Written by Marilyn Baker with George lewis Illustrated by Melinda Beavers Scultping a State
Author: Marilyn Baker with George Lewis Illustrator: Melinda Beavers
ISBN Print: 978-1-63260-462-0 ePub: 978-1-63260-463-7
Copyright © 2013 SNAP! Learning® 4325 N. Golden State Blvd. #102 Fresno, Ca 93722
855.200.SNAP www.snaplearning.net
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction...... 4
Tectonic Plates...... 5
Earthquakes...... 6
Volcanoes...... 7
Letter of Appeal...... 8
California Geologic Field Trip...... 9-13
References...... 14
Quick Writes...... 15-17
Research Integrate and Synthesize...... 18
Vocabulary...... 19
Oral Reading Fluency Chart...... 20
Book Check...... 21-22 introduction
Parts of the Oakland Bay Bridge collapsed after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Photo: H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey Geological U.S. Wilshire, H.G. Photo:
1 It was October 17, 1989, and the San Francisco Giants landforms. Therefore, these plates literally help sculpt and Oakland A’s prepared to take the field on base- the Golden State. ball’s greatest stage: the World Series. Then, suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. A major earth- For example, earthquakes can push the ground up, 4 quake struck and when it was over, many structures helping to form mountains. California has three had collapsed, including part of the Bay Bridge that major mountain ranges: the Sierra Nevada to the east connects San Francisco and Oakland. The Loma where California’s tallest peak, Mount Whitney is Prieta quake, as it was dubbed, killed 63 people and located, the Coast Range to the west, and the Cascade injured thousands more, making it one of the deadli- Mountains in the North. est earthquakes in California history.
2 What triggered such a major quake? The answer can Cascade Mts. be found in plates – not dishes, but huge pieces of Earth’s surface that are separated by large cracks.
These plates are constantly shifting beneath both un- Coastal Mts. inhabited and populated areas of the state. However, Sierra Nevada Mts. this motion is usually so slight most people are rarely aware of any movement.
3 Over millions of years, this slow motion altered Cal- ifornia’s landscape. Glorious mountain ranges lie in the eastern and western portions of the state because of this geologic activity. Sometimes, the plates shift abruptly and major changes occur to the nearby
4 tectonic plates
5 The Earth’s crust is an outer layer of rock covered 7 with soil. Under the crust is the mantle, another layer Convergent boundaries are places of rock approximately 1,800 miles thick. The crust is where two plates converge, or come broken up into plates, which scientists call tectonic together. plates. The tectonic plates drift atop the mantle and because they drift, the plates interact with each other At divergent boundaries, two plates as they consistantly “float” at the rate of 1 or 2 inches diverge, or pull away from each other. per year. At transform boundaries, two plates 6 Earth’s tectonic plates are a giant jigsaw puzzle, slide past each other. except the pieces do not fit perfectly. Often, two ad- jacent plates do not exactly connect to each other, so they interact in several ways at the boundaries This interaction between plates is the force 8 between them. that changes Earth’s surface. Converging plates TYPES OF BOUNDARIES can form mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada on the eastern edge of California. Di- verging plates can stretch the land between them, forming low-elevation regions like Death Valley. Covergent boundary When two plates interact at a boundary, the area between them is called a fault and earthquakes often occur along faults. Divergent boundary
Transform boundary
5 earthquakes
9 Tectonic plates vary in thickness. During an earth- Earthquakes are a common occurrence in California 11 quake, a thick plate may move above a thinner plate because of the presence of the San Andreas Fault and and push it down. A quake can also occur when over one hundred other active faults. Thousands of the rubbing of plates causes a piece of the plate to earthquakes strike the state each year, of course, only break away. a few actually are felt without instruments. The most active fault is the San Jacinto Fault in the southern 10 The epicenter of the Loma Prieta quake was along portion of California. California’s famous San Andreas Fault. The earth- quake happened several miles underground, but it caused the ground to shift more than a foot and was even felt about 300 miles away in Los Angeles.
