Welcome to the Mountain Environments Activities Quick-Tour!

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada

Information-Rich Problem Solving Activities Using Integrated Technology

Developed by the Network Montana Project at Montana State University

Introduction

In these interactive hands-on/minds-on activities, students working in collaborative groups work as a team of scientists to analyze several conditions of mountain environments. In these lessons, students can make movies from satellite images captured over several days using appropriate software, learn about the habitat of certain animals native to mountain environments, and determine how topography affects precipitation. There are also several lessons whose focus is concentrated on one of the most unique environments found anywhere in the world; Yellowstone National Park of the northwestern United States.

boreal forest courtesy of Biomes of the World

Novice students learn about the different biomes found on a mountain, how to construct a contour map, and the fires of Yellowstone National Park.

Organic weathering of a mountain

Intermediate Level students explore the effects of weathering and erosion on mountains and about streamflow and watersheds.

snowcover during 1996

Advanced Level students learn about the topography of mountains, different species of birds which inhabit this environment, and how snow melt on mountains effects flooding.


 
pheasant wolves moose

Expert level students study the habitat of two animals common to Yellowstone National Park; the Bighorn Sheep and the Mountain Lion. Then, they are to apply that knowledge to study a species of their choice.