What We Did
Objectives
- Investigate geographic features related to lakes, glacial activity, and flowing water
- Build an understanding of the geologic processes that result in these features
- Compare and contrast these features with similar features on Mars and understand the implications of their presence in terms of geologic processes and planetary history
- Be able to bring content and hands-on inquiry based, standards-aligned activities into the classrooms in ways that are appropriate for the grade level being taught
Questions to Ponder in the Field
- What information does each field stop contribute to the overall story of Glacial Lake Missoula?
- What is the evidence for the existence and location of ice sheets in the region?
- What evidence is there for the presence of Glacial Lake Missoula?
- What is the depositional evidence for catastrophic outflow of water from Lake Missoula?
- What is the erosional evidence for catastrophic outflow of water from Lake Missoula?
- What evidence exists for multiple flooding events?
- Why was the explanation of a “catastrophic” event as the cause of the features we observe not immediately accepted by the geologic community?
- Are there alternative explanations for the features that we observe? What is the role of individual observations / interpretations versus compiled observations?
- How do the features we observe inform our understanding of the geologic history of Mars?
| Sunday, July 13, 2008 | |
| Dinner: University of Montana | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Welcome, Introductions, Pre-Test |
| 7:00 p.m. | Stream Table Activity |
| 8:00 p.m. | Lecture / Discussion: Geologic Setting for the Field Experience |
| Accommodations: University of Montana | |
| Monday, July 14, 2008 | |
| Field Day 1 – Missoula to Flathead Lake Region and Back … The Lake | |
| Breakfast: University of Montana | |
| Lunch: Box Lunch from the University | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Depart from University of Montana Dorms |
| Stop 1 Wave-cut terraces on University Hil Stop 2 Lake deposits near Huson, Nine Mile, Alberton Stop 3 Chamis Prairie ripples Stop 4 Niarada and the Big Draw ripples Stop 5 Elmo Moraine Stop 6 Polson Moraine |
|
| 5:30 p.m. | Return to University in Missoula |
| Dinner: University of Montana | |
| Accommodations: University of Montana | |
| Tuesday, July 15, 2008 | |
| Field Trip Day 2 - Missoula to Central Washington … Breakout! | |
| Breakfast: University of Montana | |
| Lunch: Box Lunch from the University | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Depart University to Wenatchee |
| Stop 7 Cabinet Gorge Dam Stop 8 Powerline Pit with Glacial Lake Missoula flood bar Stop 9 Lake Pend Oreille Overlook Stop 10 Farragut State Park Lake Missoula Break Out Area Drive Through of Spirit Lake Current Ripples and Rathdrum Prairie (Potential Stop 11) |
|
| 9:00 p.m. | Arrive Wenatchee |
| Dinner: Wenatchee | |
| Accommodations: Ceders Inn, Wenatchee, 80 9th Street, East Wenatchee | |
| Wednesday, July 16, 2008 | |
| Field Trip Day 3 - Wenatchee Region … Scour | |
| Breakfast: Shari’s | |
| Lunch: Box Lunch from Shari’s | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Depart Wenatchee |
| Stop 12 Grand Coulee Stop 13 Rock Structures Stop 14 Dry Falls Stop 15 Moses Coulee |
|
| 6:30 p.m. | Arrive Wenatchee |
| Dinner: Wenatchee | |
| Accommodations: Ceders Inn, Wenatchee, 80 9th Street, East Wenatchee | |
| Thursday, July 17, 2008 | |
| Field Trip Day 4 - Wenatchee Region to Missoula … Deposition (and some erosion) | |
| Breakfast: Shari’s | |
| Lunch: Box Lunch from Shari’s | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Depart Wenatchee |
| Stop 16 River Overlook onto Giant Current Ripples Stop 17 Soap Lake Stop 18 Giant Boulder Field (aka “Monsters of Rock”) Stop 19 Ephrata Fan Deposits Stop 20 Basalt Sand Dunes Stop 21 Overlook of Drumheller Channels |
|
| 8:00 p.m. | Arrive University of Montana |
| Dinner: TBA (the excitement is almost overwhelming, isn’t it?) | |
| Accommodations: University of Montana | |
| Friday, July 18, 2008 | |
| Breakfast: University of Montana | |
| Lunch: University of Montana | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Discussion – Field Observations and Interpretations |
| 11:00 a.m. | Lecture / Discussion: Geologic history of Glacial Lake Missoula / Channeled Scablands |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Activity: Mars the Feature Story |
| 1:30 p.m. | Lecture / Discussion: Water on Mars? |
| 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 p.m. | Team PowerPoint Development |
| Dinner: University of Montana | |
Accommodations: University of Montana |
|
| Saturday, July 19, 2008 | |
| Breakfast: University of Montana | |
| Lunch: University of Montana | |
| 9:00 a.m. | PowerPoint Preparation |
| 10:30 a.m. | PowerPoint Collaboration |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Activity: Revisit Stream Tables |
| 2:00 p.m. | Lecture / Discussion: Why Has Mars Changed? |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | Activities, Puzzling Patterns, Play-Doh Volcanos, Cake Batter Lava Icing on the Plate |
| 4:15 p.m. | Wrap up and Evaluation |
| 5:00 p.m. | End of Day |
| Dinner: University of Montana | |
| Accommodations: University of Montana | |
| Sunday, July 20, 2008 | |
| Breakfast: University of Montana | |
| Departure | |
