Mini Lesson: Patterns in Rock and Fossil Layers
Pre-Question: Explain how geologist (scientist who study the Earth) determine how old rocks or fossils are.
Watch: Rock Video
Post-Video Questions:
1) Explain how geologist (scientist who study the Earth) determine how old rocks or fossils are.
2) Create a model which depicts the rock layers in a particular area. (Ex: Grand Canyon, Starved Rock, Thornton Quarry….)
1) Collect different rocks and try to identify them.
2) Create fossil imprints from shells or other items you have at home in clay, mud or sand.
3) Take a walk along the Fox River, look for outcroppings of layered dolomite/limestone or building made from the locally quarried rocks.
Dig Deeper:
1) Take a driving tour of various geologic features in and around Kane County then create a visitors guide about what to see in each location and some history. Sample of places to visit:\
- a. Hickory Knolls Natural Area (St. Charles)
- b. Johnson’s Mound (Elburn)
- c. Harold Hall Quarry Beach (Batavia)
- d. Starved Rock State Park (Utica)
- e. Illinois Beach State Park (Zion)
2) Check out the book ‘Geology Underfoot in Illinois’ by Raymond Wiggers, if you want learn more about the geology of our area.