Sixth and Eighth Grade Science Classes Videoconference with Grand Canyon
by Mrs. Flynn
March 04, 2010
Sixth and Eighth Grade Science Classes Videoconference with Grand Canyon
On Tuesday, March 2nd, the sixth and eighth grade science classes had a wonderful learning opportunity. Through the use of videoconferencing technology, we were able to connect with National Park Service rangers at the Grand Canyon. Each class participated in a 1-hour interactive lesson on the geology of the Grand Canyon. The classes learned how the Grand Canyon formed, which can be summarized with the acronym “DUDE.” First, there was Deposition of the sedimentary rock layers (between 515 and 270 million years ago), then tectonic plate movement caused the Colorado Plateau to be Uplifted (between 70 and 30 million years ago), then the Colorado River began Downcutting, forming the gorge (beginning around 5 million years ago), last Erosion continues to occur, making the canyon wider and wider as the years go by.
The students were prepared for the videoconference by having some background lessons on fossils, sedimentary rocks, the principle of superposition, and the geologic time scale. As part of a group, each student also researched one of the Grand Canyon’s rock layers and presented their research during the videoconference. Many students said that their favorite part of the videoconference was when they had the opportunity to present information about the rock layer they had researched. Many sixth graders said they also enjoyed learning little “dances” to remember the three different types of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
