AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHYSICS AND GEOLOGY CONCEPTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO STREAM CHANNEL PROCESSES

An understanding of the geologic processes of erosion, transportation and deposition along a stream channel is well understood. The specifics of the physics relationships is not as well known nor usually discussed during most geology courses. Over the last two years The Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators and Students grant has been used to further the understanding of all sciences by groups of middle school teachers from the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. Many of the activities attempt to relate the different sciences rather than just focusing on one or the other science disciplines individually. The physics and geology faculty determined that the use of stream channels and their processes and concepts should be used to show how the two sciences relate and develop an increased understanding of how stream channels form.

With the use of lap-top computers, data monitoring hardware and developed software students and participants gathered data to support the geologic understanding of stream erosion. The movement of sediment as related to stream velocity, width, depth, location, and human modification were determined using measuring techniques that included measurement tapes and the computerized equipment to determine the actual changes within the stream channel and relate the data to the hydrological formulas normally used by geologists to determine the development of stream channels. Understandings of how the geological processes are controlled by physics concepts were obtained.

Not only the participants of the program used the designed processes but 4^th through 8^th grade gifted and talented students and college students from physical geology classes at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs developed data and a further understanding of the relationships of both the physics and geology of stream channel gradational agents.

In the future the grant will be used to develop further field relationships of physics and geology that will include slope movement and ground water processes as well.