6 volcanoes
Lassen Peak Photo: Stuart Seeger Stuart Photo:
12 Other natural forces shape the state as well. Califor- If the magma finds its way to the surface through one 14 nia is better known for earthquakes than volcanoes, of these outlets, the result is a volcanic eruption. The however the state has over 20 volcanoes within its molten rock, or lava, is expelled from the volcano boundaries. Most of these volcanoes are inactive, but during an eruption. The lava then cools and solidifies, there are two well-known recently active ones: Mount altering the surrounding landscape. Shasta and Lassen Peak. Both volcanoes are situated in the northern portion of the state. Volcanoes are often located at the convergent or di- 15 vergent boundaries between tectonic plates. Again,
13 A volcano is an opening in the crust of the Earth. This convergent boundaries are places where two plates opening allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to converge, or come together with one plate pushing escape from a magma chamber below the surface. A the other down into the Earth’s surface. This coming magma chamber is a large pool of liquid rock that together of plates formed the volcanoes in California. is under great pressure from the surrounding rock. That pressure slowly causes the rock to fracture. Eventually, this pressure brings about the creation of the various outlets.
Mt. Shasta Photo: Ewen Denney Ewen Photo:
7 letter of appeal
16 Dear Mr. Fitzhenry,
Good morning! We, the sixth grade class of Llewellyn Elementary, have united over a common cause in which we believe you should be an integral part. Because you do such an excellent job running our school, we feel that you are the ideal candidate to help us reach our objective. Therefore, Mr. Fitzhenry, we are kindly requesting that you, our most respectable principal, fund the outstanding geological field trip that Mrs. Block has set up for us. The following reasons list why you should finance this highly educational outing.
17 We have found that the best way to learn about something is to experience it firsthand. Personally visiting national parks that showcase the complexity of geological processes is engaging, enriching, and fun. There is so much diversity within the sphere of geology, especially in California. Therefore, it is very useful for us to witness, in person, the drastic differences between Mount Lassen and Death Valley. This field trip would teach us so much more than any textbook or classroom lecture. 18 Also, our class is willing to hold fundraisers and work to raise money for expenses if it is necessary.
19 Once again Mr. Fitzhenry, we humbly implore you to support us in making our educational aspirations a reality. You have always come through for us in the past, and we are hopeful and confident we can count on you again this time.
20 Sincerely,
The Sixth Grade Class LLewellyn School, Everytown, USA
8 California Geologic Field Trip
Cascade Mts.
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Sierra Nevada Mts.
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Good morning. what is termed a transform boundary between the First off, people North American Plate and the Pacific Plate, which is often mispro- the largest of the 12 plates in Earth’s crust.
21 nounce my last name, so repeat after me: four-nee-ay. I’m Professor Calvin Fournier, and I teach geology at Oops, I’m getting ahead of myself. Mea culpa. Sorry, 23 a local college. Mrs. Block has invited me on this field I do that sometimes when I start nattering about trip to inform you about plate tectonics and Califor- geology. If anything I say doesn’t make sense, just raise nia geology. Over the next few days, we’ll see an over- your hand and I’ll try to explain it more clearly. For view of geologic features and we will discover how now, just sit back and enjoy the ride in this nice charter they were formed. bus! Next stop: Lassen Peak.
22 Our trustworthy bus driver, Mr. Shuttlesworth, is transporting us first to a volcano, which is a stimu- lating place to study plate tectonics. California is on
9 Cascade Mts. © d-maps.com CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIP (continued)
Lassen Peak ©Daniel Mayer ©Daniel
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Bumpass Hell Graham ©Don
24 We’re in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and you’re This park has plentiful volcanic activity caused 26 looking at Lassen Peak. It last erupted in 1915, but it’s by this constant movement. The North Ameri- still considered a potentially active volcano. can pushes down small bits of the Farallon into the mantle and, as pieces of the Farallon are sub- 25 OK, so what I was prattling on about on the bus was merged further, the rock melts, and magma rises to that Earth’s crust consists of a few large plates, with the surface. Ultimately, that process results in the the largest being, of course, the Pacific Plate. The volcanic range you see here around Lassen Peak. Pacific meets the North American Plate on a trans- This range, called the Cascades, goes north all the form boundary through California. The plates slide way to Canada. in different directions. The Farallon Plate used to sep- arate the two plates, but it collided with the North So, the meaning of all that: well, numerous hot springs 27 American Plate and was pushed under the North can be found in this area and Lassen Peak could American, forming the mountain range we call the erupt again, maybe even today. But unfortunately, it’s Sierra Nevada. time to head to the next stop. Mr. Shuttlesworth, if you please.
