Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 1

Erosion at Providence Canyon

Teacher Notes: The resources on the following pages can be used in a variety of ways. The information is set

up where students complete a similar task on the same information, but on three different levels. However, depending on time and other circumstances, the teacher can use the materials selectively.

Introduction – This section of the lesson could possibly be used as the Activating Strategy for the essential question covering human impact. In partners, or in small groups, students compare pictures of Stewart County, Georgia in 1937 with pictures of the same area today in Stewart County, Georgia called Providence Canyon. Each student answers the questions on the Providence Canyon Student Handout

Level 1 – Students will be given an Information sheet on Providence Canyon, a Providence Canyon Student Handout (Level 1 indicated by 1 asterisk on each side of the title), and a Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet. Students will use the Providence Canyon Information Sheet to answer the questions on the Providence Canyon Student Handout. Using this information, students will create a timeline and a graph on the Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet.

Level 2 – Students will be given an Information sheet on Providence Canyon, a Providence Canyon Student Handout (Level 2 indicated by 2 asterisks on each side of the title), and a Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet. Students will use the Providence Canyon Information Sheet to answer the questions on the Providence Canyon Student Handout. Using this information, students will make calculations and conversions, create a timeline, and create a graph on the Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet.

Level 3 – Students are provided resources (websites) to gather information on Providence Canyon, a Providence Canyon Student Handout (Level 3 indicated by 3 asterisks on each side of the title), and a Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet. Students will use the suggested resources and if needed the Providence Canyon Information Sheet to answer the questions on the Providence Canyon Student Handout. Using this information, students will make calculations and conversions, create a timeline, and create a graph on the Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet. Level 3 students are required to do more calculations and find the appropriate formulas to make conversions using their textbook.

This assignment seems a little long and complex in order to demonstrate human impact on erosion. However, the assignment is intended to have students discover or figure out the information. Additionally, many Characteristics of Science skills are incorporated into the lesson.

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 2

Images of Stewart County, Georgia in 1937

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 3

Images of Providence Canyon (Stewart County) Today

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 4

Providence Canyon Information Sheet

Providence Canyon State Park provides a spectacular example of erosion and environmental change over the last 200 years. The park contains a series of canyons and gullies (small valleys) as much as 200 feet (61m) deep, formed by human-

induced erosion. The park is located in Stewart County, in southwestern Georgia, near Lumpkin. Providence Canyon is sometimes called Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon”. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. It differs from the Grand Canyon in Arizona, however, because Providence Canyon cuts through soft, unconsolidated sediments, rather than hard rock. The Grand Canyon in Arizona formed over a much longer time from much older hard rock, including granite and gneiss. The canyon is actually a relatively recent feature. It did not exist when the first settlers arrived in the early 1800’s. A common “folk tale” about the canyon’s formation is that the canyon began to form because of a woman throwing her dishwater out into the yard, day after day and year after year. In actuality, Providence Canyon began to form because of poor farming practices, which led to runaway soil erosion. After the trees were cut down and the land was cleared for agriculture in the early 1800’s, farmers plowed straight up and down the hills. The furrows (a narrow trench-like sunken area) provided a good path for rainwater to run, causing erosion.

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 5

Between 1820 and 1930, erosion removed about 8 inches of soil and sediments per year. By 1850, gullies ranging from 3 to 5 feet deep (1 to 2 meters) had formed in the fields. Once gullies appeared, erosion rates increased, and the land became useless for farming. Gullies deepened and widened into canyons. In the 1930’s, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted trees in the Providence Canyon area to try to stop erosion. Erosion at the head of each canyon caused the canyons to lengthen. Rates of erosion at the head of each canyon were measured from aerial (sky) photos taken over the years. Between 1955 and 1968, the canyons lengthened by about 6 feet (2 m) per year. Providence Canyon became a State Park in 1971. Providence Canyon is a perfect example of erosion as a result of human impact on the land, and the need for good soil conservation practices. The softness of the sediments in this area, and poor farming practices led to the severe erosion that formed Providence Canyon.

*Providence Canyon Student Handout*

Introduction: With a partner, or in a small group assigned by the teacher, compare the photographs of Stewart County, Georgia in 1937 and the same area today known as Providence Canyon. Use the photographs to answer the following questions. 1. What do you think caused this type of damage to the earth’s surface? ____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Describe the differences in the area from 1937 to today. ______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Part II: Read the “Providence Canyon Information Sheet”. Use the information to answer the following questions. 3. What caused the erosion to begin in the Providence Canyon area? ______________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. What did the Civilian Conservation Corps do in the 1930’s to try to stop the erosion?

