DOCUMENT RESUME ED 439 902 SE 063 014 AUTHOR Pittman, George K., II; Hubbard, William F.; Lambert, Michael D.; Beazley, Lea J. TITLE Metamorphic Mountain, Mount Jefferson State Park: An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grades 5-7. INSTITUTION North Carolina State Dept. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Raleigh. Div. of Parks and Recreation. PUB DATE 1999-03-00 NOTE 137p.; For an earlier edition, see ED 374 938. Originally printing funded by CP&L. AVAILABLE FROM North Carolina Div. of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Earth Science; Environmental Education; *Geology; Intermediate Grades; Junior High Schools; *Minerals; Science Activities; Water IDENTIFIERS *North Carolina; State Parks ABSTRACT Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is located in the southern Blue Ridge highlands of North Carolina and covers 489 acres, which includes peaks and upper slopes to the Mount Jefferson mountain. This document introduces students to the geology of Mount Jefferson State Park and focuses on the geologic processes and rocks and minerals of Mount Jefferson. Major concepts covered include the rock types and their uses, rock cycle, weathering and erosion, rock and mineral identification, geologic history, and resource use. Three types of activities are featured:(1) pre-visit activities;(2) on-site activities; and (3) post-visit activities. The pre-visit activities will introduce students to the different rock types, how rocks are formed, how to identify them, and how they weather. Students will also learn about geologic time scale and identify the geologic belts of North Carolina. The on-site activities will familiarize the students with actual rock types of Mount Jefferson State National Area, their characteristics and where they are found. In addition, students will learn how the geology of the Mt. Jefferson area affected the cultural history. The post-visit activities are designed for review and will broaden students' understanding of minerals. The post-visit activity focuses on concepts such as mining, environmental issues and conservation of natural resources. These activities may be performed independently or in a series to build upon students' newly gained knowledge and experiences. A vocabulary list and definitions are listed in the back of the activity packet, along with a list of reference materials used in developing activities.(CCM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS CENTER (ERIC) BEEN GRANTED BY This document has been reproduced as ved from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated in this INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. te, K6mt Jefferson '$titer.4.1* vs:1r rfigifetItal,EducatiOniparpingExperiehc DOsiEned for Grades'5 ,-7: 0. .... "- 't -4-Nr : . 1,4 , 4%.:1 - -'1 ;".:C". _ "Geology is something most of us do not think about as we go about our daily activities. Yet all of us are affected by the powerfulgeologic processes that formedour continent." A Geologic Guide To North Carolina's State Parks 4 Funding for the original printing of this Environmental Education Learning Experience was contributed by C P&L 5 This Environmental Education Learning Experience was developed by George K. Pittman,,II and William F. Hubbard, former Lead Interpretation and Education Rangers and Michael D. Lambert, Ranger I Mount Jefferson State Natural Area; Lea.J. Beazley, Interpretation and. Education Specialist North Carolina State Parks N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Department of Environment and Natural Resources VA James B. Hunt, Jr. Wayne McDevitt Governor NCDENR Secretary J 6 111 Other Contributors... Park volunteers; Leonar' d S. Wiener, Carl Merschat, and Mark Carter, N.C. Geological Survey, Division of Land Resources; Alex Glover, Vulcan Materials; The N.C. Department of Public Instruction; The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; The N.C. Geological Survey Section, Division of Land Resources; and the many other individuals and agencies who assisted in the review of this publication. 500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $3,781 or $7.56 per copy Printed on recycled paper. 