Things to bring into the field:

• Backpack (preferably old, the main purpose is to have something to carry rock samples)
• In backpack:
  • First-aid kit
  • Water
  • Ziploc bags (perfect for shales and anything else that is crumbly)
  • Grocery bags (collecting other rocks)
  • Pencils (mechanical are best because they don't need to be sharpened and won't run in the rain)
  • Sharpies (to label rock samples)
• Digital camera (make sure batteries are charged and/or you have extras)
• GPS unit (make sure batteries are charged and/or you have extras)
• Meter stick or other measuring device (for scale), mechanical pencils can also be used on small objects
• A field notebook or clipboard and paper
• A topographic map of the area, if possible
• Rock hammer and safety glasses (fresh surface of a rock can be quite different from the weathered surface, or you may need to break rock to get a hand sample for your classes, before using a rock hammer, be sure that its okay to do so)

Things to do at each site:

• Get coordinates from your GPS (Write down the coordinates on paper even if your GPS stores them, and don't trust the elevation it gives you)
• Take pictures:

  • Put something for scale in each picture

    • An overview

    • Examples of weathering and erosion

    • Any changes in rock type or color

    • Bedding

    • Close-ups of typical rock

    • Anything cool, interesting or something you have questions about

  • Take as many pictures as you can, it may save you a trip back!

• Take notes:

  • Make your own observations (think, if you brought students here, what would you want them to write about?) Download a template in MS Word.

    • Most geologists use a field notebook, but unless you are working in the rain (I don't recommend) its just as good to use a clipboard and paper.

• Get samples:
  • Typical rocks (enough samples to show what the place looks like in terms of rock)
  • Any rock with something special like fossils
  • Atypical rocks (what's this doing here?)
  • Anything you have questions about
• Label rocks/bags (I use the following system:)
  • L1-06-01
    • L1 stands for Location 1 (you can give places descriptive names or numbers, what ever works for you)
    • 06 stands for 2006
    • 01 stands for the first sample at this location

Scaffolding A Virtual Fieldtrip

What skills do students need to be successful on a vft?

• Make observations

• Mapping bedrock

• Writing useful field notebook entries/ sketches

• Able to classify rock types/ identify specific rocks
  • Be able to make connections between a rock and what it means (formation)
  • In Norwich depositional environments are very important
• Able to determine agents of erosion/ deposition from evidence
• Creating a geologic map

• Drawing a stratigraphic column

• Telling a story about a place

Are any of the below things helpful?

Introduction to Fieldwork: the Chenango River

Geologic Bedrock Maps

Student Guide/Work for Fall 06

Student guide with stratigraphic column in MSWord Download

Topographic Map of Norwich in MSWord Download

Geologic Map of West Hill in Norwich, NY created by student 

Stratigraphic column of Norwich, NY created by the same student