Format
1. Introduction to Denali
2. Define the word mountain and learn the difference between elevation and relief
3. Interactive activity with presenter
4. Learn about plate tectonics
5. Interactive activity with presenter
6. Learn about the rain shadow effect
7. Learn about glaciers
8. Interactive oobleck activity
9. Questions and answers
Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Use a chart to compare the elevations of mountains in the U.S. to the elevation of Denali.
2. Explain the difference between elevation and relief and how this impacts our perception of mountain height.
3. Describe how Denali and other high mountains can impact weather and climate, and how the Alaska Range creates a rain shadow on its north side.
4. Conceptualize that some mountain ranges are formed due to tectonic plates colliding
and subducting.
5. Describe how glaciers form and flow.
Standards Alignment
National Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
• 4-ESS2-1 Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation
• 5-ESS2-1 Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
• MS-ESS1-4 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6-billion-year-old history.
• MS-ESS2-2 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.
• MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
State Standards
N/A