2009 South Dakota Field
Investigations Trip
Journal Assignments
Total Scores:
Objective 1: ___/ 2: ___/ 3: ___/ 4: ___/ 5:
___/ 6: ___/
Guidelines for Your Journals
·
Put
the name of each site (“stop”) on the top of your journal page. Start a new page for each site.
·
Use a pencil. It writes best on the special waterproof paper in
your journal.
·
On bus rides in between sites, it would be a good idea to write
the assignments for the next site in your journal – or at least write a clear
heading so both of us can find it later.
·
Be sure to complete assignments at each site. Check the checklist
as you complete each item. Remember, we are not going back!
Journal Objectives:
Here is the “big picture” of the learning
that you need to demonstrate this week.
Each journal prompt has the number of its related objective up front. Like all of your other assignments, the
totals for each objective will be what goes in the gradebook.
Objective 1: Students
will be able to define personal learning goals related to geology and reflect
on those goals.
Objective 2: Students
will be able to write and/or draw detailed observations of various geological
features.
Objective 3: Students
will be able to explain the formation of selected large and small-scale
geologic features, based on evidence.
Objective 4: Students will be able to
compare and contrast geologic areas or structures.
Objective 5: Students
will be able to develop both researchable and testable geology-related
questions.
Objective 6: Students
will be able to design and carry out an investigation related to Door Trail at
the Badlands.
Day 1 - Monday, May 11,
2009
___1. On the bus, as we leave Parkers Prairie, write three learning goals for yourself
for this week. What do you hope to learn
about GEOLOGY over the next five days?
Stop 1.1: Wind Energy and Electric Power Generation in Southwestern
Minnesota
___5. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see, hear or feel.
___ 4. Discuss some advantages and disadvantages of wind energy. Is wind energy the answer to our energy
problems? Is it the answer to our
climate change problem? Why or why not?
Stop 1.2: Geology and Cultural History of Pipestone National
Monument
___ 1. Before going out on the trail, meet with your group and share
your learning goals for the week.
___2. You will see signs of “cross-bedding” in the rocks at
Pipestone. Think in advance what
cross-bedding might look like and write or draw your prediction in your journal.
___2. During your walk to the outcrop, make at least three
observations and write at least one question about what you see, hear or feel.
___2. At the outcrop, look closely at a piece of quartzite through
a lens. Draw what you see.
___3. How do you think the talus got here? Make a hypothesis and support your
explanation with evidence. (A drawing
might help.)
___3. Draw an example of cross-bedding and explain how you think it
was formed.
___3. You are a grain of sand. Describe your passage through time
as you become quartzite.
Stop 1.3: Devil’s Gulch Recreation Area
___5. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see, hear or feel.
___ 3. How do you think this gulch formed? What is the evidence that led you to this
hypothesis?
___4. Pick any rock that you know other than quartzite – would it
erode faster or slower than quartzite.
Explain!
___4. Would the gulch look the same if it was made from your rock? How would it be different?
___4. What do Devil’s Gulch and Pipestone have in common? How are they different?
___4. On the bus, as we drive to the KOA, discuss how the landscape
has changed since we left Parkers Prairie.
Make a list of these changes. (Include
detailed observations of the plants, animals, soils, etc.) What are some earth science reasons
why the landscape is different? (We will process this on the bus.)
___1. End of day reflection: What was cool about today? What was something interesting that you learned
about geology today?
Day 2 - Tuesday, May 12,
2009
___2. During our morning drive to the Badlands, use your South
Dakota map and itinerary to trace our route for the next three days.
Stop 2.1: Chamberlain Rest Stop
___3. Walk the path to the overlook at the north end of the rest
stop. Sketch of a the
river valley as you look upriver from the bluff. How do you think this valley was
formed? How do you know?
___4. How does the rock used to make the building compare to rocks
you have seen?
Stop 2.2: Badlands National Park
___2. Make at least 3 observations and write at least one question
about what you see.
___2. Pick an area and sketch it in your journal. What details did you observe while making
your drawing that you didn’t notice before?
___ 2. Pick a quiet place to sit and write about what you see and
feel for 5 minutes. You must do this alone!
Stop 2.3: Door Trail at Badlands National Park
___2. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see, hear or feel.
___2. Pick up and feel the soil.
Look at it through a lens. Describe
it.
___ 4. Meet in groups to share your observations about the
soil. How is it different from the soil
in Parkers Prairie? (Mrs. Schoeneck has
a bag of soil from Parkers that you can use for comparison.)
