Mountains
Main Topics | Standards | Science Probe | Lessons | Resources
- Main Topics & Concepts
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How mountains result from compressional forces.
How the shapes and locations of mountains are related to faults.
- Standards
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SFUSD Performance Standard 17.4 - "...They
should recognize that major earth processes...are associated with plate boundaries.
Students should understand that convective processes affecting the crust produces
convergent and divergent plate boundaries, and they should to locate these major plate boundaries."
- Science Probe Text
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In Science Probe I Chapter 11, Section 11.1 (pp.219-221) students learn how mountains fold and what a fault is.
Science Probe II pp.261-263 also has relevant information.Activity Access Description PI Activity 11B
Folding Rocks
Students predict what will happen when they push foam blocks together as a simulation of crustal deformation processes. If it is not possible to obtain enough foam blocks for the students, this activity can be done by the teacher as a demonstration, and can also be adapted to illustrate other principles, such as subduction. PII Activity 12D
Which Came First?
In this activity, students must apply some geological principles in order to solve problems about the relative ages of rocks. This activity requires students to use basic geological terminology. - Activities & Lessons
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Activity Access Description title Source
description - Resources
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Resources Access Description Crustal Deformation and Folds
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Mountain BuildingPamela J. W. Gore,
Georgia Perimeter College
These pages are part of an online geology course. They explains and illustrates different types of deformation and folding and the processes that form mountains. California's Coastal Mountains California Coastal Commission
This page provides a broad overview of the history of California's Coastal Ranges. Mountain Formation Scott Bliss
A very easy-to-read page describing main mechanisms of mountain formation, with some photos and links to information about specific mountain chains. Mentions continental drift, but without an explanation.