In this video, Abby Brown will take the students on a virtual tour to a unique spot in Graf, Iowa. The changes in the layers of a rock formation give clues about its geological history. In this spot, it can be observed that the rocks are mainly of two types: shale and limestone. This provides evidence that Iowa was once covered in a warm tropical sea. This theory is further strengthened by the presence of fossils of sea creatures in limestone. Dead creatures become part of rocks as they are buried under layers of sediment, thus becoming fossils with stories to tell.
This video satisfies the 4-ESS1-1 requirement of fourth-grade science proficiency.
Students who demonstrate understanding can: 4-ESS1-1. Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
