Pacific NW Geology

Course Goals1. Analyze geologic features for rock type and depositional

history and interpret the geologic history

2. Develop place-based guided-inquiry field trips and lab exercises for secondary students that is aligned with content standards

3. Describe the basic chronology of geologic events in the Pacific Northwest of North America.

4. List and describe the key geographic/geologic regions of the Pacific Northwest

5. Construct a conceptual W-E cross-section of the Pacific NW for various times in the geologic past

6. Analyze earth science literature written for geologists and the general public, extract the key points, and restate it in both written and picture form to be understandable to secondary studentsContent skill/knowledge Teaching application

Anywhere Hill – from analysis to teaching

• Rapid Geol 101 geologic environments review

• Visit local site and analyze geologic history• Scientific write-up• Write lab for 9th graders• Lead lab for 9th graders• Grade lab for 9th graders• Reflect• Write guided inquiry lab for own teaching

use in the future

Washington State Coastal Washington State Coastal Field TripField Trip

A celebration of hard work A celebration of hard work and an introduction to field and an introduction to field

geologygeologyDesigned By: Tara Collins

Adapted from Dr. Marie Ferland

Background InformationBackground Information

• Tahoma Senior High SchoolTahoma Senior High School

• Located in Kent, WALocated in Kent, WA

• 1,440 students 1,440 students

in grades 10-12in grades 10-12

What past events are recorded What past events are recorded in this salt marsh?in this salt marsh?

What to do…What to do…

• Students should make observations Students should make observations about:about:– The layers they observeThe layers they observe– The grain size variation throughoutThe grain size variation throughout– ““Breaks” in the lateral continuity of the Breaks” in the lateral continuity of the

layerslayers– Any weathering they observeAny weathering they observe– FOSSILS?!FOSSILS?!

Course Goals1. Analyze geologic features for rock type and depositional

history and interpret the geologic history

2. Develop place-based guided-inquiry field trips and lab exercises for secondary students that is aligned with content standards

3. Describe the basic chronology of geologic events in the Pacific Northwest of North America.

4. List and describe the key geographic/geologic regions of the Pacific Northwest

5. Construct a conceptual W-E cross-section of the Pacific NW for various times in the geologic past

6. Analyze earth science literature written for geologists and the general public, extract the key points, and restate it in both written and picture form to be understandable to secondary studentsContent skill/knowledge Teaching application

Pictorial Geologic History Book& the NW Geology Wall

• Each student becomes an “expert” in one region of Pacific NW

• Construct a Pictorial Geologic Book– 10 significant geologic events/periods– Rock formation/erosion– Climate, flora, fauna– IN SIMPLE PROSE & PICTURES

• Lead class lecture & discussion• Add to the NW Geology Wall

Geologic History of Southwest Washington

Emma Byman

The World during the Precambrian

http://www.earthscape.org/t2/scr01/scr01ab.html

Before 540 million years ago

Millions and millions of year ago, during the Precambrian, our world was a different place. Most of the world was covered with water; only some of the land we see today was visible in Precambrian time. The northeast portion of land, on the North American continent, was at the surface. (see the map at the right.)

http://www.scotese.com (Alt & Hyndman, 1995)

What our world looked like in the Precambrian.

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Life in the Precambrian (Plants and Animals)

http://www.paleoportal.org

Life during the Precambrian was sparse, nothing like today! Life was small! The most common form of life was blue-green algae (blue-green algae is like the green scum that grows in fish tanks). This blue-green algae was amazing, as it breathed, taking in carbon dioxide (what you breathe out) and expelling oxygen (what you breathe in). During the many millions of years of the Precambrian, blue-green algae created a whole lot of oxygen that then allowed more small life to form.

Rocks showing layers of algae that are from the Precambrian.

Near the end of the Precambrian there were very few invertebrates (animals without a backbone) living. These invertebrates looked like mutated jellyfish and worms.

(Alt & Hyndman, 1995)

Invertebrate fossil

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