___6. Together, talk about some questions that you might do to
further investigate in this area. Record these experimental questions in your
journal. Pick a question that you can test, using any of the materials in the
“inquiry bag”. Carry out your investigation and record your data. How did your investigation answer your
question? Do a whiteboard presentation for your class. (12 points)
___3. Are these rocks igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic? How do you know?
___3. How did this area form?
Make a hypothesis and provide at least two pieces of evidence to support
it.
Stop 2.4: Collecting Activity and Investigation: Rocks, Agates
and Buffalo National Grasslands
___2. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see, hear or feel.
___4. Collect 5 stones that you think are cool. Get in a small group with other students.
Compare the rocks and try to find two that are the same. What evidence do you have for thinking so?
___2. What do you think it would be like to stand here 10,000 years
ago when most of these stones were deposited? Include sounds, sites, colors,
and smells in your description.
___1. End of day reflection: What was cool about today? What was something interesting that you
learned about geology today?
Day 3 - Wednesday, May 13,
2009
Stop 3.1: Entering the Black Hills – Spearfish, SD
(Note: This
is a “drive-through” stop!)
___4. Observe the rock formations as we drive into the Black
Hills. How are these rock formations
different from the Badlands?
___2. Make at least three observations about the rock outcrops we
see on our drive to Devil’s Tower.
(Sketching one might help.)
Stop 3.2: Devil’s Tower: Igneous Rock and Area Plate Tectonics
___5. At Devil’s Tower, make at least three observations and write
at least one question about what you see, hear or feel.
___4. On the trail, look at a talus sample through a lens. Draw what you see. How is this rock different from all the rocks
we have seen so far?
___4. At the overlook, compare the rock material at the tower with
the rocks you observe in the valley.
Describe both in your journal. How
are they different?
___3. How do you think Devil’s Tower was formed? Write a hypothesis in your journal and give EVIDENCE
to back it up!
Stop 3.3: Spearfish Canyon
___3. Are these rocks igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic? How do you know?
___3. How do you think this canyon was formed? How do you know it was not formed by a
glacier?
Stop 3.4: Homestake Gold Mine, Lead,
SD
___2. Make a quick sketch of the open mining pit. (Don’t worry about the roads. Draw the
rocks.) You are looking at the inside of
a mountain! Write at least three
observations of what you see.
___3. Are these rocks igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic? How do you know?
Stop 3.5: Mount Rushmore
___2. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see, hear or feel.
___ 2. Make at least three observations of rocks along the walkway. Draw the crystal of one mineral of
your choice. Are these rocks igneous,
sedimentary or metamorphic? How do you
know?
___4. On the bus, talk to your friends about what
you observed in general about the Black Hills and the Badlands. Why do you think these two areas are so different? Write your thoughts and observations in your
journal.
___3. Quaquaversal is a cool geology
word. Write the word in your journal and
what you think it means. Find out what
it really means and what it has to do with the Black Hills. Say it ten times really fast!
___1. End of day reflection: What was cool about today? What was something interesting that you
learned about geology today?
Day 4 - Thursday, May 14,
2009
Stop 4.1: Wind Cave National Park
Bring a
small flashlight today!
___2. Make at least three observations and write at least one
question about what you see.
___3. Observe the rocks in and around Wind Cave. Are these rocks igneous, sedimentary or
metamorphic? How do you know?
___3. With your group, hike the designated area at the park. (We
will explain where to go with your group leaders.) As a group, come up with a
story on the formation of Wind Cave. You
must give detailed descriptions of the process from the beginning to what is
now the cave. Present your hypothesis to
your class.
___1. What was the most interesting thing you learned at Wind Cave?
Stop 4.2: Black Hill Geology Research Institute.
___ 5. Look around the museum first – Write a question for Peter or
Neal.
___ 4. Select one similar structure (like the shells, teeth, jaws,
toes, hips, etc.) from two dinosaurs or two other related creatures. Sketch both, then compare and contrast
the structures of the two animals.
___ 1. End of day reflection: What was cool about today? What was something interesting that you
learned about geology or paleontology today?
Day 5 - Friday, May 15,
2009
___1. On the bus, write some comments about why this trip was
important to you. How do you think you
will remember these last five days?
___1. Look at the learning goals you wrote on the first day. Did you meet or exceed these goals? EXPLAIN!
___5. After five days of field investigations, what new or
unanswered questions do you have about geology? (Yes, you must have some!)