10 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIP (continued)
San Juan Baustista Photo: Robert A. Estremo Photo:
San Andreas Fault Photo: Robert A. Estremo Photo:
The buildings here sustained considerable damage 29 during two major earthquakes. One was in 1800, and the other was the more famous San Francisco earth- 28 Today, we’re in a quaint town not too far from quake of 1906. Clearly, if a quake can make cracks in the coast called San Juan Bautista. Most tour- the ground along the fault, it can destroy buildings ists come here for the old, Spanish-style mission, near the fault, too. but I love this town because you can actually see
the San Andreas Fault, the boundary between Take a look at the handout that I distributed on 30 the Pacific Plate to the west and the North Ameri- the bus, which lists some major earthquakes can Plate to the east. The fault generally follows the along the San Andreas Fault. The greater the mag- California coastline and passes through San Juan nitude, the more powerful the earthquake…. Bautista. Do you see a crack in the ground below? Mr. Shuttlesworth, onward! That’s the fault line, the famous San Andreas Fault.
11 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIP (continued)
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley, CA Sierra Nevada Mts. ©Michael L. Baird ©Michael
31 This is our last stop, an area named by early between sank. One spot in Death Valley is 282 feet prospectors as Death Valley. This place is below sea level, the lowest point in North America, known for extreme heat and a dry, barren land- but less than 100 miles away, Mount Whitney stands scape with an average rainfall of only about 2 14,494 feet tall. inches per year. The highest temperature ever recorded here was 134 degrees. Aren’t you glad On your map, you can see the Sierra Nevada 33 we’re here during spring break instead of the Fourth runs north and south with Death Valley east of July? of the Sierra. Most people just think of moun- tains when they think of geology. But valleys are 32 Death Valley was formed when the area east of the an important feature, too. OK, let’s get back in Sierra Nevada began to stretch and expand. Remem- the bus before my sunscreen wears off and Mr. ber convergent and divergent boundaries? As plates Shuttlesworth passes out from dehydration. diverged and mountains slid apart, the valley in
12 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIP (continued)
34 We’re headed home, and I just want to say thank you those facts by discovering them in the field. They for letting me edify you about plate tectonics. Califor- journeyed to the same places we just visited. I em- nia is a wonderful place to study geology. You’ve seen barked on a field trip like this when I was a youngster evidence of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and di- myself, and it really sparked my interest in geology. vergent plate boundaries and you didn’t even have to leave the state to see it all. I hope you’ll learn to love geology, too. Maybe 36 someday I’ll see you in my college geology class. This
35 Take your newfound knowledge and apply it in Mrs. is Professor Calvin Fournier, signing off! And Mr. Block’s class. Before this field trip, you had been Shuttlesworth, my sincere thanks for a benign and studying facts out of a textbook. That’s fine, but those comfortable journey. facts didn’t start out in a textbook. Geologists learned
13 REFERENCES
Baylor, K. J. California Rocks: A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Golden State.
Brown, C. L. Geology of the Desert Southwest: Investigate How the Earth Was Formed with 15 Projects.
California-Nevada Fault Maps: earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv
Collier, M. A Land in Motion: California’s San Andreas Fault.
