Home Plan - [GR2-L7-U1-LC1-6 Sinkhole Science]

The document provides a comprehensive guide on teaching about sinkholes, covering terminology, learning objectives, sinkhole formation processes, types of sinkholes, reasons for studying them, and methods for identifying and potentially addressing sinkhole risks. Additionally, it explores sinkholes caused by natural factors like erosion and human activities like mining, emphasizing both the destructive and fascinating aspects of sinkholes. It offers insights on recognizing early signs of ground shifting, techniques for managing sinkholes, and highlights the beauty and geological significance of sinkholes worldwide.

Contents

• Pages 1—23: Sinkhole teaching tips
• Pages 24—41: Sinkhole formation explained
• Pages 42—53: Sinkhole warning signs.

This section of the document provides tips for teaching a lesson on sinkholes, including words to know such as bedrock, eroding, karst, dissolves, overburden, sinkholes, chasm, and destructive. The document includes a focus question on why geologists study sinkholes and learning objectives related to summarizing a nonfiction text and identifying details for comparison. It also offers guidance on introducing students to geology and sinkholes, as well as pre-reading activities to familiarize students with key terms. Additionally, it includes information on sinkhole formation, types of sinkholes, and description of geological processes contributing to sinkhole occurrences. The section encourages students to engage in summarizing text and understanding key information in their own words.

This section of the document discusses two major types of sinkholes – cover-collapse sinkholes and cover-subsidence sinkholes. It explains that cover-collapse sinkholes form when a space under the surface grows larger as overburden thins due to sediment falling into the space. They may contain sticky clay that holds the overburden together until sudden collapse occurs. Cover-subsidence sinkholes, on the other hand, result from slow downward erosion and the dissolving of bedrock, leading to a gradual sinking of the surface. The presence of certain types of rock such as limestone, gypsum, dolomite, or salt, known as karst, can contribute to sinkhole formation. The document also mentions that rainwater picking up mild acid can dissolve karst, contributing to the creation of sinkholes. Additionally, it highlights the fascinating natural sinkholes around the world and discusses how sinkholes caused by human activities, such as underground construction or mining, can lead to significant damage.

The section provides information on early clues that the ground is shifting, such as tilting trees or signposts, and warns about signs like cracks in walls and sidewalks indicating a potential sinkhole. Homeowners can use grouting, pouring dirt and concrete into the sinkhole, to try to plug it, although sometimes the materials disappear underground. Another method mentioned is using steel rods inserted into solid bedrock to stabilize a building. Some sinkholes, despite being destructive, can also be beautiful and are interesting to study due to the effects of water on soil and rock. The document also introduces a section on maps showing areas prone to sinkholes, and it concludes by mentioning the Great Blue Hole, an underwater sinkhole in Belize known for its beauty and marine life.