Georgia Stories: 1 8/17/09
In continuing our discussion of fossils, let’s take a look at some of the fossils found in Georgia and what scientists believe Ancient Georgia may have looked like.
The Land and Fossils
The story begins with a visual tour of Georgia, from the ocean to the mountains. We hear about the ancient sea that once covered most of the state. The segment discusses how fossils have aided us in understanding the formation of the state. The skeleton of a fossil whale – a zygorhiza – can be found at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon. Susan Hanberry, Director of Natural Sciences, tells how even its eating habits can be determined by its fossilized remains. The Geology of Georgia — Allen Padgett, from the Department of Natural Resources, takes a group of students on an amazing adventure through a cave in a mountain along Cloudland Canyon in the Appalachian Plateau of northwest Georgia. Cave and canyon development in Georgia is described. The students learn about rock formations, bats, and underground creeks as they make the slippery and exciting descent into millions of years of geologic history. This segment looks at how volcanic activity and plate tectonics created the mountains, swamps, and other geologic features of Georgia. The Okefenokee Swamp — Don Berryhill, science specialist at the Okefenokee Regional Education Service Agency, guides students on a boat trip through the swamp. They learn how an alligator can eat a bear and observe insect-eating plants and spiders. Bill Cribbs, a descendant of a subsistence farmer who came to Billys Island around 1900, and Pete Griffin, who is a ranger at Stephen Foster State Park, discuss when sections of the Okefenokee were inhabited. Ghost stories abound about the loggers of the Okefenokee, and Griffin tells one of these swamp legends. The Okefenokee is one of the largest fresh water swamps in the United States. The swamp used to be home to Native Americans – Tamokas, Creeks, and Seminoles. A large population of loggers who worked for a cypress lumber company also settled here. You may also wish to explore the Georgia Stories II series for related information. Visit the Georgia Stories: History Online Web site at: http://www.gpb.org/peachstar/ga_stories/ for a wealth of supplementary primary resources.
Compliments of GPB Discovery Education, http://discoveryeducation.com/, Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Copyright: 2001
