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Geology of the National Parks Timeline:

Your task is to construct a timeline to inform the general public about the geologic history of a specific national park. You
may work with a SINGLE partner of your choosing if you desire to do so. Select a national park from the list provided or
choose one on your own with instructor approval. You may wish to use a program such as Microsoft Publisher to construct
your timeline, but neatly hand written is perfectly ok. You MUST construct your timeline according to the following
guidelines. If you would like to use another presentation format, please clear it with the instructor in advance.
1. Title/Cover Page: Include the name and location (i.e. State) of your park, partner (if applicable).
2. Geologic Time Line: What time periods are represented in the rock units that are exposed at your park? Use a
geologic time scale that includes a scale representation of the Eras (Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, and
Precambrian) and the periods (Quaternary-Cambrian) if they are applicable. Also, include the approximate
numerical dates of the Eras. Finally, highlight the time periods that are represented by the rocks in your park and
describe the history represented. Also, include the global geologic history of the Earth that occurred during those
times (best accomplished with two columns next to your timeline).

3. Analysis: Include relevant information about the geology of your national park. At minimum, address the
following questions on a separate page, or on the back of your timeline:
What geographic region (in the country) is your park located in?
What rock types (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) would a visitor most likely expect to find in your
park?
What structural geologic features (if any) are found in your park (folds, faults, etc)
History How has the depositional environment of your park changed over time? Be sure to relate the
events taking place on the Earth to the history represented in your park.
Are there any other unique features or life forms that lived in your park in the past?
4. Include notes and bibliography.

Recommended National Parks:


The following is a list of parks that are excellent research topics. However, do not feel as though you have to limit your
selection to these, as there are over 50 national parks in the United States. No more than two groups may use any single
park for their research.
Cuyahoga Valley Mammoth Cave Bryce Canyon
Glacier Bay Great Smokey Mountains Petrified Forest
Badlands Canyonlands
Acadia Arches Wind Cave
Carlsbad Caverns Everglades Biscayne

Steps for Completing the Task:


___1. Select A partner to work with. (if desired)
___2. Conduct research and construct hand written notes for your park.
___3. Organize your data based on the categories above.
___4. Construct your timeline.
___5. Edit your Timeline carefully before turning in your final product.

1
Geology of the National Parks Rubric:
Criteria 0-2 3 4 5
Below the Approaching Meets the Exceeds the Points
Standard the Standard Standard Standard Earned
Title More than one One component is All components All components
component is missing. Multiple are included. are included.
missing -or- the components are One component Neat and
cover lacks unclear is unclear organized
organization and is
next to impossible
to read.
Timeline 0-5 6-7 8-9 10
Timeline is The appropriate The appropriate The appropriate
included, but is not timeline is included timeline is neatly timeline is neatly
appropriate. Time . One or more included and included and
periods have not major components cited and includes cited-highlight
been highlighted are missing. all criteria. ages in park,
and/or information Explanation explain what
is lacking contains 1 or 2 occurred in your
sufficient detail. minor errors park and on the
No relation to Earth during
earth's history. those times.
Analysis 0-5 6-7 8-9 10
Not all questions Not all questions All questions All questions
within the assigned within the assigned within the topic within the topic
topic have been topic have been have been have been
addressed -AND- addressed -OR- addressed, but completely
little supporting Little or no some may lack addressed.
detail is included supporting detail is sufficient detail. Information is
-AND- the included -OR- Most information accurate and neat.
information is information is is accurate and
difficult to read. difficult to read. neat.
Research 0 3 n/a 5
Notes / Neither research Research notes or Research notes
notes nor bibliography have and bibliography
Bibliograp been included have been
hy (3 points) included
(5 points)
TOTAL
(30 points)

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