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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Arches National ParkOutdoor Education at Arches
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Arches National Park
3rdGrade
Learning to throw an Atlatl
NPS Photo by Neal Herbert
Learning to throw an atlatl
 

Force, Motion & Primitive Technologies (download PDF)
Students explore different types of simple machines by examining ancient technologies. Students examine different types of levers using digging sticks and throwing atlatls. They discover how wheels and axels were used to make fire, and how rock wedges can become useful tools.

Traveling Safely in the Desert (download PDF)
This in-class presentation explores the tools a student needs to hike safely in the desert ecosystem. Students learn their directions, things to bring with them, and most importantly what to do if they get lost.

Living and Non-living Interactions (download PDF)
Before and after the field trip, students explore producers, consumers, decomposers and food chains, through dioramas and art projects. On the field trip, a story and an active game reinforce predator-prey relationships. Students examine decomposers and explore different components of the high desert ecosystem.

Download entire 3rd Grade curriculum
[1.6mb PDF file]
Detail of petroglyph panel  

Did You Know?
Native Americans never inhabited Arches on a year-round basis, though they certainly roamed the area searching for wild game, useful plants and rocks for tool-making. Petroglyphs near Wolfe Ranch are thought to have been created by Indians from the Ute/Paiute cultures.
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Last Updated: March 16, 2009 at 17:10 EST