Rock! Pattern! Systems!

Teacher Workshop

Please keep in mind that this program requires all teachers new to the program to attend a teacher workshop prior to class participation. The Rocks! Patterns! Systems! teacher workshop will take place on February 1st, 2025.

 

Education Reservations Forms for the 2024-2025 school year are now live! To apply, please submit the form found at the bottom of this page.

 

 

Overview

Grade 4

 

Students look at ranger and raise their hands at Point Bonita.

Kirke Wrench NPS Volunteer

How can patterns of change help us understand geologic and human activity?

The Rock! Pattern! Systems! program ignites the imagination of young geologists as they experience the Marin Headlands—a place known for its unique geologic remnants of underwater volcanoes. Through hybrid learning, students utilize copies of the first complete world map of the ocean floor to investigate rock patterns that reveal information about Earth's forces, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Teachers and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area education team engage students in science practices by making observations, collecting data and asking questions in the classroom and field-visit to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Additionally, the program integrates culturally relevant pedagogy that centers Chinese immigrant laborers and highlights indigenous people. The multifaceted curriculum will result in students developing a personal connection to the landscapes rocks and human experience.

The Rock! Pattern! Systems! program uses the Understanding by Design framework and aligns with the K-12 Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Standards. It’s framed by the essential question – “How can patterns of change help us understand geologic and human activity?”

Click on the links below to assess the programs framework and curriculum.

Program’s Framework and Curriculum Links:

Please click here for the Understanding by Design grid.

Please click here for the curriculum for Rock! Pattern! Systems!

Program Structure

The Rock! Pattern! Systems! program is structured in the following three-touch model:

• Classroom preparation – Pre-trip lessons delivered by the teacher and a virtual or in-person class visit from an NPS rangers will prepare students for the field session. During these sessions, students will explore different characteristics of human change and use a model to map out patterns of ancient underwater rock formations.

• Field visit – During the park experience, students investigate seafloor rock types, engage in scientific inquiry, and examine cause-and-effect relationships of human and geologic activity on the Point Bonita Lighthouse trail.

• Classroom Assessment – the post-trip lesson is led by the teacher. Students transfer their knowledge through evidence-based writings and/or drawings of the environmental and human changes they see in their community.

 

Sea lions on pillow basalt at Point Bonita

NPS Volunteer/ Suzanne Garcia

How to Apply

Step 1: Educators must complete the Education Reservation Request Form.

Step 2: Park staff will reach out to accepted classes after September 24, 2024 to schedule a date for your class visit and park visit. Please keep in mind, programs at Fort Point are only offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Step 3: New teachers must attend a Teacher Workshop to confirm program dates.

Step 4: Teachers complete pre-site lessons with students before the scheduled Ranger Class visit. Ranger visits the classroom virtually or in-person.

Step 5: Class attends in-person park visit.

Step 6: Teachers complete the post-site lesson and share student work with Rangers.

 

Education Reservation Request Form – In-person Park Visit

Use this form to apply for the Rock! Pattern! Systems! Education Program. 
 
Please note the following:  
 

• Education Programs are only offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Programs are FREE of charge. Programs are available in a Spanish/English bilingual setting – please be sure to inform the Ranger ahead of time.  
• Due to limited staffing at each park site, we ask that classes only apply to one of the program offerings throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Program locations can ONLY accommodate 1 class per day (minimum of 10 students). 
• Ranger-led programs generally last 2 hours, not including driving or lunch time. Expect total time of park visits (travel to site, program, lunch) to be approximately 5-6 hours. 
• Chaperones are expected to attend and support each program – 1 per 10 student ratio. 
• New teachers are expected to attend a Teacher Workshop to be considered for a program – workshop dates will be announced on each program website 
• Bus scholarships may be available for high need schools. If interested in a scholarship, please include this request in the transportation section of the form. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.