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Geology & Geography of Montana

7-12th Grade Earth Science, Biology, Economics, Social Studies, Geography

Content Topics

  • Montana Geology
  • Montana Resource Economics
  • Geological and related resources
  • Indigenous History and Science
  • Paleontology and Fossil Resources
  • Careers in resource management

Duration ~2 hours

Objective: 

Students will:

  • Understand how to read and understand basic geologic maps. 
  • Understand how paleogeography influences modern geography. 
  • Identify fossils and use them to infer provenance. 
  • Learn about famous fossil resources from their own regions. 
  • Understand why certain resources are located where they are.
  • Become familiar with the many resources that Montana contains. 
  • Be exposed to the many careers that involve geologic resources. 
  • Practice research methods such as educational resource utilization and citation.

Overview and Purpose:

Fossils are an excellent way to engage students in the study of geography, geology, and history. Montana’s large land area contains multitudes of landscapes and fossil assemblages influenced by the underlying geology. Making connections between the types of fossils found in particular regions helps inform students about the state’s geography and how millions of years of history have shaped its landscape and resources.

The rocks underneath our feet contain vast amounts of resources like minerals and fossils, but can also influence the resources found above, such as timber and crops. Managing these resources and using them economically is no easy task. Many careers deal directly and indirectly with our state’s geologic resources. It is crucial to be familiar with these resources and what is involved in managing them for those working in those fields, but also for citizens to be better informed of the land around them.

Guiding Questions: 

  • What is Geology? What is Geography? What is Paleontology?
  • What can we learn from rocks, maps, and fossils?
  • What can a rock tell you? How do rocks inform us about the past?

Education Standards:

  • MS-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.
  • MS-LS2-2: Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms
  • across multiple ecosystems.
  • MS-LS2-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations or organisms in an ecosystem and analyze scientific concepts used by American Indians to maintain healthy relationships with environmental sources.
  • MS-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
  • MS-ESS2-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time scales and spatial scales.
  • Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms MS-LS1-6.
  • Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem Services MS-LS2-5.
  • Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current
  • geoscience processes MS-ESS3-1.
  • Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions MS-ESS2-5.
  • Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems including indigenous populations MS-ESS3-4.
  • SS.G.6-8.4: Explain how the environment and geographic features have affected people and how people have affected the environment throughout Montana, the United States, and the world
  • SS.H.6-8.5: Explain how Montana has changed over time and how this history impacts the present
  • SS.G.9-12.2 use geographic data to analyze variations in the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics at multiple scales 
  • SS.G.9-12.3 use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their political, cultural, and economic dynamics 
  • SS.G.9-12.4 analyze relationships and interactions within and between human and physical systems to explain reciprocal influences that occur among them, including American Indians
  • SS.G.9-12.7 evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales

Materials and Resources:

Local Resources:

Part 1( 60 Min)

Introduction/ Hook:

Fossils in Your Backyard- Montana’s large land area contains multitudes of landscapes and fossil assemblages influenced by its underlying geology. Making connections between the types of fossils found in particular regions informs our state’s geography and how millions of years of history shaped the landscape and resources around us. 

Presentation:

Begin Slideshow to introduce students to the following principles and understandings:

Brief discussion of Basic Geology

  • What are Geology, Geography, and Paleontology?
  • Where do certain rocks form?
  • Where in Montana are certain rocks found?

Paleogeography and Montana’s ancient history

  • What did Montana look like at certain points in time?
  • How to read a geologic map to know the bedrock geology of a region.

Activity:

“You are looking through your grandparents' treasures and come across a box full of fossils they  collected over the years on their ranch/farm.”

Look through the box with your partners and attempt to identify the fossils using the provided identification guide.

After you have identified the fossils, attempt to identify their provenance (where they came from) and where the ranch/farm is located in Montana using a geologic map.

Showcase Famous Fossils that originated from Central and Eastern Montana. Discuss who excavated them and where they are now. Fossil Fame of MT

Part 2 (45 Min)

Presentation:

Geologic Resources & Careers-

Begin Slideshow to introduce students to the following principles and understandings:

Montana’s geological and other resources

  • Rocks and Minerals
  • Fossils
  • Agriculture & Forestry
  • Recreation
  • Wind and Solar

Why are these resources located in particular regions?

  • How do the rocks that formed there influence modern geography?
  • Flora, landforms, resources, etc.
  • Rock and Soil Type
  • Climate

Careers involved in the Management and Mitigation of these resources

  • State and University Researchers
  • Oil & Gas Geologists
  • Mitigation Paleontologists
  • Education & Tourism Specialists

Activity:

Brief students on their research project.

Research a region in Montana and its major resources relating to geology.

Group students into small groups or individually.

  • Students could choose a particular region or be assigned a region.

Provide “Research Aid Worksheet”

Discuss Primary, Secondary, and Reliable sources.

  • Students can submit a completed research aid or use it to construct a poster, infographic, slideshow presentation, or written report.

The project could be a culmination of classwork and homework, depending on the availability of technology and resources.

Part 3 (40 Min)

Overview

  • Student Narrative 
  • Primary source/ artifact: Image, articles, and models of transportation inquiry.

Part 4 (60 Min)

Activity

  • Recreation of transportation individually or with a partner- model, image, or other.
  • Students will share their project with class- Rubric

Extensions

  • Create Propaganda Piece that would influence/ deter the movement of advancement.
  • Field trip/ GPS