“Mapping & Linking Caverns”
Grade Levels: 5th – 8th
Learner Outcomes:
Students will identify the Appalachian Mountains and locate the states that contain them.
Duration of Lesson: 3-5 45 minute class periods
Materials:
current maps and reference
materials, 3 ½ “ floppy disk for each student
Technology Tools/Courseware:
Scanner, multi-media computers
with Internet access, Microsoft Word & PowerPoint, printer, data projector
Teacher Notes:
Procedures:
PART I
Begin this lesson with
a discussion of local caves or caverns (in WV). Identify surrounding
states and pose the question to see if they too, have caves or caverns.
Review, if necessary, what type of caverns they are, and how they are formed.
Challenge students to expand this search to the entire Appalachian Mountain
chain.
First, students should
find map of the Eastern United States, which includes the Appalachians.
(A suggestion would be to use a social studies book that is familiar to
the students.) Next, students should scan this map into a Word
document. Edit map as needed. This will allow students to save
and use the map on a disk or in a folder later. This may also be
printed for students to have a hard copy to work with as they search.
PART II
Students search Internet for caves and caverns along the Appalachian chain. As they find sites, save to bookmark file, so that it will be easy for them to return to there later. Remind students that we are trying to “ link” caverns, so they need to try to find caves or caverns in each state along the path. Students should indicate on the map as they find caverns. Also, in their folder or on their disk, students need to write a short description noting any special features or interesting facts about the cavern.
PART III
When searches have been
completed, compare and combine each group’s findings on one large map to
see if there is a possibility that caverns are linked. Students will
then create a PowerPoint presentation to display their findings.
Assign each student 1-2 caverns to make slides for depending on the number
of students. Students’ work will be showcased at an open house or
parent’s night.
Modifications:
Group weaker students
with stronger students to provide an opportunity for all to participate.
Enrichment Activities:
Extend research to whole United
States.
Research & map different
kinds of caves.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Maps, descriptions, and
PowerPoint slides will be used for evaluations.
West Virginia IGO’S:
Technology: 5.180, 5.186, 5.79, 6.155, 6.158, 6.89, 6.94, 6.98, 7.166, 7.169, 7.172, 7.78, 7.90, 7.92, 8.148, 8.150, 8.155, 8.84, 8.97, 8.98
Geography: 5.28, 5.29,6.21, 6.27, 6.28, 7.20, 7.22, 7.26, 8.31, 8.34
Language:
5.54, 5.56, 5.60, 5.61, 5.64, 6.54, 6.56, 6.57, 6.60, 6.64, 6.66, 7.51,
7.52, 7.54, 7.59, 7.65, 8.48, 8.49, 8.50, 8.51, 8.55, 8.64
National Standards:
Earth and Space Sciences
Standard 2: Understands
Earth’s composition and
structure
Grades 3-5
1. Knows how features
on the Earth’s surface are
constantly changed by
a combination of slow
processes
Grades 6-8
2. Know how land forms
are created through a
combination of constructive
and destructive forces
Nature of Science
Standard 11: Understands
the nature of scientific
knowledge
Grades 3-5
3. Knows that scientists
make the results of their
investigations public;
they describe the investigations
in ways that enable
others to repeat the investigations
Grades 6-8
3. Knows that all scientific
ideas are tentative and
subject to change and
improvement in principle, but
for most core ideas
in science, there is much
experimental and observational
confirmation
Nature of Science
Standard 13: Understands
the scientific enterprise
Grades 3-5
2. Knows that although
people using scientific inquiry
have learned much about
the objects, events, and
phenomena in nature,
science is an on going process
and will never be finished
Grades 6-8
4. Knows that throughout
history, many scientific
innovators have had
difficulty breaking through
accepted ideas of their
time to reach conclusions that
are now considered to
be common
Language Arts
Writing
Standard 1: Uses general
skills and strategies of the
writing process
Grades 3-5
7. Writes expository compositions
10. Writes expressive compositions
Grades 6-8
11. Writes compositions
that address
problems/solutions
Standard 4: Gathers and
uses information for
research purposes
Grades 3-5
4. Uses electronic media to gather information
Grades 6-8
5. Determines the appropriateness
of an information
source for a research
topic
6. Organizes information
and ideas from multiple
sources in systematic
ways
Technology
Standard 6: Understands
the nature and uses of
different forms of technology
Grades 3-5
5. Knows that technology
facilitates better
communication by providing
storage and retrieval of
large amounts of data,
an easy means of accessing
data, a means of processing
and displaying data, and
faster communication
among individuals
Grades 6-8
4. Knows the components of a communication system
Career Clusters:
Geologist
Tourism
Internet Researcher
Cartographer
References:
The
United States Show Caves Directory
The
Virtual Cave
National
Caves Association
National
Speleological Society
ClipArt
Warehouse
Gifart
| Overview | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 |