The student will do the following:

1. Learn about common sediments (stream) and apply the knowledge to the Mississippi River
2. Observe the differing settlement order of differing sized particles

Geology

1 class period

1 glass jar (pasta sauce or jelly jar)

1 lid that twists shut (for the jar)

Dirt from outside

Tap water

One of the ways that sediments are formed is physical weathering. Physical weathering is the breakdown of rocks through mechanical means. These sediments may travel and rest in a number of different places until they reach the ocean.

We will focus on what happens to sediments as they travel through streams. The Mississippi River can be viewed as a very large and fast moving stream.

Most sediment is transported to the ocean by streams. In general, as the Mississippi River approaches the ocean, the land begins to level out till it reaches sea level. Because the land gets flatter and flatter, the water slows down. As the water slows down, the larger sized particles fall out first. The smallest particles will fall out last. The result of the action of the stream is sediments will be layered from large to tiny. The small-sized sediments, such as clays are deposited in large quantities as you near the Mouth of the River.

1. Clean the glass jar and remove any labels, do the same for the lid.
2. Go outside, dig up enough dirt so that it fills half of the jar. In figure 1, draw what you see
3. Carefully pour the tap water into the jar until it is almost full. But leave some air at the top
4. Screw the lid on very tightly
5. Shake the jar vigorously for 10 seconds, and then place it on a table. Let the dirt settle for five minutes. Using figure 2, record what you see.

Figure One Figure Two

1. Was there a change in the appearance of the sediments from figure 1 to figure 2?

If so, what was the change?

 

 

 

 

2. Why do you think there was a change?

 

 

 

3. How can this apply to the Mississippi River?

 

 

 

4. Can you apply sedimentation to any other system? If so, can you name them?

The student will do the following:

1. Show erosive patterns on differing landscapes
2. know the general background of a floodplain and the difference between an old river system and a relatively new one

Geology of the Mississippi River

1 class period

Two rectangular cookie pans

Dirt from outside

Two plant watering cans (preferably with small watering holes)

Two Bricks (Books of equivalent size will suffice)

Ruler

There are all kinds of ways water flows to the sea. From the massive pwer of Niagara falls, to the lazy rivers that meander back and forth across the land, and to the tiny stream in our backyards, water has carved out many different landforms. Water is able to do this through EROSION.

Erosion is a general term. It occurs because of many different processes that are all related to each other. All of the processes serve to break down rocks into smaller and smaller parts. Erosion is so powerful, that over time, a gigantic mountain can be washed away! Rocks that are broken down through erosion are transported elsewhere. We will be focusing on water as an erosive force.

When a stream is born (no water present for a long time), new types of waterflow will occur (such as waterfalls). Water will follow the law of gravity, so it will go downward. Water will also erode whatever surface it flows through. The rate of erosion is dependant upon a number of factors: the speed of the water, the volume of water, the type of sediment that the water flows over etc…

When water is introduced to an area where it was not present before, many very large and sudden changes can occur. Mud flows, which are like rivers of mud, can have devastating effects on an area. In arid areas, such as deserts, it becomes difficult for the water to soak through the ground because the ground is so dry. Sudden waterfalls and flash floods can occur. Water’s erosive power can be very strong. If the water continues to flow through an area for a very long period of time, it will erode and change the landscape a lot! The Mississippi River Valley is one such example where water has flowed through for a very long time. Different types of streams characterize the Mississippi River Valley. These are straight channels, meandering channels, and braided channels. Pictured below are the different types of channels that can be found in the Mississippi River Valley.

The Mississippi River is a combination of all three, however it is associated largely with meandering channels. Although the river valley is not free of the destructive nature of water (periodic floods, rerouting of the river), you can tell that water has flowed through the area for a long period of time because of the flat landscape and the types of channels.

1. Go outside
2. Pack dirt (from outside) into the two rectangular cookie pans, filling them completely to the top. Make sure the dirt is packed firmly and evenly
3. On level ground, put the pans side by side, with one side of each pan propped up (at equal angles) by the bricks.
4. In one of the pans, take your ruler and carve parallel lines (5 or 6) ½ an inch apart. These carved lines should be at the bottom part of the pan (where the pan touches the ground, not at the elevated end).

 

 

 

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5. Now carefully and lightly sprinkle water on the elevated section of the pans (the top). Make sure both pans get constant and equal amounts of water poured on them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6. Record and explain what you see in the Observations

1. What happened to the pan with the parallel lines carved into it after the water was poured? Draw and describe what you saw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. What happened to the pan without the parallel lines after the water was poured? Draw and describe what you saw.

1. Was there a difference in what happened to the dirt in the two pans after the water had been poured? If so, what was the difference?

 

 

 

2. Why do you think there was a difference?

 

 

 

3. What do you think the carved parallel lines could represent in a natural setting?

 

 

 

 

4. Which pan would more closely represent the Mississippi River Valley?

 

 

 

5. Which pan would closely represent an area where water was previously absent?

 

 

 

6. Are waterfalls common in the Mississippi River Valley? Why or why not?

 

 

 

7. Describe what erosion is and how it applies to this experiment.

The student will do the following:

1)Students will learn about wetlands by visiting a nearby wetland

2) Students will learn about bird migration

Ecology

2 class periods, the field trip component may require more time

For the field trip: binoculars, insect repellent, shoes you can get muddy

For the in-class lesson: internet access, chalk

What do you think of when someone says "swamp" or "bog"? Most think of a treacherous wasteland filled with danger and swarming with mosquitoes. As a result, more than half of America’s wetlands have been destroyed. But wetlands are extremely important for the survival of many different forms of wildlife. It is important to try and save the remaining wetlands before they all disappear.

