Embedded Files
How did the Olympic Peninsula form? There are many fascinating accounts.
Part 1: Geologic History of the Olympics Card Activity
We will learn from the labeled diagrams on pages 1 and 10 - 20 of the 'Geologic Overview + History of the Olympics'.
[Citation: Lieberman, Dan and Michael Smithson. "History of the Olympics." Port Angeles: Olympic Park Institute, 2005.]
In your journal, please create the following table (Optional: Here on p. 4 is a printable table to fill in).
While going through an "Each One Teach One" activity with your group and the class, fill in the table in your journal. While you wait to go through, play the "Earth, People" game.
Optional Debrief Questions:
How did it feel to teach others your topic?
What techniques worked well and what did not work?
What is one detail you found most interesting about the geologic history of the Olympics?
Optional: Here on p. 4 is a printable table to fill in.
Part 2: Geologic History of the Olympics Models
Observe the demonstration of the Olympic Peninsula Geology model from Olympic National Park.
Debrief Items:
What do you predict that the Olympic Mountains will be like in 50 million years?
Give one example for how a geoscience process (such as plate tectonics, mountain uplift, landslides, weathering/erosion, etc.) has changed the Olympic Peninsula.
Describe one geoscience process that happened relatively quickly during the formation of the Olympic Peninsula.
Describe one geoscience process that happened relatively slowly during the formation of the Olympic Peninsula.
[Citation for Geology Model Speech/Lecture: Lieberman, Dan and John Wilkerson. "Olympic Peninsula Geology Model." History of the Olympics, Stevens Middle School Science, 17 Nov 2022.]
[Citation for Cards/Diagrams: Lieberman, Dan and Michael Smithson. "History of the Olympics." Port Angeles: Olympic Park Institute, 2005.]
Then, complete an "Edible Geology" model following these guidelines.
Get 2 graham cracker pieces with chocolate frosting--1 also has butterscotch chips.
Do not eat any of it until instructed to do so.
Your task is to model the geologic history of the Olympic Peninsula using your edible materials.
You need to decide what is going to represent the following:
Juan de Fuca (oceanic) Plate
North American Continental Plate
Basalt (igneous) that crystallized under the ocean 55 million years ago
Sandstone & shale (sedimentary) that formed from 45-25 million yrs ago.
Plan how you are going to carry out your demonstration/model.
Show your model to the teacher and get approval before you can eat it.
Debrief Questions:
How does the Earth "eat" (or get rid of) tectonic plates?
Give one example for how a geoscience process (such as plate tectonics, mountain uplift, landslides, weathering/erosion, etc.) changed the landforms that your "edible geology" materials were representing.
How many years do you think it would take for the processes you acted out with your "edible geology" to really happen? Explain.
Part 3 Native American Landform and Event History
Part 3 Native American Landform and Event History
Guest speaker Jonathan Arakawa or Carmen Watson-Charles will share some Klallam stories and perspectives on the land. Also use the library, internet and other links below for more stories.
The Flood Story
[Citation: Bennett, Anna Belle. "The Flood Story as told by Anna Belle Bennett." The Elwha River and Its People, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, 2008.]
Thunderbird and Killer Whale River Creation story
[Citation: Charles, Benjamin K. "Thunderbird and Killer Whale as told by Benjamin K. Charles." Klallam Stories, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, 2012.]
Storm King story (see landslide pic here)
[Citation: Parratt, Smitty. "Gods and Goblins - Quileute Story of Mt. Storm King" Forks: Poseidon Peak Publishing, 2009.]
Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains
[Citation: Clark, Ella E. "Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains – Story told by Henry Sicade, Nisqually Tribe." Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest, University of California Press, 1953.]
Thunderbird and Whale Hoh (Tsunami)
[Citation: Tsunami Preparedness Oral History of the Hoh. Performance by Viola Riebe, Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division, 2015]
The Flood Story
[Citation: Sampson Sr., Ed. "The Flood Story as told by Ed Sampson Sr." Klallam Origin Stories Coloring Book, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, 1992.]
[Citation: Watson-Charles, Carmen K. "Creation of Marymere Falls." Klallam Spirit Stories, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.]
See other books of stories in the classroom, online and in the Stevens Middle School library.
Part 4: Geologic Landform and Event History
Part 4: Geologic Landform and Event History
Geologic Overview + History of the Olympics (Mt. Rainier and Olympics)
[Citation: Lieberman, Dan and Michael Smithson. "History of the Olympics." Port Angeles: Olympic Park Institute, 2005.]
Orphan Tsunami (Flood)
[Citation: Spitz, Tullan, "How Scientists Know When the Last Big Earthquake Happened Here." Oregon Public Broadcasting, January 26, 2015.]
River Formation - "How Do Rivers Form?" Journal Prompt on p. 117
[Citation: Keeley, P. "How Do Rivers Form?" Uncovering Student Ideas in Earth and Environmental Science, National Science Teachers Association Press, 2016, pp. 117-121.]
Lake Crescent Formation (Storm King)
[Citation: Logan, Robert and Robert Schuster, "Origin of Lake Crescent and Sutherland," Washington Geology, Volume 19, Number 1, March, 1991, p. 38.]
Barnes Creek Fault (Marymere Falls)
[Citation: Puget Sound Faults, CCCarto. https://cccarto.com/faults/seafaults/ (May, 2018).]
River Geology on the Olympic Peninsula + River Image (River Creation)
[Citation: Ear to the Ground, "Wild History of Olympic Peninsula Rivers Shown on New Map." Washington DNR, April 20, 2016.]
Geology Model Speech/Lecture (Mt. Rainier and Olympics)
[Citation: Lieberman, Dan and John Wilkerson. "Olympic Peninsula Geology Model." History of the Olympics, Stevens Middle School Science, 16 Nov 2023.]
Search the internet and library for other sources about geologic evidence for Olympic Peninsula landform creation.
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