Activity: Investigating erosion in an outdoor classroom, by Ellen Mackey and Erin Eissinger

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Overview

Discover how rock layers and fossils form and how they erode

Purpose and learning goals

To provide a field study opportunity and follow up with an ethical discussion related to land and water conservation

Prerequisite knowledge

Knowledge of local watershed, geology, and conservation issues

Intended grade level

1st grade, Boulder Valley School District (appropriate for K to 2)

Time involved

Teacher prep: 2 hour; student time: 4 hours

Background information for the unit

The Flatirons Outdoor Classroom (Boulder, CO) provides a unique closed water system to experiment with erosion. It also has a variety of fossil prints embedded in the surrounding rocks. A hose and sandbox could be used to create a similar field study.

Materials

Buckets, shovels, small dinosaurs or mock fossils to bury

Preparation

Schedule a field trip or create a mock watershed

Student journals

Reflection drawing/writing back in classroom

Procedure on the day of the field study

• Discuss expectations and sharing of supplies
• Divide into groups of 3 to 4 students and build mountains along the streambed
• Bury fossils in the mountains
• Have students predict what will happen and how the streambed will change
• Release water
• Observe erosion and the movement of earth and fossils
• Discuss findings and ask questions
• Read The Best Book of Fossils, Rocks and Minerals by Chris Pellant
• Discuss how rock layers and fossils form
• Fossil hunt (Ethical issues: Who hunts where? Who keeps the fossils? What is destroyed? Etc.)

Reflecting on the activity/ideas for assessment

Students write and draw what they learned about erosion and fossils. Have the group reflect on group dynamics and challenges.

Key questions that may be asked with 'Look fors'

Where does the water flow? How does earth change? How do we share resources? Do we dig and destroy or let it be? Science versus aesthetics.

Extensions and applications

Language arts, math, art

Adaptations for special needs

Parent helpers for support, easily accessible

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