Magic Windows

Purpose:  To explore a basic concept of geology through simple inquiry.

Duration:  20 minutes

Materials required:

•	Two Golden Gate Bridge construction posters (teachers without one of our traveling trunks may order the posters from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy online store: 1-800-597-9550, product #P-3025).
•	Box of Golden Gate Magic Windows (teachers without a traveling trunk may use the Magic Window drawings on pages 2 and 3 of this document. Each group of students will need a transparency of window A and window B.
Directions:

1.	Hang the Golden Gate Bridge posters in the classroom.
2.	Ask students if they can look somewhere and see into the past (the poster).
3.	Distribute sets of Magic Windows to small groups of students.
4.	Have the students orient and compare the Magic Windows to the poster.
5.	Use the key questions to help guide the students through a simple inquiry process.

Key Questions:

•	What timeframe does the poster represent? How do you know?
•	What timeframe does each Magic Window represent? How do you know?
•	How is each window different from the poster? What is the same?
•	What questions do you have about your observations?
•	Do the Magic Windows illustrate processes that change the Earth’s surface? Explain.
•	How do you recognize geologic change in your environment?
•	How can recognizing geologic processes help your community?
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Golden Gate “A”
Magic Window artwork Farwell/Kvale

Golden Gate “B”
Magic Window artwork Farwell/Kvale