31 Teaching Central Texas Geology: Honoring the Career of Leon Long
Friday, 5 April 2013
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Amphitheater 204
G-CAMP: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AT HUNTSVILLE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Paper number: 31-7
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Authors
Abstract
I have used photos of Sonora Cavern when teaching my students about weathering and erosion. The student conduct a "sea cave" lab using sugar cubes, playdough, and water. I take what they learn from the lab and explain formation of caves here in Texas due to groundwater dissolving limestone. I show them pictures, discuss formation of stalactites and stalagmites, then I give them examples of TAKS and STAAR type test questions involving caves. I used a picture I took from Enchanted Rock of a huge boulder split in half due to the weathering. As we study fossils and ancient life. I use photos of dinosaur tracks from several locations in Texas, including Canyon Lake Gorge. We compare the different tracks so the students can decide on the type of dinosaur and what the environment was like here in Texas. I also use the pictures I took to discuss how groundwater flows underground when we study the water cycle.