Scientists study exposed rocks when making geological maps.
Studying geological maps in high school science is a great way for students to learn to see the earth in a different way. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, geologic maps "describe the rocks and soils at the surface, provide information about what rocks lie at depth, describe the ages of rocks and soils, and show where features such as earthquake faults and landslides lie." There are a great many activities that high school students can do with geological maps, from identifying soil types to mapping samples.
Highest Points in the U.S.
Use geologic and topography maps to gather data on the highest points in the United States. Have students pinpoint the mountains of the United States and mark them on a large U.S. map, and ask students to add geological details based on research and additional reading. Discuss areas where there are no mountainous regions and compare those to areas that have severe mountainous regions. Discuss how the maps look different, and why.
Map Drawing
Have students physically investigate a local area and create their own geologic maps. Students will be looking at the bedrock geology of the area, and should practice recognizing rock and soil types. Allow the students to bring some research or mapping material into the field with them, but encourage them to do the majority of the drawing back in the classroom.
Urban Planning
Look at geologic maps of an undeveloped local area. Have students discuss the natural world in relation to humans and development. Using the maps, students will decide where an urban center should be planned, based on the subterranean conditions. Discuss how geologic maps help urban planning. Students will then discuss features that make up a city or a town and make decisions on where to build.
Compare and Contrast
Select a handful of geological maps of different nearby areas or different neighboring states, and ask students to study the differences. Some differences will be subtle, but others will be more substantial. For an added twist, procure both geologic and topographic maps of the same area, and ask the students to draw connections between the features they see. To take it a step further, include a regular map that shows urban areas and discuss how topography and geology affect urban growth.
Rock Identification
Provide students with samples of rock, dirt, and clay, and ask them to identify where each sample would most likely be found on geologic map. Students should be able to determine where a rock should occur in the earth both based on its composition, and other details like erosion, temperature, and average soil depth, all of which should be found on the map. This activity can be conducted either as a review or as a quiz, and can be done either independently or in groups.
Tags: geologic maps, geological maps, Have students, high school, local area, mountainous regions, rocks soils