There is no substitute for teaching earth science concepts in the field. Before going to Tierra del Fuego, Boerne High School students and teachers developed basic field skills needed to make measurements and observations in the field. These included Global Positioning System (GPS) measurement and applications and learning how to use Brunton Pocket Transits for measuring planar orientations in the field. They also read a lot of science papers and books for background knowledge in plate tectonic theory and fundamental geologic principles.

In addition to weekly conference telephone calls with the teachers, and email exchanges with the students and teachers, NSF GK-12 Fellow Ethan Perry organized two workshops to prepare the Boerne High School team for the field program. The first workshop focused on field techniques. Specifically,

   1) the use of pace and compasses to create a small-scale map
   2) reading and interpreting topographic and geologic maps
   3) using GPS units to map a “geologic feature”


  • General Field Procedures
    • Field Notebook architecture: What do you put in the book, where do you put it?
    • Safety Considerations
  • Pace and Compass Map (outside)
    • Determination of personal pace length
    • Practice with the compass; the principles of the compass, magnetic field, declination, etc.; sighting a distant object (taking a bearing)
    • Ribbon course: Partners navigate a course denoted by colored ribbons and record the distance (or, number of paces, and then later, convert to distance in meters) and bearing between each station. The stations were sequentially labeled with 1 ribbon, 2 ribbons, 3 ribbons, etc. and visible from each preceding point.
    • Plotting the points (distances and bearings) on graph paper: students determined the critical components of a map, and plotted their data to scale.
    • Error determination: Closure error, a critical test of the accuracy with which you complete a survey. This is the difference in the "real" relative position of the stations, and the "observed" relative positions, as shown on their final map. All surveys need some quantification of error associated with it.
  • Reading Maps (inside/outside)
    • Exploration of maps (geologic, topographic, other)
    • Understanding contour lines --- The most fundamental skill any geologist can possess is an ability to visualize the manner in which geologic features interact with the topography. Contour maps often serve as the base map on which geologic maps are constructed. An intuitive understanding of what those lines on the map mean is very powerful for anyone.
    • Architecture of a map
  • Field Exercise (outside)
    • Practice with the Brunton Pocket Transits: determining orientation of planar and linear features in the field; sighting with the Brunton (since this what we do in the field)
    • Using the GPS to locate yourself in space, navigate your group to each station where the landowner had made note of rock outcrop, but did not know enough about geology to interpret them. You are hired as a consultant to give your interpretation of the geologic evolution of the area. The GPS coordinates provided to you are close, but you might have to hunt around a little. Each station will be marked with bright colored flagging tape, with the station number on it.

Download Field Notebooks Document (PDF) | Download Field Techniques Document (PDF)



Students and teachers learn about GPS units, and geologic measurements and mapping during a 1-day Field Techniques Workshop held on the Boerne High School campus, on February 19, 2005. Brunton compasses will be used on Tierra del Fuego to collect important geometric fault data.



Using 1-meter aerial photography, GPS units, and compasses, students and teachers map out a “field area” comprised of folded and intruded strata. They then attempt to reconstruct the geologic events that could explain what they see in the “field.”



The second workshop (February 25) encompassed many aspects of plate tectonics in general, and Fuegian geology, in particular.

  • World Wind Sets the Stage: A virtual fieldtrip to anywhere in the world (15 minutes)
  • Plate Tectonics Game; Global/Tierra del Fuego tectonic maps: solidifying some of basic tenants of plate tectonic theory using an interactive game (1 hour)
  • Human Geologic Timescale (scaled model showing the geologic time scale and major events in Earth's past) (outside --- 30 minutes)
  • Scales in Science: internet research, Group project: Student derived scaled model, which could be the timescale, or the Earth's layers, or any other system that they can think of; Students work in groups of 2 or 3 to come up with a creative way to show the immense time or distance encompassed by their geologic system (stack of paper, nickels stacked on top of each other, food, etc). (30 minutes)
  • Walk-Run Activity-a simulation of earthquake waves (outside --- 30 minutes). This activity is available at http://www.ig.utexas.edu/outreach/cataclysms/modules.htm
  • Computer Tutorial (a crash course --- students can explore, do activities on own time, if desired)
  • Summary of Tierra del Fuego Geology: addressing questions based on the background readings about the tectonic and glacial geologic setting of Tierra del Fuego.
  • ArcGIS and the LandSat Imagery of the Lago Fagnano Region: An introduction to the remote sensing possibilities of ArcGIS in combination with georeferenced surface data; this enables students to digitize features for groundtruthing once in the field (1 hour).

Download Tectonics, Time and Tierra del Fuego Document