A Case Study: Geology, Remediation, Investigation at a RR Repair Shop Brownfield Site, St. Paul, Minnesota
Kate Kleiter
, American Engineering Testing, Inc.
Author Profile
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This page first made public: Nov 19, 2009
A case-study approach can be used to introduce students to the work that geologists do as environmental consultants. Data used by environmental consultants for a Brownfield site that is currently undergoing redevelopment in St. Paul, MN has been adapted for in-class study, either as a series of short exercises, or as part of a larger project.
Context
Audience:
Introductory environmental geology course for major or non-majors and and above or advanced High School class.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered:
Map reading, mathematics (geometry), basic understanding of organic chemistry, sedimentary geology.
How the activity is situated in the course:
It was designed for use in outreach work with college students.
National or State Education Standards addressed by this activity?:
Inquiry Standards
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity:
The student should understand the range of scientific disicplines that are involved in the cleanup of a polluted site (geology, chemistry, math, and physics).
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity:
Using data to evaluate 3 dimensional nature of pollution in soils and groundwater. This involves integrating data sets.
Other skills goals for this activity:
Analyzing data and using it in calculations, working as a team, formulating hypotheses.
Description of the activity/assignment
A case-study approach can be used to introduce students to the work that geologists do as environmental consultants. Data used by environmental consultants for a Brownfield site that is currently undergoing redevelopment in St. Paul, MN has been adapted for in-class study, either as a series of short exercises, or as part of a larger project.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Successful completion of exercises.
Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Acrobat (PDF) 3.3MB Nov19 09)
Other Materials
- Power point presentation (PowerPoint 24MB Nov19 09)
- PDF Presentation (Acrobat (PDF) 2.7MB Nov19 09)
Supporting references/URLs
Kate Kleiter
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
kkleiter@amengtest.com
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
kkleiter@amengtest.com
Controlled Vocabulary Terms
Subject: Geoscience:Hydrology:Ground Water:Water quality/chemistry , Contaminant hydrology, Environmental Science:Water Quality and Quantity
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity, Classroom Activity
Special Interest: Quantitative
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):Introductory Level, High School (9-12), College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)
Quantitative Skills: Problem Solving, Geometry and Trigonometry, Models and Modeling
Earth System Topics: Hydrology, :Ground Water, Human Dimensions:Resources, Environmental Quality
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity, Classroom Activity
Special Interest: Quantitative
Grade Level: College Lower (13-14):Introductory Level, High School (9-12), College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)
Quantitative Skills: Problem Solving, Geometry and Trigonometry, Models and Modeling
Earth System Topics: Hydrology, :Ground Water, Human Dimensions:Resources, Environmental Quality