03-99 iv 1. Introduction Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System 1.1 Introduction to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 1.2 Introduction to the Activity Packet for Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 1.5 Introduction to the Geology of Mount Jefferson State Natural Area 1.6 2. Activity Summary 2.1 Correlation Chart 2.2 3. Pre-Visit Activities #1 Rainbow Rock 3.1 #2 Belting It Out 3.2 #3 Mt. Jefferson's Crystals 3.3 4. On-Site Activities #1 Geo-Trek 4:1 Part I. Rock ID 4.1.3 Part II. Talking Rocks 4.1.11 #2 Exploring Metamorphic Mountain 4.3 #3 Cultural History & Geologic History The Connection 4.4 5. Post-Visit Activities #1 Geo-Scavenge 5.1. #2 It's About Time 5.2 #3 Ironing It Out 5.3 6. Vocabulary 6.1 7. References 7.1 8. Forms 8.1 9. Notes 9.1 Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System reserving and protecting The North Carolina State As one of North Carolina's PNorth Carolina's natural Parks System has now been principal conservation resources is actually a established for more than agencies, the Division of relatively new idea. The three, quarters of a century. Parks and Recreation is seeds of the conservation What started out as one smallresponsible for the more than movement were planted plot of public land has grown 150,000 acres that make up early in the 20th century into 59 properties across the our state-parks system. The when citizens were alerted state, including parks, Division manages these to the devastation of Mount resources for the safe Mitchell. Logging was enjoyment of the public and destroying a well-known protects and preserves them landmark - the highest peak as a part of the heritage we east of the Mississippi. As will pass on to generations to the magnificent forests of come. this mile-high peak fell to An important-component the lumbermen's axe, of our-stewardship of these alarmed citizens lands is education. Through began to voice their our interpretation and objections. Governor environmental education Locke Craig joined them services, the Division of in their efforts to save Parks and Recreation strives Mount Mitchell. to offer enlightening Together they convinced programs which lead to an the legislature to pass a bill recreation areas, trails, rivers,understanding and establishing Mount Mitchell lakes and natural areas. This appreciation of our natural as the first state park of vast network of land boasts resources. The goal of our North Carolina. That was in some of the most beautiful environmental education 1915. scenery in the world and program is to generate an offers endless recreation awareness in all individuals opportunities. But our state that cultivates responsible parks system offers much stewardship of the earth. more than scenery and recreation. Our lands and waters contain unique and valuable archaeological, For more information contact: geological and biological resources that are important N.C. Division of Parks parts of our natural heritage. and Recreation P.O. Box 27687 Raleigh, NC 27611-7687 919/ 733-4181 www.ncsparks.net Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, NC i.P March 1999 Introduction to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area Mount Jefferson State above the nearby New River were originally formed from Natural Area, located in Valley. The mountain is depositions in a trough or the southern Blue Ridge located between the north and basin on the floor of an ancient highlands, covers 489 acres, south forks of the New River, sea, 600 to 800 million years which includes the peak and which have played a ago. Some sand and clay upper slopes of the mountain. tremendous role in eroding materials were washed into the On clear days, Mount Rogers Mount Jefferson to its present- basin from the surrounding and Whitetop Mountain in day height and shape. land areas, eventually forming Virginia, Grandfather Mount Jefferson and the sedimentary rocks, which later Mountain in North Carolina, other high mountains in the changed into the metamorphic and Snake Mountain in area are the remnants of a rocks gneiss and schist. Other Tennessee can be seen from high, broad plateau that once materials were deposited as the natural area's overlooks. existed there. Weathering and volcanic, debris from now Nestled at the foot of Mount erosion have removed much extinct volcanoes. The black Jefferson are the towns of of the original material of the rock amphibolite, seen in the Jefferson and West Jefferson. plateau, creating broad park today, is an example of an Mount Jefferson is a mountain valleys, and leaving igneous, volcanic rock that has northwest trending mountain the more resistant underlying been changed into a that reaches a maximum rock. metamorphic rock by heat and pressure. elevation of 4,683 feet, The rocks that would one approximately 1,600 feet day become Mount Jefferson It is difficult to explain Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, NC 1.2 March 1999 Mount Jefferson's height. include chipmunks, deer, - School groups can borrow trail Amphibolite is normally not groundhogs, red and gray booklets at the park office. very resistant to erosion and squirrels, ruffed grouse and Please return them to the office is usually found at lower numerous song birds and when you are finished. elevations. The gneiss and raptors.