Geo-Physical-Chemical Core Instruction

We plan to investigate local geological features that demonstrate learning opportunities through the earth systems approach. The Earth Systems Approach helps students (people) connect their thinking and later behavior more interactively and comprehensively. Formerly, science has been taught by specialists in discreet subject areas and often the result was enthusiasm for specific subjects and a lack of knowledge in or understanding of related subjects. For example, a person may have deep knowledge geology but not connect hydrology to the process.

Elements of our investigations will include:

• Content development: such as field trips with specialists Jean Weidenheft, Indian Creek Nature Center; Bill Desmarais, Science Teacher in the Cedar Rapids School District; and IOWATER workshops.
  
• In-depth reading Landforms of Iowa, by Jean Prior; Iowa's Geological Past: Three Billion Years of Change by Wayne Anderson, and selected readings from Iowa Geologic Society "Classic Geological Exposures, Old and New, Coralville Lake and Spillway," "The Natural History of Palisades-Kepler State Park, Linn County, IA," and "Silurian Stratigraphy of Eastern Linn and Western Jones Counties, IA."
  
• Update at a Twenty-first Century Skills Iowa Core Curriculum workshop with Phyllis Anderson of Grant Wood AEA.
• Develop Field Investigation ideas for middle and high school students.
• Construct a Tri-fold board presentation to summarize our learning and to accompany our blog.