What are Wetlands? Wetlands are where water meets the land. Wetlands come in various forms; they are not all the same. Bogs, coastal marshes, freshwater marshes, prairie potholes, swamps, and vernal pools are all different types of wetlands. These areas can be found in almost every climatic zone in the United States. Wetlands relieve the effects of floods and runoffs, improve water quality, recharge groundwater, prevent erosion, and provide ample resources for commercial fishing. These landforms are also vital habitats for many different flora and fauna because they can serve as breeding grounds, feeding areas, and resting places. Wetlands are also important for migrating birds. Because these birds must travel extremely long distances, such as from Maine to Louisiana, they rely on wetlands as a place for food and shelter.

The Lower Mississippi River Valley hosts a variety of these environments such as bogs, coastal marshes, freshwater marshes, and swamps. In Southern Louisiana, hardwood bottomland swamps and coastal marshes characterize the landscape. By visiting one of the many wetlands, you will get a sense for the importance and diversity of the environment.

Choose one of the many wetlands in Southern Louisiana. For more information on the refuges of southeastern Louisiana, you can access the following websites: http://southeastlouisiana.fws.gov/, and http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nwr/la_marsh.htm. For information on migratory birds, you can access the website http://southeast.fws,gov/birds/migbrd.html.

Prior to the fieldtrip, make sure to bring insect repellent and binoculars!

1. When you are on the fieldtrip, make a list of all the different animals that you can find.
2. Stay on the trail and have a great time!

This is an experiment that has been designed by Stephen T. Ferguson; Wiliams/Cone, in Topsham, Maine. To access the lesson plan, go to the website http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Biological/BIO0068.html. This experiment requires an outside area, such as a playground, where a hopscotch game can be drawn (with chalk). The experiment is designed to teach children the important role of wetlands for migratory birds.

A hopscotch game will be drawn on the ground. Each square (ten of them) will represent a different wetland in a different state (for example, from Louisiana to Maine). Each student will hop through the course. After they have done this, the teacher should mark an "X" on two squares (not next to each other). The "X" represents a wetland that has been destroyed, and the students (representing migratory birds) can no longer go to the wetland, and consequently must hop over that square. After each run through, mark off an additional two squares until none of the students can hop from one square to the next. The object of this game is to show the students what will happen if too many wetlands are destroyed.

Once the hopscotch game is done, go inside and have the students read The Paddy O’ Mallard Story. This can be found on the website, http://www.r6.fws.gov/pwf/paddy1.html. This is the story of the courtship of two mallard ducks. Although the particular wetland, the prairie pothole region, does not exist in Louisiana, it also addresses another problem posed with the loss of wetlands: loss of breeding grounds.

1. What did you see in the Wetlands? Can you name some of the plants and animals that you saw there?

Questions 1-6 are from Ferguson, Williams/Cone:

1. Explain why some of the birds died earlier than others?

 

 

 

2. Why did the rest of the birds die?

 

 

 

3. Explain how this game represents migration

 

 

 

4. Why did the birds die even when some of the wetlands remained at the end of the game?

 

 

 

5. Why is it important to save wetlands in all states?

 

 

 

6. How do migrating birds depend on wetlands during migration?

 

 

 

 

7. Summarize the Paddy O’Mallard Story.

 

 

 

 

8. Where is the Prairie Pothole region and why can’t you find the region in Louisiana?

 

 

 

9. What does the Mallard pair seek during the Mating Period? What do you think would happen if much of the prairie pothole region were to be destroyed?

 

 

 

 

 

10. Why do you think it is important to save the wetlands?

The student will learn about the arrangement and dimensions of streams in a drainage basin

Drainage Basin Geology

1 class period

Pen, paper, Internet access

The Mississippi River has a very large drainage basin. The Mississippi drains over 40% of the continental U.S. and ends up in the Gulf of Mexico. A drainage basin is the total area that contributes water to the stream. To see a diagram of the Mississippi River Basin, go to the website http://www.unb.ca/standint/asdm/Miss3.GIF. The drainage basin is composed of a series of streams. These streams tend to be very orderly in the system. Each of the streams is classified into orders, the first being the smallest with no other streams contributing to its flow. When two first order streams join, they form a second order stream. When two second order streams join, they form a third order stream. Third order streams can also have first order streams contributing to their total flow. As the stream order increases the number of streams in that order decreases. For example, there are many tiny streams, but very few large streams, such as the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is estimated to be a twelfth order stream. Below is an example of the different stream orders that can exist.

The order and tendency for the number of streams to decrease as the stream order gets larger corresponds to a stream system that develops with the right size and spacing required to move the water off the land in the most efficient way.

1. What is a drainage basin?

 

 

 

 

2. How are streams organized in a drainage basin?

 

 

 

 

3. Fill in the stream orders in the diagram below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. What do you find about the relationship between the stream order and the number of streams?

 

 

 

5. Draw a third order stream in the space provided below and fill in the number of streams each order has

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6. Why is there an orderly relationship between the number of streams and stream order?

 

 

 

 

7. Can you name another major river system besides the Mississippi that has the same relationship of stream order and number of streams?

Teacher's Note: For an additional exercise on the organization of stream, access the lesson, Dendritic River Systems, by John Niemoth, from the Internet. The website address is: http://ucawww.mcm.uc.edu/geology/...plans/NESEN_April96/dendritic.html.

The Dendritic River System lesson is designed to teach students about the tree-like drainage pattern of river systems. Although this exercise is designed for drainage systems common in the mid-plains region, it still follows the same idea behind stream order in the Mississippi River Drainage Basin; streams tend to flow in the direction of the largest stream or river.