Geology Fieldnotes: Death Valley National Park:nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/deva
Lassen Volcanic National Park:nps.gov/lavo
Images Page 4 Cypress structure by H.G. Wilshire, U.S. Geological Survey, PD-USGOV-INTERIOR-USGS http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypress_structure.jpeg
Page 5 Sierra Nevada aerial by Jeffery Pang, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sierra_Nevada_aerial.jpg
Page 7 Lassen Peak Above Lake Helen by Stuart Seeger, CC BY 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuseeger/291210576/
Mt Shasta aerial by Ewen Denney, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MtShasta_aerial.JPG
Page 10 Lassen Peak from Devastated Area by Daniel Mayer, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lassen_Peak_from_Devastated_Area-1200px.jpg
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Bumpass Hell by Don Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/23155134@N06/7027251685/
Page 11 Mission San Juan Bautista by Robert A. Estremo, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mission_San_Juan_Bautista.jpg
San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain by Ian Kluft, CC BY-SA 2.0 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kluft-photo-Carrizo-Plain-Nov-2007-Img_0327.jpg
Page 12 Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes by Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/8517518428/
Death Valley, Furnace Creek, sea level, Public Domain http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_Valley,19820817,Furnace_Creek,sea_level.jpg
14 Quick Writes
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15 Quick Writes
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16 Quick Writes
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17 Research ntegrate 6-8 and Synthesi e B RECT O S
Integrate or synthesize information from two sources on the same topic. Use this book as one of the sources. Enter the titles or websites of the two sources in the space provided. Enter 4-5 facts from each source. Using the facts from both sources, write a short research paper of one or two paragraphs.
1 Source 2 Source
Writing Space
S P ear i g ll ights eserve .
18 Research ntegrate 6-8 ocabulary 6-8 and Synthesi e B B RECT O S RECT O S
Integrate or synthesize information from two sources on the same topic. Use this book as one of List unknown vocabulary words on the chart provided. Give a brief definition from a print or the sources. Enter the titles or websites of the two sources in the space provided. Enter 4-5 facts digital source. Create your own link (image, symbol, word association). Briefly explain the impact from each source. Using the facts from both sources, write a short research paper of one or two of the word choice on the tone or meaning of the text. paragraphs.
TE T E S 1 Source 2 Source
Word or hrase Brie e inition y ink Tone Or eaning aragraph aragraph
Writing Space
S P ear i g ll ights eserve . S P ear i g ll ights eserve .
19 Oral Reading Fluency Chart
Book Check Rubric Weigh score by 1
Student makes no Student makes an Student completes Student completes Student completes attempt to complete attempt to complete most of the elements all elements of the all elements of the the task. the task. of the tasks. task. task. Task
Student demon- Student demon- Student demon- Student demon- strates little or no strates a strates an under- strates deep under- understanding of the limited understand- standing of the text. standing of the text. task. ing of the text.
Student provides Student supports Student completely limited or no the answer with evi- supports the answer evidence to support dence from the text. with solid evidence their answer. from the text. Evidence Understanding
20 Total: Book Check : Name: Sculpting a State Date: 36
Select a paragraph. Write a question and answer. Cite details from the text to support the answer. 4
Paragraph
State the theme of the book. Explain how the theme is developed and carried through each writing form: expository and brochure. Support the theme choice with at least two key ideas 4 from the book.
Select two key ideas, events, or characters from the book. Explain the relationship between the two key ideas, events, or characters. How do they contribute to your understanding of 4 the central theme of the book?
Select 2 words or phrases from the book that are important to you as a reader. Explain why you selected these words or phrases. Describe how you would use them in the future. 4
1.
2.
21 Explain how the author organized the book. Identify the primary text structure of each writing form: expository and tour guide talk. Explain how each writing form contributes to 4 the overall understanding of the theme.
Identify the primary purpose and point of view of each writing form: expository and tour guide talk. Explain how each point of view contributes to the overall understanding of the 4 theme.
Select at least two photographs, maps, charts, diagrams, or tables and explain how each contributes to the overall understanding of the theme. 4
Identify the claim the author makes in paragraph 11. Quote statements from the text that provide evidence or reasons to support that claim. 4
9 Compare and contrast the topic presentation of the writing forms. Identify the topic addressed by the texts. What is common to both texts? Explain how they differ in 4 information presentation.
22
EAN