USING LOCAL GEOLOGIC MAPS TO CONNECT LESSONS IN EARTH SCIENCE CLASSROOMS WITH THE GEOLOGY OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE

Most introductory Earth Science classes include a laboratory component where students learn the basics of rock and mineral identification and how a region’s geology is conveyed on geologic maps. However, it is often the case that the physical samples and maps do not represent the local geology, thus missing a valuable learning opportunity. Geologic maps and samples from the local region allow students to connect the lessons in the classroom with their familiar surrounding landscape and provide an opportunity to deepen their understanding of geology in their daily lives, as they move through their environment. Simplified geologic maps can be made by using published maps as a foundation, then combining rock types into more generalized groups that are appropriate for introductory students (e.g. igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary). The map units should include the same rock types that students are exposed to in the classroom, which can also be collected during field trips. Including familiar rock types and recognizable features of the region (roads, rivers, mountains, etc.) further connect the course objectives with a student’s sense of place, allowing their local region to be understood within a framework of geologic processes and geologic time. These same maps can be integrated into assignments that ask students to use Google Maps (satellite and terrain view) to identify areas of their communities that are most exposed to geologic hazards such as liquefaction and flooding. A geologic map of Portland, Oregon and surrounding area will be shown as an example.