In this WebQuest students will conduct internet research
to learn more about Virginia's five physiographic
provinces. They also will learn how geologic processes,
such as faulting, folding, erosion, metamorphism,
volcanism, deposition, and sedimentation, have shaped
the land. Their project will include making a geologic
timetable that shows when these processes occurred
over time to shape Virginia's landscape.
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As students conduct their research, they will answer
a set of questions that have been provided. Each Web
site provided has some of the answers, but several
of the questions may require information from two
or more of the Web sites.
As students compile information to answer the questions,
they also will gather the information needed to create
a geologic timetable. The timetable should show when
geologic processes occurred throughout history.
Objectives
- Describe the five physiographic provinces in Virginia.
- Investigate the geologic processes that shaped
the provinces.
- Create a geologic time table that shows when geologic
processes occurred.
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Two class periods to research, answer questions,
and create timetable
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As students progress through the list of Web sites,
you may help them focus on what they need to know
to answer the questions. Several of the Web sites
have links to other Web sites with relevant information.
If time allows, you may want to allow students to
further explore subjects related to the physiographic
provinces in Virginia. Always supervise students
carefully as they search the Internet.
Students then will continue with their internet research
to gather information that they will use to construct
a geologic timetable. If time is short, you can have
students print out and fill in the table provided.
Make sure students provide the correct sequence of
geologic time and indicate when geologic processes
occurred in the province they chose.
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Students will use the Internet links provided to
find out about the different physiographic provinces
and the geologic processes that shaped them.
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Have students review the rubric
to determine how they will be scored on this WebQuest.
You may assign 10 points
to each of the five questions for a total of 50 possible
points. Possible answers to the questions are given
below. You may rate the answer to each question
by the following scale: Excellent: 9-10 points; Very
Good: 7-8 points; Good: 5-6 points; Satisfactory:
3-4 points; Poor: 1-2 points; and Unsatisfactory:
0 points.
Possible Answers
to Questions about Virginia's Provinces
Student answers will vary.
- Answers will vary depending on the province each
student chooses. Answers can be found on the maps
located on many of the Web sites provided.
- The topography of a region is a description of
the surface features, both natural and artificial.
Students' answers should describe the topography
of the province they selected.
- Geologic processes include faulting, folding,
erosion, sedimentation, metamorphism, volcanism,
and deposition. For example; many of the rocks in
the Piedmont and Blue Ridge provinces are metamorphic,
which means that they were created under intense
pressure. Others are igneous, which indicates that
they were formed from volcanoes.
- Answers will vary depending on the province chosen.
For example, during the late Silurian Period, geologic
evidence shows that much deposition occurred in
the Valley and Ridge province.
- Answers will vary. One example may be that the
Appalachian Plateau contains many coal deposits.
At the end of this WebQuest, students will have gathered
enough information to answer the questions about Virginia's
physiographic provinces and create a geologic timetable.
Completion of this WebQuest will help students prepare
for the Virginia Standards of Learning test by reviewing
Earth Science standard ES.8a.
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