Strike It Rich introduces students to the dynamic geologic relationship of Sabino Canyon, the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Tucson Basin.
The ongoing effects of weathering, erosion and recent flooding are observed and explored.
Characteristics of five minerals (quartz, feldspar, mica, magnetite, and garnet) that make up the Catalina gneiss found in this area are compared and these minerals identified in rocks and sand.
The students also learn to pan for garnets in Sabino Creek.
This activity is recommended for grades 1 through 6.
Click here to download the SIR – Grade 1 Standards
Earth and Space Science
- Students develop an understanding that earth materials are essential for organism’s survival.
Core Ideas
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
Standards
- E1U1.5 – Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the properties of Earth materials and investigate how humans use natural resources in everyday life.
Physical Science
- Students develop an understanding of the effects of forces and waves, and how they can impact or be impacted by objects near and far away.
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
Standards
- P2U1.1 – Plan and carry out investigations demonstrating the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light and predict how objects with similar properties will affect the beam of light.
- P2U1.3 – Plan and carry out investigations which demonstrate how equal forces can balance objects and how unequal forces can push, pull, or twist objects, making them change their speed, direction, or shape
Social Studies
- The content areas of civics, economics, geography, history, and disciplinary skills and processes.
Standards
- SP1.2 – Understand how events of the past affect students’ lives and communities.
- SP3.1 – Generate questions about issues in your community past and present.
- G1.1 – Use, explore and construct maps, graphs and other geographical representations to support content focus.
- G2.1 – Compare how human activities affect culture and the environment now and in the past.
Click here to download the SIR – Grade 2 Standards
Earth and Space Science
- Students develop an understanding of the distribution and role of water and wind in weather, shaping the land, and where organisms live. Wind and water can also change environments, and students learn humans and other organisms can change environments too.
- Core Ideas
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
Standards
- E1U1.4 – Observe and investigate how wind and water change the shape of the land resulting in a variety of landforms.
- E1U1.5 – Develop and use models to represent that water can exist in different states and is found in oceans, glaciers, lakes, rivers, ponds and the atmosphere.
- E1U3.7 – Construct an argument from evidence regarding positive and negative changes in water and land systems that impact humans and the environment.
Physical Science
- Students develop an understanding of observable properties of matter and how changes in energy (heating or cooling) can affect matter or materials.
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
Standards
- P1U1.1 – Plan and carry out an investigation to determine that matter has mass, takes up space, and is recognized by its observable properties; use the collected evidence to develop and support an explanation.
- P1U1.2 – Plan and carry out investigations to gather evidence to support an explanation on how heating or cooling can cause a phase change in matter.
- P4U1.3 – Obtain, evaluate and communicate information about ways heat energy can cause change in objects or materials.
Social Studies
- The content areas of civics, economics, geography, history, and disciplinary skills and processes.
Standards
- SP1.2 – Understand how events of the past affect students’ lives and communities.
- G1.2 – Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify and explain cultural and environmental characteristics of places in the world.
- G2.1 – Explain how weather, climate, and other environmental characteristics affect people’s lives in a place or region being studied.
- G2.2 – Describe how human activities affect the communities and the environment of places or regions.
- G2.3 – Describe the positive and negative effects of using natural resources.
Click here to download the SIR – Grade 3 Standards
Earth and Space Science
- Students develop an understanding of how the Sun provides light and energy for the Earth systems.
Core Ideas
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
Standards
- E1U1.4 – Construct an explanation describing how the Sun is the primary source of energy impacting Earth systems.
Physical Science
- Students develop an understanding of the sources, properties and characteristics of energy along with the relationship between energy transfer and the human body.
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
Standards
- P2U1.1 – Ask questions and investigate the relationship between light, objects, and the human eye.
Click here to download the SIR – Grade 4 Standards
Earth and Space Science
- Students develop an understanding of the different Earth systems and how they interact with each other. They understand how geological systems change and shape the Earth and the evidence that is used to understand these changes.
Core Ideas
- E1: The composition of the Earth and its atmosphere and the natural and human processes occurring within them shape the Earth’s surface and its climate.
Standards
- E1U1.6 – Plan and carryout an investigation to explore and explain the interactions between Earth’s major systems and the impact on Earth’s surface materials and processes.
- E1U1.7 – Develop and/or revise a model using various rock types, fossil location, and landforms to show evidence that Earth’s surface has changed over time.
- E1U3.9 – Construct and support an evidence-based argument about the availability of water and its impact on life.
Physical Science
- Students develop an understanding of how Earth’s resources can be transformed into different forms of energy. Students develop a better understanding of electricity and magnetism.
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
Standards:
- P4U1.1 – