Like A Rock

FALL, 2007-2008

We think of rock as solid, stable and never changing, but we can find evidence of a changing earth if we know where to look: fossils in the Genesee River gorge, glacial rock in our parks, and valleys cut and re-cut by moving water. During this expedition students discover how our region has been transformed by forces from deep within the earth and by the Genesee River. Students follow the course of the Genesee River, which provides us with the "cut away view" needed to study the geology of our region. Students collect rocks at each field visit and craft theories about the composition and location of these rocks. After learning how to classify and test rock samples, students revise their theories and present their information in a reflective written piece. With this knowledge of rock, the fifth grade class design a semi-permanent installation piece that represents their experience of the expedition.