New England Landscapes:

A Field Based Study of Local Geology through Chemistry, Biology, and Physics

Erica Wallstrom ewallstrom@rutlandhs.k12.vt.us (802)770-1103

Science Lab 3 Tutorial: C-Block (White 27) Free Period: E-Block

Rutlands backyard is an ideal laboratory for geological exploration. It is nestled into a geologically diverse and interesting area. The Green Mountains are to the east, the Taconic Mountains boarder the west, and the Champlain Valley runs to the north. With world famous slate and marble quarries less than 20 miles from the city limits, the region maintains a rich history of mining and geological industry. Additionally, it is less than a half days drive to the Adirondack, Berkshire, and White Mountains. While we will not visit all of these areas in person, you will develop the skills and techniques necessary to begin understanding the geological features that have shaped our landscapes. After this tour of our own neighborhood you will view New England through a whole new perspective.

COURSE GOALS:
Introduction to observational field based skills Applying problem solving and critical thinking skills to our local land features Independent investigations using the scientific method Overview of potential geosciences professions Appreciation for the geosciences

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY STANDARDS:

Students Students Students Students Students Students Students Students demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate demonstrate their their their their their their their their understanding of SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONING understanding of PREDICTING AND HYPOTHESIZING understanding of EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN ability to CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS ability to REPRESENT DATA ability to ANALYZE DATA ability to EXPLAIN DATA ability to APPLY RESULTS

FINAL GRADE:
40% 40% 20% Field Component (Attendance for 6 field days) Proficiency in Science Skill and Content Standards Capstone Project

FIELD COMPONENT:
This is a field based class which means there will be a number off campus trips. There is NO cost to you for these trips. Successful completion of this course REQUIRES your attendance for at a minimum of six days worth of field experiences. You are welcome to participate in as many as you would like. Please review the following field component options and plan your schedule for the semester. Plan ahead and budget your time appropriately. Modifications will NOT be offered

for students that do not complete the field component. If you anticipate a problem see me at the BEGINNING of the semester. The following is a list of the field opportunities. Additional trips may be offered, but you should not depend on added trips to fulfill your requirement. OVERNIGHT TRIPS (Each trip is worth 2 days towards field component unless noted otherwise) Location: Princeton, NJ Description: We will have an opportunity to visit the Princeton University Geosciences Laboratory Space. We will be staying on campus. Dates: February 21-23 * Location: Bretton Woods, New Hampshire Description: GSA (Geological Society of America) Regional Conference. We will stay in a townhouse on location. Dates: March 17-19 * Location: Burlington, South Hero VT Description: We will be camping. Dates: April 13-15 Location: Saratoga Springs NY, South Albany NY, Amherst MA Description: We will be joining Princeton Universitys Intro to Geology during their field trip to this area. We will be spending the night in a hotel/motel. Dates: May 4-5 DAY LONG TRIPS (Each trip is worth 1 day towards field component). It is YOUR responsibility to make up the missed work in your other classes. Location: Granville, NY Description: Visiting the slate quarry museum Date: March 7th (11AM 4PM) * Location: Danby, VT Description: Visiting the marble quarry Date: March 27th (Noon 3PM) Location: Fair Haven, White Hall, NY Date: April 10th (8AM 3PM) Location: Fort Ann, NY Date: April 24th (8AM - 3PM) PERIOD LONG TRIPS These trips will take place during our regular scheduled class period (from 12 PM until 1:45 PM). They DO NOT count towards you field requirement. Location: Pine Hill Park Quarry, Route 3 on the way to Proctor, Wheelerville Rd., etc. * Set dates. Other dates are weather dependent and may change in extreme situations.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS:
Each field experience will include a summative assessment. There will be two versions of each summative one taken by those who attend the field experience, and one for those who did not participate in the field trip. These assessments will evaluate your understanding of the science as well as the skills that are required of successful geoscientists.

CAPSTONE PROJECT:
This will be your final project for this class and will take the place of a final exam. For the last part of the course, you will be developing a proposal for a question you have about Rutlands local geology. It will include the beginning pieces of the scientific method: your question, your hypothesis, background research on the topic, and procedure of how you would go about testing your idea. For those of you who choose to take the YES Plan component of this course you will then have an opportunity to return to the field, collect data, process samples at the Princeton laboratory, and summarize your conclusions.

UNITS:
OBSERVATIONS
I SEE skies of blue, clouds of white . . . and I think to myself what a wonderful world. Armstrong Observations Quantitative vs. Qualitative Inferences
AND INFERENCES

~Louis

SCIENTIFIC METHOD I am the wisdom mystical, Hyper-SCIENTIFICAL. ~ Boyz II Men

Testable Questions Hypothesizing Percent Error Developing Procedures
AND

ROCKS

MINERALS

We will, we will, ROCK YOU. ~Queen Mineral Identification Rock Identification

FIELD DRAWING
Well walk in FIELDS of gold ~Sting

Proportion Depth Perspective Shading

MAPPING
GET OUT THE MAP, get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down. ~Indigo Girls Reading maps o Topographic maps o Geologic maps o GPS

o Orienteering Interpreting maps o Making profiles o GIS Creating to maps o Constructing a cross- section using a map o Constructing a cross-section in the field

GIVING AGES TO EVENTS Well Ive got a DATE. ~ Dionne Warwick Relative Dating o Strike o Dip Absolute Dating o Mass Spectrometer
LABORATORY SKILLS And I feel like a LABORATORY rat, inside a maze. ~The Cure Thin Sections Mass Spec

CAPSTONE PROJECT Focusing on geomorphology of Rutland County

Its the END OF THE WORLD as we know it (and I feel fine). ~R.E.M. Developing an independent testable Question Complete Background Research Develop well researched Hypothesis Plan out Procedure