Geology of Table Rock - 8th - On-site Activities 2

Geology of Table Rock - 8th - On-site Activity/Interpreter Led

Grade Level: 8
Content Area: Science
Time to Complete: 75 minutes
Title of Lesson: Characteristics of the Blue Ridge Region

South Carolina State Standards Addressed:

8-1.1	Design a controlled scientific investigation.
8-1.3	Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of data obtained during a controlled scientific investigations.
8-1.4	Generate questions for further study on the basis of prior investigations.
8-1.7	Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting investigations.
8-3.4	Explain how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are interrelated in the rock cycle.
8-3.5	Summarize the importance of minerals, ores, and fossil fuels as Earth resources on the basis of their physical and chemical properties.
8-3.6	Explain how the theory of plate tectonics accounts for the motion of the lithospheric plates, the geologic activities at the plate boundaries and the changes in landform areas over geologic time.
8-3.7	Illustrate the creation and changing of landforms that have occurred through geologic processes (including volcanic eruptions and mountain-building forces).
8-3.9	Identify and illustrate geologic features of South Carolina and other regions of the world through the use of imagery (including aerial photography and satellite imagery) and topographic maps.

Lesson Description:

Students will perform a map-based activity determining the characteristics of the Blue Ridge Region and measuring the area of the Blue Ridge in South Carolina.

Focus Questions for Students:

1.	Does the topography of an area have a correlation to land use?
2.	How much of South Carolina is truly mountainous?
3.	Do rocks and soils have a relationship to each other?

Culminating Assessment:

1.	Have the students look around outside their building. Compare all the characteristics they can see with the characteristics of the Blue Ridge Region they determined earlier.
2.	What are the similarities and differences between what they see outside and what their charts say is typical of the Blue Ridge?

Materials/Equipment/Resources (Per Group):

Geologic Map/Mineral Resources Map	Table Rock Lithograph
Land Use/Land Cover Map	transparent grid overlay
Soils Map	wipe-off pens
data sheet	vocabulary

Teacher Preparation:

1.	Read background information.
2.	Be prepared to discuss concepts of the nature of science.
3.	Be prepared to demonstrate the correct way to use a scale bar and a grid overlay to determine surface area.

Background Information:

The Blue Ridge Mountain Region located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina is the only truly mountainous region in our state. The Blue Ridge is characterized by drastic elevation changes and high relief. On the Geologic Map, the Blue Ridge region in South Carolina is the area north and west of the Brevard Fault Zone. It comprises less than 2% of the state. However, the area covered by Blue Ridge soils is larger and on the Soils Map the Blue Ridge is classified as a larger region. This conflict is caused by the definition used for the Blue Ridge by each group (rocks vs. soil).
For further information, read the background information from the SC MAPS Teaching Manual, 2000 Edition, entitled Characteristic Landforms of the Blue Ridge (page 2-2), Rationale (page 2A-1) and Introduction (page 2A-2). Copies of the Teaching Manual are available from Table Rock State Park upon request.

Procedures:

Part 1: Investigate the Blue Ridge landform region.

1.	Divide into groups of three or four.
2.	Locate the Blue Ridge Region on the Geologic Map and outline it with a wipe-off pen. Note that the southern side of the region is parallel to the present coastline. Consider whether you think this is just a coincidence. Suggest a reason why this could be?
3.	Use the Geologic Map, the Mineral Resources Map, and the Land Use/Land Cover Map as resources to complete the chart below, by listing the basic characteristics for the Blue Ridge Region. Why are the rocks in the Blue Ridge mostly metamorphic? Why are mineral resources such as oil, gas, and coal not found in the Blue Ridge?

Part 2: Estimate percentage of state in Blue Ridge Region.
There are several methods by which a geographic region can be characterized. The Geologic Map and the Soils Map classify the Blue Ridge Region differently, based on rock and soil characteristics respectively.

1.	Divide into groups of three or four.
2.	With a wipe-off pen, trace the outline of the Blue Ridge Region on the Geologic Map.
3.	Use the transparent grid overlay to estimate the area of the Blue Ridge Region in square miles. (Place the grid over your tracing and count the squares.)
4.	Refer to the scale bar on the map to calculate the number of square miles in one square of the overlay. ). Fill in the data table with your numerical data.
5.	On the basis of this measurement, calculate the percentage of land in South Carolina that is within the Blue Ridge Region (The total area of South Carolina is 31,113 sq. miles.)
6.	Now, repeat steps 2-5 using the Soils Map and fill in the chart again.

Part 3. Enrichment (optional)

1.	Use the infrared aerial image and the transparent grid overlay to measure the area of Table Rock itself.