SEVENTH GRADERS USE VIRTUAL FIELDWORK DEVELOPMENT TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Appreciation and understanding of the environment and Earth systems in one’s own area is a critical concept for K-12 students. Seventh grade students in the Phoenix, Arizona area take an annual field trip to study the Earth system science and to build upon prior students’ work in monitoring and explaining Earth system science in the local environment. Arizona has a rich variety of rocks and minerals along with outstanding geologic formations. The field trip is centered within a county park nestled in a small mountain range only 5 minutes from the school. This park has miles of trails, each with unique geology. Although the mountains are volcanic, all three rock types are abundant in the park. Students hike different trails, photographing and noting any areas they find geologically substantial or interesting. Students then take GPS readings of these areas and write a physical description including the lay of the land, plants, animals, other notable discoveries. These notes and journal entries are saved from year to year and are given to future students for comparison. Google Earth is used to map trails; using student collected GPS coordinates to embed pictures with descriptions. Students have designed a virtual mapping of the trails, which is updated with new information each year. This virtual field experience (VFE) is given to the park ranger yearly who uses it in presentations to the public. By using the work of earlier students, the VFE includes new content each year, extending what trails are included and showing change in the environment over time. This ongoing project was modeled after VFE development in the Real Earth Inquiry Project and is designed to build understanding of local Earth systems as an entre for understanding these systems on a global scale. This project along with its (VFE), and Teacher Friendly Guides can be found at virtualfieldwork.org.