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| Schoolyard Geology |
| Schoolyard Geology Home | Lesson 1 | 2 | 3 | Download | |
| 3 Schoolyard Geology Examples | Glacial Striations >> | Layers on top of layers >> |
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 Click to Enlarge | | Move Mouse Over to See Labels Image From: Matthew d'Alessio, USGS
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 Click to Enlarge Copyright Bruce Molnia, Terra Photographics
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 Click to Enlarge Image From: Matthew d'Alessio, USGS
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 Click to Enlarge Spain Info Group
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| Key Concepts: |
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| Links for further Exploration: | University of California Museum of Paleontology (Loads of superb teacher resources and student-friendly links) |
| Classroom Activities: |
Mud Fossils (USGS Activity, Grades K-3) University of California Museum of Paleontology (Loads of superb activities for K-12, with many activities emphasizing middle school) |
| Common Misconceptions: |
Misconception: Fossils are pieces of dead animals and plants. Fact: Fossils are not actually pieces of dead animals and plants. They are only the impression or cast of the original living thing. The actual living parts decay away but their shape is permanently recorded in the rock as it hardens. Misconception: Fossils of tropical plants cannot be found in deserts. Fact: Fossils record ancient environments present at the time the rocks were deposited. The climate of a particular location can change because of a combination of 3 important factors: 1) Plate tectonics may cause land to move across much of the globe -- points that were once at the tropics may have moved to high latitude regions where the climate is dry. This motion can be tracked using magnetic signatures recorded in the rocks. Uplift from plate collisions can also raise areas from the bottom of the ocean up above beaches and to high mountains -- all different local climate zones; 2) The entire climate of the planet shifts. The planet has gone through wet and dry, hot and cold periods where the entire planet was different than it is now. Isotopic signatures in rocks record these changes; 3) Human accelerated climate change. Humans have impacted the local climatic conditions of small areas for several thousand years through agricultural practices. Deforestation and irrigation can cause dramatic local changes. Today, humans are causing changes through greenhouse gas emissions that may be big enough to change the entire global climate. |
| Science Standards: |
California Gr2, Sc3d. Students know that fossils provide evidence about the plants and animals that lived long ago and that scientists learn about the past history of Earth by studying fossils. Gr3, Sc3e. Students know that some kinds of organisms that once lived on Earth have completely disappeared and that some of those resembled others that are alive today. Gr7, Sc4. Evidence from rocks allows us to understand the evolution of life on Earth. As a basis for understanding this concept: Gr7, Sc4a. Students know Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past and slow geologic processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time. Gr7, Sc4c. Students know that the rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks and that rocks are often found in layers, with the oldest generally on the bottom. Gr7, Sc4e. Students know fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed. Gr9-12, Bio8e. Students know fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed. |
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