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 6

_____________________________________________________________________________ 5. How is erosion in Providence Canyon different and more severe than in an area such as the Grand Canyon? _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Suggest ways in which you could help prevent soil erosion. ____________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 7. Draw a timeline of events at Providence Canyon from 1800 to the present on the back of this paper. Include these items on your timeline:

The area was covered by forest Forests were cut down Farming began Gullies began to form Gullies were 1 – 3 m deep Gullies were about 75 m deep Trees were planted to try to slow erosion The area became a State Park

*Providence Canyon Student Handout*

Year Depth of Canyon in meters (multiply feet by 0.3048)

Depth of Canyon in feet

1820

0 feet

1930

73 feet

2010

200 feet

2050 (Prediction)

8. Has the depth of the canyon increased since 1930? __________________________________ 9. Graph the erosion of Providence Canyon from 1820 to 2050 on the Student Graph Sheet. 10. Could the formation of Providence Canyon have been prevented? _____________________ Explain your answer ____________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 7

_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 8

**Providence Canyon Student Handout**

Introduction: With a partner, or in a small group assigned by the teacher, compare the photographs of Stewart County, Georgia in 1937 and the same area today known as Providence Canyon. Use the photographs to answer the following questions. 1. What do you think caused this type of damage to the earth’s surface? ____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Describe the differences in the area from 1937 to today. ______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Part II: Read the “Providence Canyon Information Sheet”. Use the information to answer the following questions. 3. What caused the erosion to begin in the Providence Canyon area? ______________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. What did the Civilian Conservation Corps do in the 1930’s to try to stop the erosion? _____________________________________________________________________________ 5. How is erosion in Providence Canyon different and more severe than in an area such as the Grand Canyon? _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Suggest ways in which you could help prevent soil erosion. ____________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 7. Draw a timeline of events at Providence Canyon from 1800 to the present on the Student Graph Sheet. Include these items on your timeline:

The area was covered by forest Forests were cut down Farming began Gullies began to form Gullies were 1 – 3 m deep Gullies were about 75 m deep Trees were planted to try to slow erosion The area became a State Park

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 9

**Providence Canyon Student Handout**

8. Between 1820 and 1930, erosion removed about 8 inches of soil and sediments per year. If erosion began in 1820, then the canyon was about 880 inches deep in 1930 (110 years x 8 inches per year). How deep was the canyon in 1930 in feet ________? cm __________? m __________? (Hint: multiply 880 by 2.54 to convert inches to centimeters then convert the centimeters to meters) 9. If the canyon is currently about 200 feet deep, how deep is the canyon in meters? __________ (Hint: multiply by 0.3048 to convert feet to meters) 10. Has the depth of the canyon increased since 1930? _______ Explain ___________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 11. Predict how deep Providence Canyon will be in 2050. _______________________________ Explain how you calculated your prediction ___________________________________________ 12. Use the Information Sheet and your calculations to complete the table below.

Year Depth of Canyon in meters

Depth of Canyon in feet (multiply meters by 3.28)

1820

1930

2010

2050 (Prediction)

13. Graph the erosion of Providence Canyon from 1820 to 2050 on the Student Graph Sheet. 14. Could Providence Canyon have been prevented from forming? ________________________ Explain your answer ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 10

***Providence Canyon Student Handout*** Introduction: With a partner, or in a small group assigned by the teacher, compare the photographs of Stewart County, Georgia in 1937 and the same area today known as Providence Canyon. Use the photographs to answer the following questions. 1. What do you think caused this type of damage to the earth’s surface? ____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Describe the differences in the area from 1937 to today. ______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Part II: Use the resources below to answer questions about Providence Canyon. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-943 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3854/is_200610/ai_n17196546/ http://www.gamineral.org/_docs/7-12june05.pdf (read only pages 2 and 3 of the pdf document which are pages 8 and 9 of The Georgia Mineral Society brochure) If needed, use the Providence Canyon Information Sheet provided by the teacher. 3. What caused the erosion to begin in the Providence Canyon area? ______________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. What did the Civilian Conservation Corps do in the 1930’s to try to stop the erosion? _____________________________________________________________________________ 5. How is erosion in Providence Canyon different and more severe than in an area such as the Grand Canyon? _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Suggest ways in which you could help prevent soil erosion. ____________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 11

***Providence Canyon Student Handout*** 7. Draw a timeline of events at Providence Canyon from 1800 to the present on the Student Graph Sheet. Include these items on your timeline:

The area was covered by forest Forests were cut down Farming began Gullies began to form Gullies were 1 – 3 m deep Gullies were about 75 m deep Trees were planted to try to slow erosion The area became a State Park

8. Between 1820 and 1930, erosion removed about 8 inches of soil and sediments per year. If erosion began in 1820, calculate how deep the canyon was in 1930. (Use the textbook on page R21 to view a conversion table or use another source for conversion formulas)

_________ feet __________cm __________ m

9. If the canyon is currently about 200 feet deep, find the erosion rate since 1930. Increase in depth since 1930 __________ m Number of years since 1930 ___________ yrs Divide depth in meters by years to get erosion rate in meters per year __________ m/yr 10. Has the erosion rate increased or decreased since 1930? ____________________________ 11. Predict how deep Providence Canyon will be in 2050. _______________________________ Explain how you calculated your prediction ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 12. Use your calculations to complete the table below.

Year Depth of Canyon in meters

Depth of Canyon in feet (multiply meters by 3.28)

1820

1930

2010

2050 (Prediction)

13. Graph the erosion of Providence Canyon from 1820 to 2050 on the Student Graph Sheet. 14. Could Providence Canyon have been prevented from forming? ________________________ Explain your answer ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ____________________ Block: _____________

Modified from “Erosion at Providence Canyon” State Task 12

Providence Canyon Student Graph Sheet

Providence Canyon Timeline

Providence Canyon Graph