Geology and Educational Approaches

Matt Brunner, a sixth-grade earth science teacher, thanks the Benedum committee for funding his grant, which allowed him to visit national parks across the U.S. to study geology. This experience ties into his curriculum, where students learn about rocks, minerals, weathering, and erosion. He uses videos from his trips to support a flipped classroom model and the one-to-one iPad program. The video showcases various national parks, highlighting different rock types and geological features, such as metamorphic rocks in Rocky Mountain, sedimentary rocks in Bryce Canyon, and basalt in Petroglyphs National Monument. The video also covers rock types and subgroups, and explores Bertha Pass and the Continental Divide.

What was the main purpose of the Benedum grant received by the teacher?

• To organize a student exchange program

• To purchase new lab equipment

• To develop a new science curriculum

• To study the geology of national parks

How does the national parks project help sixth-grade students?

• By teaching them about the history of the parks

• By helping them understand rocks, minerals, and erosion

• By enhancing their language arts abilities

• By improving their math skills

What educational approach is being used to enhance learning in the classroom?

• Flipped classroom with video lectures

• Traditional lectures

• Group projects only

• Field trips every week

Which type of rock is formed from sedimentary rocks subjected to heat and pressure?

• Sedimentary

• Metamorphic

• Igneous

• Volcanic

What is a characteristic of extrusive igneous rocks?

• They cool quickly on the Earth's surface

• They have large visible crystals

• They are formed from sedimentary rocks

• They cool slowly inside the Earth

Which national park is known for its hoodoos made of sedimentary rock?

• Rocky Mountain National Park

• Bryce Canyon National Park

• Yellowstone National Park

• Grand Canyon National Park

What type of rock is basalt, and how does it form?

• Volcanic, formed from ash deposits

• Sedimentary, formed from compacted sediments

• Metamorphic, formed from heat and pressure

• Igneous, formed from quickly cooled lava

What is a key feature of intrusive igneous rocks?

• They form large visible crystals

• They are primarily found in deserts

• They have small, fine crystals

• They are formed from lava flows

What is the significance of the Continental Divide?

• It is the highest point in the U.S.

• It is a famous hiking trail

• It marks the boundary between two states

• It separates two major watersheds

What happens to air pressure at high elevations like Bertha Pass?

• It increases significantly

• It causes objects to contract

• It remains the same as at sea level

• It decreases, causing objects to expand