Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
Title: Building a National Park
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Benchmarks: NGSS Science Standard 5-ESS2-1: Develop a model using an example to
describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
Objectives: A student will be able to explain uplift, sedimentation and erosion and how it
affected Zion National Park’s formation.
A student will be able to understand the interaction between the geosphere and the hydrosphere
and how it formed Zion National Park.
A student will be able to understand through demonstration how Zion National Park was formed.
Materials and Setup: Fish tank or other see through tank, different forms/colors of soil,
water, board to show uplift.
Safety: Table/desk that can support the large fish tank, make sure students don’t eat the soil
Requisite Knowledge/skills for students: Sedimentary formation, sedimentary rock
(general), erosion, faults
Procedure:
Engage: (Have powerpoint prepared with slides of pictures of Zion National Park)
Post 1st picture of Zion National Park on projector. (Image 1)
Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
“Tell me what you see in this picture.” (responses) -If needed add “geologically what do you
see?”
(show pictures 2, 3,and 4 and ask students what they see)
“Who has heard of or been to Zion National Park in Utah?” (RESPONSE)
-If yes “Tell me about what you know about it? Can you tell me about what rock it’s made up of
or how it came to form?”
-If no “ Zion National Park is located in Utah, USA (Show on US map)”
Explain the origins and brief history of Zion National Park
Beginnings, formation, rock layers of sedimentation, uplift, erosion, today
Show video clip to further explain the formation of Zion National Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fci4ylynQwI
Explore
Put students in groups of two and hand them a small clear container and put about four
different colored “layers” of household products (such as cocoa, baking powder, etc…) into the
containers to show and explain sedimentation.
“As you can see in the picture and the video, Zion National Park is made up of sedimentary
layers of rock that formed over hundreds of thousands of years. As time went by, different layers
Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
of rock over time layered themselves on top of each other and formed the many layers we see
today. Your small scale model is going to simulate this layering of the sedimentary rock.”
Pour different layers into students models and discuss. Image 1 shows example of model.
“Now, by looking at the pictures and listening to the video, are the rock layers at Zion National
Park perfectly flat and level?” (No) “Can anyone tell me why?” (responses)
“Uplift from the Earth below caused the rock layers at Zion National Park to be lifted up and
tilted. If you look at the figure on the projector (Image 2) you can see how the picture is tilted.
(Image 3 used as reference as well) This is showing how the rock layers at Zion, Bryce Canyon
and the Grand Canyon were tilted due to uplift. To simulate this phenomenon, we are going to
insert our “lifter” in the end of our model and push the layers of “soil” together. This should
simulate the rock layers being pushed and lifted up so they are not flat anymore.”
(students do simulation and explain what happened in their model)
(Students leave models at the back table and sit down. Show Google Earth tour of Zion National
Park on projector. Show and explain layering more. Show real life layering and what it looks
like and how our models are similar to the real thing).
Explain
Back to the large scale model at the back of the room
Have the students go over to the large scale model of Zion National Park (fish tank) that
was set up the same way as their individual models. The layers are already formed but no uplift
Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
has occurred. Have the students explain what they see. Create uplift with a large “lifter” and
have the students explain what happened.
Form a small plateau and river valley in the model to model the Virgin River that cuts
through Zion National Park and explain and relate erosion with the hydrosphere and the Park.
Have a mechanism of sorts to simulate the river flowing and carrying sediment down the valley
to show erosion and relate to Zion National Park. Have students explain what they see and what
is happening and how it relates to Zion National Park.
Elaborate
Students will be partnered up and given 5-8 different pictures of Zion National Park over time.
The pictures will be randomly given to the students and they must put them in the correct order
of how Zion National Park formed. Ex: Picture with flat horizontal rock layers, uplift occurs,
rocks horizontal and form mountains of Zion, erosion forms the valley’s and canyons, modern
day picture with river.
Each group will put their pictures in order on the board and explain why they put each photo
where they did? They will explain what is occurring in each photo within their explanation of
why they put each photo where they did. The students will relate it back to Zion National Park
in real life and how the pictures match up to the history and formation of the park.
Evaluate
Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
Evaluation will be seen throughout the lesson by student responses as well as how well the
students show and represent their models to the class and the teacher.
Furthermore, a “quiz” will be given out at the end of the lesson that will include multiple choice
questions as well as have the students draw the history of the formation of Zion National Park
with correct labeling and explanation. There will be three drawings required to show the life
history of Zion National Park.
Scientific Background for the Teacher
Definitions
Erosion: the incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent, such as water, wind
or ice.
Sedimentary Environment: A geopgraphic setting where sediment accumulates. Each site is
characterized by a particular combination of geologic processes and environmental conditions.
Sedimentary Rock: Rock formed from the weathered products of preexisting rocks that have
been transported, deposited, and lithified.
Uplift: an act of lifting up or raising, elevate, elevation
Sandstone: common sedimentary rock consisting of sand, usually quarts, cemented together by
various substances, as silica, calcium carbonate, iron oxide, or clay.
References
Graf, Mike. (2004). Zion National Park. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books
Scott Pell
Geo 201 8-9:50 am
Hamilton, J. (2009). Zion National Park. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co.
Travel Channel. (2013, December 19). Jaw-dropping Zion National Park – Best Parks Ever – 4346
[Television Broadcast]. Retrieved October 20, 2014,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fci4ylynQwI
Zion National Park Utah. (n.d.) Retrieved October 18, 2014, from
http://www.nps.gov/zion/naturescience/geologicformations.htm
zion picture: www.campusrec.eku.edu
bettinavanessa.wordpress.com third picture
hquer.deviantart.com picture 2
www.inthepinkandgreen.com: the narrows
www.timelessamerica.com : zion sign