Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park

An Activity Using Virtual Fields




Overview/Introduction:

This project, Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park was developed to meet the need for online resources that will facilitate the educational use of field trips and field study programs in the high school science curriculum.

The goal of this project was to develop a hypermedia virtual learning environment using a field trip paradigm. The educational objective of the Virtual Field Trip software program was to enable the teacher to enhance, reinforce, and evaluate learning that occurs during an actual geoscience field study or field trip program.

Purpose or Objective:

The purpose of this project, Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park, was the development of a hypermedia-learning environment that can be used to increase student comprehension of the geological processes and research methodology involved in the evolution and development of Griffith Park.

The Los Angeles basin is a geologically active region. Students need to understand the forces and processes affecting their lives and those that shape the landscapes where they live.

The project contains the scientific content and curriculum model that will enable students and educators to research and scientifically investigate the geologic processes and history of Griffith Park. By making the project relevant to their lives, students will be motivated to learn and apply this knowledge

Time Required: 20 class periods

Materials, Tools, and Resources Needed: Student Handouts, Protractors, Pencils, Rock Samples from Griffith Park, and Web Access and Web Browser

Teacher Preparation:

Before beginning the Virtual Field Trip, photocopy all handouts and maps. Each student will use approximately 4 topographic maps during this project. Students will need to construct and color the geologic map before beginning this project.

To prepare for this project, the teacher should go to Griffith Park and become familiar with the field locations represented in the Virtual Field Trip Project. Visiting the sites will give the teacher an opportunity gather the rock samples needed to enhance student learning.

It is important that the teacher determine the available of Internet access before beginning this project. If Internet access is not available, the instructor may request a Windows CD-ROM by email at target@laep.org

1. A Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park

A Virtual Field Trip is designed to be used when teaching students the basic observational and research skills needed to conduct an actual field study program. There are four outcrop sites that the can be used to learn and practice basic field research skills. Students may work collaboratively to develop the social interaction skills that are an important part of the field trip learning experience. A secondary goal is to familiarize the students with the research locality that they will be studying during an actual geologic field trip to Griffith Park. The sites that students will study during their virtual field trip are sites they can investigate during their actual geologic field trip to Griffith Park.

Tasks to be completed during a virtual field trip:

  1. Learn to apply science research methodology to a geologic investigation

  2. Locate the site on a topographic map

  3. Complete a field notebook entry for a site

  4. Determine the rock units present at the site

  5. Select and justify the selection of a geologic hypothesis based on observations

Materials needed to conduct a virtual field trip:

  1. A topographic map and a geologic map of Griffith Park

  2. A sharp pencil, a protractor, a ruler, and a right triangle

  3. Virtual Field Trip Worksheets I to XII

  4. Basic rock collection and rock samples from Griffith Park

  5. Any reference and demonstration materials supplied by the instructor

  6. Virtual Field Notebook with topographic map of Griffith Park

  7. Virtual Field Trip Solution and Conclusion Worksheet

Instructional Lessons

Learning Objectives
By completing these lessons, students will be able to:

  1. Read a topographic map.

  2. Determine locations on a topographic map by using compass readings.

  3. Understand and apply a science research methodology to a geologic investigation.

  4. Understand and use hypotheses in a scientific investigation

  5. Conduct background research by reading a scientific publications, maps, and diagrams.

  6. To identify rocks and describe rocks formations using scientific publications, maps, and diagrams.

  7. Understanding Stratigraphic Columns

  8. Identifying Basic Rocks

  9. Identifying Rocks from Griffith Park

  10. Determine rock units using maps and rock samples

Prerequisite Student Knowledge:

Science: California Science Content Standards

Grade 6, ES 1f

  1. Plate tectonics accounts for important features of Earth's surface and major geologic events. As a basis for understanding this concept:

    1. Students know how to explain major features of California geology (including mountains, faults, volcanoes) in terms of plate tectonics.
Technology: Basic web browser skills

Student Handouts/ Record Sheets

  1. Reading and Understanding Topographic Maps

  2. Locating Sites on a Topographic Map
    Materials:
    Worksheet II, protractor, ruler, pencil, and topographic map of Griffith Park, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  3. Research Methodology Materials:
    Worksheet III, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  4. Understanding Hypotheses Materials:
    Worksheet IV, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  5. Background Research Materials:
    Worksheet V, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  6. Describe and Identify Rock Formations Materials:
    Worksheet VI, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  7. Stratigraphic Columns Materials:
    Worksheet VII, access to a Virtual Field Trip program

  8. Identifying Rocks Materials:
    Worksheet VIII, basic rock collection with 12 samples representing the three rock families

  9. Identifying Rocks from Griffith Park Materials:
    Worksheet IX, geologic map of Griffith Park, rock samples from Griffith Park

  10. Identifying Rock Formations Using Maps and Rock Samples Materials:
    Worksheet X, access to a Virtual Field Trip program, geologic map of Griffith Park, rock samples from Griffith Park of these rock units (Thsh, Tm, fg, Kg, Kccg, vq)

  11. Understanding Geologic Maps

  12. Understanding Cross Sections and Geologic Maps

  13. Geologic History; Understanding the Principles of Original Horizontality, Superposition, and Cross-Cutting relationships.

    Virtual Field Trip Notebook & Solution and Conclusion Report for Site 1
    Virtual Field Notebook
    Materials:
    A Virtual Field Notebook, topographic map and geologic map of Griffith Park, pencil, protractor, ruler, pencil, and access to a Virtual Field Trip program

    Virtual Field Trip Solution and Conclusion Report
    Materials:
    A completed Virtual Field Notebook, topographic map and geologic map of Griffith Park, pencil, protractor, ruler, pencil, and access to a Virtual Field Trip program





Grade 9-12

California Science Content Standards Addressed:

Grade 9-ES Dynamic Earth Processes

3. Plate tectonics operating over geologic time has changed the patterns of land, sea, and mountains on the Earth's surface. As the basis for understanding this concept, students know:

c. how to explain the properties of rocks based on the physical and chemical conditions in which they formed, including plate tectonic processes.

Investigation and Experimention

1. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content the other four strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

a. select and use appropriate tools and technology (such as computer-linked probes, spread sheets, and graphing calculators) to perform tests, collect data, analyze relationships, and display data.

d. formulate explanations using logic and evidence.

f. distinguish between hypothesis and theory as science terms.

h. read and interpret topographic and geologic maps.

i. analyze the locations, sequences, or time intervals of natural phenomena (e.g., relative ages of rocks, locations of planets over time, and succession of species in an ecosystem).



National Education Technology Standards for Students Addressed:

5. Technology Research Tools

  •  
    		•  Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources

    The Integrating Technology into Science Instruction webpages project is partially funded by grants from The Boeing Company and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Integrating Technology into Instruction is a project of Target Science (target@laep.org) and is displayed on the Los Angeles Educational Partnership Learning Exchange. Target Science is an initiative of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership.
    Updated August 2000