CONSTRUCTING MIDDLE- AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE OF EARTH SCIENCE THROUGH RELEVANT, INQUIRY-BASED LESSONS

Guided by state science standards we are developing instructional materials about a specific county in the Upper Peninsula that can be extrapolated to explore the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere of Michigan.

The materials follow a constructivist approach that provides students an opportunity to explore systems and apply their knowledge to new scenarios. Activities move through fives steps. In engage, learning is initiated by asking the students a strategic question that focuses them on a key concept or process. Students explore the concepts using different inquiry strategies and concrete experiences. In explain, the teacher makes major concepts explicit and clear by presenting what scientists know. In elaborate (apply), students apply their ideas to new situations or settings. In evaluate, students postulate answers to more complex questions.

Marquette County was selected as the case study. By exploring the geology of this county teachers and their students will be able to unravel the geologic history of the entire state. Geologic deposits in the county can be tied to long-term changes in the atmosphere (banded-iron formations), ancient life (Precambrian stromatolites), geochemical cycles (evaporites), changes in species over geologic time (evolution of Paleozoic invertebrates), distribution of mountain belts (orogenies as a starting point in the rock cycle), mineral deposits, and climatic change (glacial deposits and landforms). The county borders Lake Superior, contains five streams monitored by the U.S.G.S., and three types of aquifers. Climatic change is reflected in the glacial deposits. Weather conditions and regional impacts of modern-day global phenomena are provided by the National Weather Service. Native Americans lived along the lake and incorporated the landscape into their legends. The county was once one of the world's largest iron producers with two active mines.

Products: 1. Two well-illustrated and organized sets of Teacher Notes to use as training manuals. 2. Three-day teacher-training courses for in-service teachers for graduate credit, offered summers 2001 and 2002.