Geography Resources
revised 10-5-15
Where to Go
The California Academy of Sciences offers a geology field trip through its ROCK program.
For adult learners (or families), the USGS has published an entire San Andreas Fault Field Trip.
It's a road trip complete with maps, geology, and history.
It's a road trip complete with maps, geology, and history.
Plate tectonics is happening first hand at Point Reyes.
Check out their Earthquake trail to learn more about the 1906 earthquake and its effects firsthand.
Self-guided field trips are available on Mondays and Fridays without a reservation.
Their website has a curriculum available (middle school)
but there's also a pdf of the info panels from the Earthquake trail.
Check out their Earthquake trail to learn more about the 1906 earthquake and its effects firsthand.
Self-guided field trips are available on Mondays and Fridays without a reservation.
Their website has a curriculum available (middle school)
but there's also a pdf of the info panels from the Earthquake trail.
Classroom Curriculum
Simplified, the earth is made of rocks which hold the stories of history within them.
Geology is also part of the 4th grade science standards.
In those terms, rocks can provide the evidence that supports an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
Many of the things listed below will help support the teaching of the new Earth Systems science strand.
Geology is also part of the 4th grade science standards.
In those terms, rocks can provide the evidence that supports an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
Many of the things listed below will help support the teaching of the new Earth Systems science strand.
There are many clever ways to teach geology at an elementary level. Here are some of my favorites.
Continuing with the use of food and science, sandwiches are easy way to explain plate tectonics.
The lesson from Save The Bay is here.
The lesson from Save The Bay is here.
Ranger "Roxi" from the GGNRA Park Service has published her fantastic Edible Geology curriculum with lesson plans in three languages. These lessons are specific to the SF Bay Area but can be adapted for other regions.
Playdough Rock Cycle from East Tennessee Wildflowers.
At the very bottom of the teacher resource page is a fun way to demostrate how rocks are made.
At the very bottom of the teacher resource page is a fun way to demostrate how rocks are made.
Ride The Rock Cycle is a dice game that has students travel through the cycle and record their journey. It has an awesome tie in to narrative.
The California Academy of Sciences also offers curriculum kits that can be checked out after a workshop is taken.
The cost is $20 for a three week loan. The geology one has enough materials to teach a unit to a class of 32.
The Academy also has on line lessons. For geology, there's Rock Cycle Roundabout and Measuring Earthquakes
The cost is $20 for a three week loan. The geology one has enough materials to teach a unit to a class of 32.
The Academy also has on line lessons. For geology, there's Rock Cycle Roundabout and Measuring Earthquakes
The Daly City landfill dilemma is also an interesting classroom conversation about development's meetup with nature. It was used at SF State in a Geology class and could be adapted to a 4th grade level.
This Week in California History
This is a fun historical trivia site though I would preview a given day's content before sharing in the classroom.
They have a variety of "Dot the Map" games.
This is a fun historical trivia site though I would preview a given day's content before sharing in the classroom.
They have a variety of "Dot the Map" games.
Books, Maps, Websites, and Videos
Assembling California by John McPhee is considered the classic book to learn about California's geological history.
A relief map of California is a valuable tool while teaching geology. Two versions can be found here and here.
Although this video focuses on the state of Colorado, it is a fascinating yet complicated explanation of how the state was formed. The formation of the Sierras is mentioned.
Joshua Tree National Park lends videos to classrooms. Click here to learn more.
I'm a big fan of the Bill Nye Science videos/web site as an introduction to science concepts. Videos that go with this topic are earthquakes, rocks and soil, erosion, volcanoes, and earth's crust. The videos can be often be streamed on line, borrowed from a public library, or purchased on Amazon.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area provides San Francisco related geological resources for teachers. There's a reference sheet on the Golden Gate's Geology and specific details on the Franciscan Rocks.
The Rock Cycle Song by Mr. Parr on Ted Ed
Life is a Highway becomes Cycle of Pathways
Life is a Highway becomes Cycle of Pathways