TEACHING GEOSCIENCE CONCEPTS THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE: EXAMPLES FROM THE DISNEYLAND RESORT

Geology and paleontology have played an important role in building the Disneyland Resort, making it a unique place to learn about geologic and palaeontologic concepts. This relationship allows for a new, unique approach for introducing students at all levels to the Earth Sciences.

Here, we discuss examples from Disneyland that use the fantastical (i.e. Galaxy’s Edge) and “the real” (i.e. Matterhorn) to introduce and demonstrate geologic principles as a non-traditional in-person or virtual field trip locale. For example, the Matterhorn Bobsleds zoom around a scaled model of the actual Matterhorn and can be used to discuss glacial processes, and how the process of plate tectonics formed the Alps during the Alpine orogeny affecting the iconic shape of the Matterhorn. On Big Thunder Mountain, riders race through hoodoos in and out of mines with a finale where they zip by a dinosaur skeleton. Along the way, the Disney Imagineers built a nature-inspired geologic wonderland where educators can illustrate examples of original horizontality, superposition, erosional processes, mining, and paleontology. At Galaxy’s Edge, a land set in a galaxy far, far away, students can learn about the planet of Batuu and Black Spire Outpost where they can see ~100 foot (~30m) petrified trees stretching to the sky out of a lahar deposit. Here students can learn about fossilization and volcanism. The Disneyland Railroad passes through the Grand Canyon and the primeval world of the dinosaurs, where students can learn more about the geology of one of the most famous U.S. National Parks and about ancient life and paleoecology.

Using the amazing representations of geology and ancient life produced by the Disney Imagineers, the Disneyland Resort offers a unique and engaging way to learn about earth sciences in a fresh and fun way. This, in turn, will help spark student interest into the world of geoscience and paleontology.