ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR GEOLOGY

Each North Carolina state park and recreation area has an Environmental Education Learning Experience (EELE) curriculum guide that includes on-site activities, pre- and post-visit activities, student information pages, worksheets, fact sheets, vocabulary, and references. Ten of the EELE curriculum guides relate directly to North Carolina geology and have been designed to meet the NC Department of Public Instruction's objectives in earth science for high school and the middle grades. Some of the topics covered in these geology EELEs include geologic time, rock cycle, rock and mineral identification, weathering, erosion, Carolina slate belt, Blue Ridge belt, Kings Mountain belt, Sauratown Mountains, Black Creek Formation, and the geomorphology of the Carolina bays. Teachers receive a free EELE curriculum guide when they attend an EELE workshop at one of the state parks. The guides can also be borrowed through the state depository library (interlibrary loan), or purchased through ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) by calling 1-800-443-3742. In spring 2001, some of the geology EELEs will be available on the Division of Parks and Recreation's website (www.ncsparks.net). For more information about geology EELEs or EELE workshops, contact Marti Kane, Lead Interpretation and Education Specialist (marti.kane@ncmail.net).