and erosion, and how they impact biodiversity. Students learn how weathering and erosion have shaped the Blue Ridge Mountains and created habitats for living organisms.
In the Soils and Watersheds unit, direct observation of geologic features leads students to the realization that the an area's geology helps determine its soil type, plant community, and how humans use the land.
Through the Geologic Hazards and Land Use unit, students gain an understanding of river systems and the sometimes catastrophic geologic events that shape them. They study how rivers shape landscapes and the impact this may have on people.
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