Name:___________________________________
Mr. Federici
Final Exam Project
National Parks of America
Starting in 1872 with the creation of Yellowstone N.P., the United States introduced the world to an
entirely new concept- National Parks! For over a century now our nation has inspired other nations to
set aside areas for all time. Every national park and national monument has been established to
preserve unique areas with natural, cultural, or historical value. (National Parks are established by acts
of Congress, while national monuments are set aside a by the president.) These parks do not lock
away these national treasures, but rather help interpret them to the countless visitors who enjoy them
each year. The parks and monuments represent our heritage-they belong to all Americans, and they
are enjoyed by many international visitors as well. The arch erected at the entrance to Yellowstone
almost a century ago states: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”
Many of the national parks and monuments were established to protect and preserve geological
features and the environments associated with them. Canyons, mountains, caves, volcanoes, geysers,
waterways, fossils, glaciers, and seashores are preserved in our national parklands. Each environment
supports distinctive plant and animal life. A list of some of the most well known parks and monuments
that have a direct relationship with Earth science has been included with these directions. The first thing
you must do is to select a national park or monument that you would like to know more about. I am
requiring that each student in the class choose a different topic. Every park and monument is a
wonderful, special place-if not, it would never have become a national park! So, all topics are excellent!
It is my hope that some day, maybe next year, maybe ten years from now, or twenty, or thirty, you will
have the opportunity to visit and enjoy the park that you are researching now!!!
This project is based on many of the topics we are covering throughout our course. The grade you
earn for this project will count as two tests grades. How well you succeed will depend on the following:
Effort: Make this project your “personal best!”
Following Directions: Be sure to do exactly what this direction sheet tells you to do.
Completeness: Be sure your information is thorough as well as correct.
References (a minimum of 8 are required) may be in many different forms; i.e.: books,
web sites, pamphlets, journal articles, even interviews. Make sure that at least three of your
references are not from web sites. You may wish to write to the park, or email, asking for
information. If so, do that right away and explain that you need the information as soon as
possible since the project is due soon. You also might want to check the local library.
Format for the project: You will be creating both a research paper and a
poster or brochure for your chosen national park. Specific instructions as to
what must be included and how each must be organized are as follows:
Areas of Research (Minimum info: all of this info should be included in the booklet):
A. General information about the national park or monument:
1. When was it established?
2. Why was it established? Explain the main features preserved.
3. What are the most popular attractions that people come to see?
4. Where is it located? Be specific…state, region of a state
5. What is its elevation above sea level? Elevation range (relief)?
6. What is its size? Give square miles and a comparison.
7 Is there any other interesting historical information available about your park
8. Current events in your park. What’s new or in the news about your park?
B. Geology of the national park or monument
1. Rocks
(a) Types: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
(b) Specific names such as granite, sandstone, gneiss, etc.
(c) How the rocks formed-explain
(d) Age of the rocks in millions of years
(e) Geologic time scale era and periods represented by the rocks
(f) Fossils present in the rocks-explain
2. Landforms: (include only those that apply to your park)
(a) Mountains: How were they formed? How long ago?
(b) Volcanic activity? Past? Present? Future?
(c) Glaciers? Valley glaciers? Continental glaciers? Remnants of
past glacial activity (erosional or depositional features)?
(d) Deserts?
(e) Faulting? Plate tectonics involved? Earthquake activity?
(f) Erosional features? canyons, buttes, caves, hanging valleys, etc. How
were they formed? Mechanical weathering or chemical weathering?
(g) Depositional features? Outwash plains, moraines, travertine, etc
(h) Soil types?
(i) Any other distinguishing geological features? Ex: Are valuable ore deposits
mined there?
C. Climate and Water in your National Park:
1.Type of climate and common weather events.
a. Ex: rainfall and snowfall amounts, droughts, thunderstorms,
tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.
b. What causes the weather patterns? (ex: ocean influence,
mountains, plains, etc.)
2. Water in the national park
a. Type of water sources present? Rivers? Lakes? Wetlands?
Ocean? Etc.
b. Is there a lack of water?
c. Effects on the park.
