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Physical Geology

Course Description

Physical Geology is a one year laboratory course that will provide students with a comprehensive view of geologic science concepts and principles, offer students opportunities to develop science process skills, and use the themes of Energy, and Systems and Interaction to interrelate ideas from Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science. This course meets UC/CSU (Laboratory Science-d) requirements.

Use and subscribe to this page to stay updated on class activities in Mr. Kirschman's Physical Geology Class.  

Posts

2/13/20: Earth's Puzzle Pieces Demo + Research

1.  View the demonstration at the link below
 
 
     A.  Hypothesis:  What will happen in the straw when you add the colors to it
     B.  Results:  What actually happened? 
     C.  Discussion/Conclusions:  Why did this happen?  How does it relate to Earth's crust and plate boundaries?  
 
2.   Complete Canvas project "Earth's Puzzle Pieces"  PART 1
 
     BE SURE TO DIVIDE WORK AND EARN ENGAGEMENT POINTS FOR CLASS AS WELL AS ON THE PROJECT SCORING RUBRIC!!!

2/12/20: Reading/Discussion- Earth's Puzzle Pieces

1.  Read the article attached in the title of this post and answer the following questions in your notes: 
     A.  Define all bold terms
     B. Earth's surface is not like the peel of an orange but rather like the cracked shell of a ________
     C.  How many tectonic plates is Earth's lithosphere divided into?  
     D.  Is there the same number of tectonic plates as there are continents?  Explain.  
     E. What scientific phenomenon is the cause of Divergent plate boundaries?  
     F.  What causes convergent plates to subduct underneath each other? 
     G.  How are transform plate boundaries different from the other two?  
 
2.  Read the link below and answer the questions
 
 
     A.  Which is more dense and sinks(subducts) when plates collide:  Oceanic crust or Continental crust?  
     B.  What geologic feature(s) do you see when oceanic crust collides with continental crust? 
     C.  When two oceanic plates collide, which one will sink(subduct)? 
     D. What geologic feature(s) do you see when two oceanic plates collide?
     E.  What happens when two continental plates collide?  
     F.  What geologic features do you see when two continental plates collide? 
 
3.  Read the link below and answer the question. 
 
 
     A.  How old are the Himalayan Mountains/Mount Everest?  How much does it grow due to continental collision each year?  
 
 

2/11/20: Scientific Model and Quiz- Convection Currents

1.  In groups, complete the scientific model activity in canvas.  Be sure to follow all directions and do equal work in your groups to earn credit.  
 
2.  Complete and submit the convection current quiz by clicking the link in the title of this post and the answer form link below.  
 
 

2/10/20- Reading: Convection

1.  Read the article attached in the title
 
     A.  Define the BOLD terms 
 
     B.  Explain and draw a picture of why hot stuff rises ("Hot Stuff")
 
     C.  What are some ways that Convection happens in real life ("Hot Stuff") 
 
     D.  Explain and draw a picture of how a convection oven works ("Earth is a convection oven")
 
2.  Read Textbook Pg. 460-461
 
     A.   What is seafloor spreading? 
 
     B.  Draw and explain how convection is the "driving force" that causes seafloor spreading.  
 
     C.  What geologic features and phenomena are said to be caused by convection in the mantle? 

2/6/20: Scientific Model: Earth's Interior

Directions on Canvas...Each person in group must have evidence of their work
 
1.  Make Model 
2.  Label Everything
3.  Explain Everything
4.  Submit Photos/Text in Canvas

2/4/20: Earth Layers

EQ:  How do we Know What is Inside the Earth? 
 
1.  Read the attached document and 
 
     A. List 3 Claims made by the article about Earth's Interior
 
     B. Find, cite, and write evidence for each claim
 
2.  Table talk:  What is known about Earth's interior
 
3.  Complete the form questions
 
     1.  Write one fact about Earth's Crust
     2.  Write one fact about Earth's Mantle
     3.  Write one fact about Earth's Core
     4.  Write evidence for how we know the previous facts
 
 

1/30/20: Assessment: Identify an Unknown Solid

1.  Chalk Talk:  
 
Discuss, Draw, and write a procedure for how you would: 
 
A.  Determine the Density of a perfect cube of an unknown mineral vs. an imperfect chunk of something.  Explain what DENSITY tells us about an unknown object and what types of objects it can tell us the most about. 
 
B.  Determine the Identity of an unknown PURE solid vs. an unknown solid that is NOT PURE. Use at least 3 of the methods we discussed in class and why those three are helpful.  
 
Make sure all names are on it and upload photo to canvas.  
 
2. Quiz:  Mineral Identification
 
 

1/30/20: Mineral and Rock Identification

1.  Chalk Talk:  
 
Discuss, Draw, and write a procedure for how you would: 
 
A.  Determine the Density of a perfect cube of an unknown mineral vs. an imperfect chunk of something.  Explain what DENSITY tells us about an unknown object and what types of objects it can tell us the most about. 
 
B.  Determine the Identity of an unknown PURE solid vs. an unknown solid that is NOT PURE. Use at least 3 of the methods we discussed in class and why those three are helpful.  
 
Make sure all names are on it and upload photo to canvas.  
 
2. Quiz:  Mineral Identification
 

1/24/20: Rocks of L.E.

Objective:
Use a geologic map to learn about the history of Lake Elsinore. 
EQ:
What do the rocks found in Lake Elsinore tell us about the Geologic history? 
 
1.  Go to the map at the following link
 
2.  Answer the questions into the quiz form
 
Study the SEDCO HILLS area (light pink/purple in right/bottom)
1. What is the elevation change in these hills?  
2. What streets, neighborhoods or landmarks are in this area?
3. What types of rocks are found in this area? 
4. What does this tell us about the geologic past here?  
 
Study the LAKELAND VILLAGE area (Salmon/yellow on left bottom)
5. What is the elevation change in these hills?  
6. What streets, neighborhoods or landmarks are in this area?
7. What types of rocks are found in this area? 
8. What does this tell us about the geologic past here?  
 
Study the CANYON LAKE/TUSCANY HILLS AREA (Green  on top right)
9. What is the elevation change in these hills?  
10. What streets, neighborhoods or landmarks are in this area?
11. What types of rocks are found in this area? 
12. What does this tell us about the geologic past here?  
 
D.  Study the DOWNTOWN LAKE ELSINORE AREA (Tan/Brown Middle of map to the bottom)
13. What is the elevation change in these hills?  
14. What streets, neighborhoods or landmarks are in this area?
15. What types of rocks are found in this area? 
16. What does this tell us about the geologic past here?  
 
E.  Study the side of town where that one school is (Pink and Brown on Top Left )
17. What is the elevation change in these hills?  
18. What streets, neighborhoods or landmarks are in this area?
19. What types of rocks are found in this area? 
20. What does this tell us about the geologic past here?  
 
 
 
 
 

1/22/20: Rock Cycle

EQ:  What Geologic/Scientific Evidence can be found in rocks? 
 
1.  Review terms:  MINERALS     SEDIMENTARY     WEATHER    IGNEOUS     MAGMA     METAMORPHIC     INTRUSIVE     EXTRUSIVE 
 
2.  Rock Cycle Diagram
 
3.  Rock Recipes