Rocks on the Move - Planktonic Landscapes of Radiolarian Chert

The Essential Question:

Geology investigation of Radiolarian Chert in the Marin Headlands for grades 7-12
Overview
How do I recognize geologic change in my environment?
This essential question frames Rocks on the Move and is meant to promote student engagement in place-based science inquiry at the Marin Headlands.

Reflects the essence of what they will study without directing them to one correct answer.
Provokes discussion and critical thinking.
Applies to places beyond the Marin Headlands.
Invites discussion from everyone based on both experience and understanding.
Students explore the diversity of tectonic plate movements, the geologic events, and changing climates recorded in the radiolarian chert of the Marin Headlands. Students use local scientific research and analyze local geologic features to reconstruct possible paleo-climates and tectonic movements. Students consider impacts of past and future climate on a landscape.

Program Goals

Enrich their understanding of a place through inquiry.
Experience National Parks as places for learning and recreation and develop a personal connection with their local National Parks.
Gain first-hand experience with the effects of plate tectonics and active geologic processes.
Appreciate the Golden Gate Headlands as an epicenter of plate tectonic theory.

Program Objectives

Students will identify the significant physical characteristics of radiolarian chert and the features of chert landscapes.
Students will analyze the geologic processes evidenced in a landscape.
Students will engage in an informed discussion of the possible future of the chert landscape they are investigating.
Students will consider how communities adapt to global climate change.

Ties to the Curriculum
Next Generation Science Standards:

MSESS1-4: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic timescale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6 billion-year-old history.
MS-ESS2-3: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
MSESS3-5:	Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
HS-ESS1-5: Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.
Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems (MS-ESS2-3).
Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data (MS-ESS3-2).

Scientific knowledge is based on the assumption that natural laws operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future (HS-ESS1-2).
Source: http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssstandards.asp
California Common Core Standards:

LACC.68.RH.3.7: Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
LACC.68.RH.3.8: Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text. Source: www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/finalelaccssstandards.pdf
Program Description
The program has three elements: pre-visit classroom lessons conducted by the teacher and NPS staff, a Marin Headlands field program facilitated by NPS staff, and post-visit lessons guided by the teacher.
Before NPS staff come to the classroom:

Teacher reviews basics of plate tectonics. The Beach Ball Earth lesson may be used for this. The lesson plan is included in the materials provided during the teacher workshop, or on the NPS website.

NPS staff-led classroom presentation:

The classroom presentation builds on students’ prior knowledge.

Pre-trip presentation (part 1): NPS staff introduce the scientific value of radiolarian chert research. NPS staff show a short slideshow to anchor the research to the field trip location (Marin Headlands).

Pre-trip presentation (part 2): NPS staff guide students through construction of a biostratigraphic graph derived from recent chert analysis by local geologists. Students pose questions related to landscape formation and climate change, and offer initial explanations for the gap in the fossil record seen in their graphs.

Field Program in the Park

At the chert outcrop: NPS staff facilitate student in-depth observation and exploration of an impressive chert outcrop in the Marin Headlands. Students collaborate to offer explanations of how the outcrop formed as seen today. Students use their new knowledge to offer new or different explanations of the gap in the fossil record evidenced in the rocks.

Cookie Tectonics: NPS staff guide students through a tactile demonstration that helps students explain the current chert landscape.

Chert Math: Students learn how to calculate the amount of time represented in a piece of local chert rock. Students then calculate the amount of time represented in the entire sequence of chert rock mapped in the Marin Headlands.

Post-visit activities

Students complete the post visit reflection assignment provided by NPS staff at the end of the field program.

Teacher returns the post visit reflections via NPS postage-paid envelope.

Curriculum Resources
Digital files provided at the teacher workshop or on the website include:

Lesson plans for Magic Windows, Beach Ball Earth, Edible Geology, Cookie Tectonics
Links to information and FAQs for the common rocks of the Franciscan Complex, including radiolarian chert
I Have Tectonics activity
Other materials to supplement your Earth Science curriculum
List of web links for online resources

A traveling trunk and maps may be loaned to participating Bay Area teachers. The materials include:

Beach ball Earth globe with tectonic plate boundaries
Classroom set of Private Eye©  Loupes
Hand samples of Franciscan Complex rocks
Information cards for Franciscan Complex rocks
Materials for Tectonic Vacation project
Golden Gate Bridge Magic Windows for pre-visit lesson
Laminated posters for Golden Gate Bridge Magic Window lesson
Set of geology posters for the Golden Gate Headlands and the Franciscan rocks
World map of tectonic plates
San Francisco Bay Area regional fault map

National Park Service web pages:

Rocks on the Move middle school program materials can be found at http://www.nps.gov/ goga/learn/education/secondary-02.htm

Rock! Pattern! Systems! (fourth grade geology) curriculum materials can be found at http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/ education/rock-pattern-systems.htm

To explore more Franciscan geology resources for teachers and students, go to http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/education/park-teachers-home.htm