D. Wildlife and Biodiversity in your national park
a. What types of habitat are found there? Describe.
b. Describe the most common animals, insects, fungus, etc. found
in the park.
c. Describe the most common plants, trees, flowers, etc. found in
the park.
d. Are any exotic? Native species or were they brought in?
e. Are any species abundant or endangered?
f. Are any species dangerous? Medically useful? Used as a
resource? Etc?
E. “A Day at the Park”
Create a realistic plan of how you would spend a full day exploring the
park. Describe what you would be doing and the activities involved. Most parks
have extensive programs, nature centers, ranger talks, etc. as well as the
opportunity for independent exploration. Some parks have related attractions
nearby as well.
Write this as an itinerary of how you will spend your day. Note the times of the
activities. Be realistic about planning for what can actually be accomplished in
a day’s time. (It is not reasonable to go on a 15 mile hike to see the geological
features, a 20 mile bike ride, and five hours of fishing in one day!)
Format for the Booklet (70 points total):
1. Information to be included:
a. A cover with the following information is required:
Title (name of National Park, etc.), name, date, class period, and an
appropriate drawing.
b. A table of contents is required. List page numbers for all sections.
c. Each major topic in the “Areas of Research” list must appear on a
separate page. Each page must have a specific heading, but do
not use numbers or letters. This is not an outline. Information will
be presented in essay/paragraph form. You will need to write more
than one paragraph for each topic.
d. Illustrations of features of your National Park or Monument
i. Three (3) different, color pictures are required in the body of
your report (the cover does not count toward this). These
illustrations can be anything you wish that you feel captures
the essence of the park: Landforms, rivers, animals, etc.
ii. At least two have to be hand drawings.
iii. Pictures may be printed from Internet websites. No
photocopies!! (Use the Library Color Copier with permission)
iv. Titles/Captions required. Label each photo! What is it??
Who took it?
v. Each picture/ drawing must be large and on a separate
page
e. A Works Cited (references) section must be included.
i. Minimum of 8 references must be included.
ii. Three of these references must not be websites.
iii. Use online tools (Noodletools) for proper Works Cited format.
iv. Must be formatted in MLA research format
Format for the brochure/poster (30 points total):
This is your chance to really be creative! You will design a brochure or make a
poster to advertise your park to a family trying to decide where to spend all or
part of their summer vacation. Your brochure/poster must be informative but also
eye catching, memorable and include activities that families will enjoy.
What to include in your brochure/poster:
1. A title (perhaps the name of the park or make up a slogan)
2. The feature(s) the park is best known for.
3. Activities that families will want to do together and programs that the park
offers to certain age groups as well.
4. Places to stay (campgrounds, lodges, etc) and amenities. Perhaps
include other attractions that are close to the park that might be of interest.
5. Drawings and pictures of all that the park has to offer. Let the park’s
natural beauty attract visitors!
Project due: Friday, Dec. 12th at the beginning of class!!!
GRADE WILL BE LOWERED 20 POINTS FOR EACH DAY THE PROJECT IS
LATE. NO PROJECT WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER DECEMBER 18TH
List of National Parks and Monuments
The following is a list of many national parks and monuments you may choose
from for this project. These have been chosen because they relate specifically to
Earth science topics:
Acadia N.P.
Everglades N. P.
Zion N. P.
Great Smoky Mountains N.P.
Big Bend N. P.
Teddy Roosevelt N. P.
Grand Teton N. P.
Yellowstone N. P.
Arches N. P.
Bryce Canyon N. P.
Canyonlands N. P.
Olympic N. P.
Dinosaur National Monument
Rocky Mountain N. P.
Crater Lake
Death Valley N. P.
Yosemite N. P.
Great Basin N. P.
Grand Canyon N. P.
Petrified Forest N. P.
Sunset Crater N. P.
Carlsbad Caverns N. P.
White Sands N. P.
Badlands N. P.
Shenendoah N. P.
Jewel Cave N. Monument
Indiana Dunes N. M.
Hawaii Volcanoes N. P.
Haleakala N. P.
Denali N. P. (Mt. McKinley)
Katmai N. M.
Glacier N. P.
Joshua Tree N. P.
Mt. St. Helens N. P.
Mt. Ranier N. P.
Mammoth Caves N. P.
Other parks are acceptable and International parks are allowed for the Worl Cultural Geography
class only.
A good website to get information about national parks is:
www.nps.gov