The Chemistry of Rocks in the Wissahickon Valley

Connecting classroom science content to world outside the classroom is important as it makes the curriculum less abstract and more relevant in the student’s life.  Such connections are especially critical in the environmental science class as so much of the content is focused on the ecology of the world outside of the classroom. This focus is at times problematic as many inner city students have had limited experiences with non-urban ecosystems.  The chemistry of the Wissahickon Rocks Unit seeks to address these issues by investigating the geological history and chemistry of the rocks in the Wissahickon Valley Park.  The Wissahickon Valley located in northeast Philadelphia is a nationally recognized “urban wilderness” where student can connect their classroom learning to a natural environment without leaving the city.  This unit explores the valley’s ecology through an exploration of the geological history and chemistry of the rocks in the valley.  The unit provides information on the geological history of the area, the chemistry of minerals, igneous and sedimentary rocks, as well as the metamorphic process that continually transform rocks.  The unit will culminate in a series of trips to the Wissahickon wherein students can evaluate their understanding of the geology and chemistry of the Wissahickon Valley.