National Park Adventures

Summer is vacation time for many Americans. For some families, vacation budgets may be tighter than usual this year. Instead of skipping time away, however, some families are choosing to vacation in nearby national parks. National parks provide the thrill of nature's amazing and intricate beauty, above and below the surface.

As waves of Americans moved into the western United States in the mid-1800s, they discovered many wondrous natural features. Some realized early on the importance of protecting these areas so that future generations could also enjoy their beauty. An area around the Yellowstone River featuring hot water pools and geysers became the nation's first National Park. Since then, a National Park has been designated in every state except Delaware, and nearly 3 million people visit them each year. If you were to add up the total acreage of all national parks, the size would cover all of Iowa and Nebraska.

In this lesson you will get to take a virtual field trip to glimpse some of this natural beauty. You will also check out some of the hot science happening in Yellowstone National Park.

America's Best Idea

Start your journey at PBS to tour The National Parks: America's Best Idea, featuring some previews of a documentary film. Click to Watch Video clips. You will need speakers or headphones to listen. Play the 24-minute preview clip that first loads on the page. Click the icon in the bottom-right corner of the video screen to watch the video at Full Screen size. Watch some excerpts from a few of the film's episodes, listening to people who created this film and hearing about some of the heroes who were involved in creating the parks.

Watch a few shorter video clips, including the ones titled, Leave It As It Is, For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People, The Park Idea, New Land, Float the River, Collecting Parks, and The Enchanted Everglades.

After watching the videos, write a brief paragraph reflecting on what you saw and heard. What do you think about national parks? What images, stories, or facts do you remember best from these video clips? What did they make you feel or think about?

Talk to classmates about your reflections. Also, discuss any personal experiences you may have had at a national park. If you have not yet had the chance to visit a park, talk about a particular park you might like to see. What would you want to experience there?

A Hot Spot for Science

Most places that become national parks have some special quality on unique feature. Yellowstone National Park is one such place. Not only does the area have special beauty, but it also has a unique, dynamic nature that is enjoyed by both tourists and scientists. Start investigating this science-based beauty for yourself through Windows Into Wonderland. Be prepared to record what you learn by packing along some blank sheets of paper and pencils, pens, or markers to use for drawing sketches, maps, and charts during your field trips.

Start with an out-of-this-world overview of the Yellowstone area by tagging along with an alien crew and Zooming In On Hayden Valley. During the ride, use your paper and pens to record your observations and what the alien crew talks about. How have geological changes influenced the region's natural features over time? What created the area's different habitats? What types of animals live in these areas and how do they survive there?

Next, join James and Grace on a Geyser Quest to learn more about one of the park's most popular attractions, Old Faithful. As you click through the conversation and adventure, take notes about what you and the Cleveland family discover along the way. Write down the question, "What makes a geyser erupt?" As you uncover the clues, draw one or more pictures that help explain the geyser ingredients.

To explore more in-depth discoveries about how Yellowstone's geology influences its natural wonders, go On the Scene at the Yellowstone Hotspot to find out why Yellowstone Lake's water levels have shifted. Again, pull out your paper and pens to record your notes. What changes in the landscape did scientists notice? What factors influenced these changes? What evidence did scientists find that helped them solve the mystery?

As you will soon learn through Hot Colors—Windows Into Hidden Worlds, what seems "lifeless" is actually full of life. As you explore, draw pictures with notes to record your discoveries. Your notes should help answer these questions: What are some examples of microbes that live in Yellowstone's thermal springs? What roles do microbes play in an ecosystem? In what unique environmental conditions do these microbes live? What is the difference between acidic and alkaline? What are some of the other life forms that depend on the hot springs?

If you have time, take your investigation to a more advanced level by Getting Into Hot Water. You can also check out the other field trips listed at Windows Into Wonderlands. To learn more about other national parks, especially those near where you live, explore the National Park Service website.

Newspaper Activities

Browse issues of The Sacramento Bee to find any news or feature stories about a national or state park. Use highlighting pens to mark key pieces of information in the article that helps to explain what visitors can hear, see, or explore there. For example, what kinds of natural attractions or recreation activities does the park offer? Does the reporter explain any geologic or human history related to the park? What kinds of flora and fauna exist in the park? Are there any particular features in the park that scientists are studying? What kinds of natural water features does the park have? What roads lead in to the park? How much of the park can be accessed by car and how much on foot, bike, horse, or climbing gear? Use your highlighted notes, and any research using other sources, to create an informative brochure for people visiting that park. You may also wish to find other photos or draw your own illustrations to use in your brochure.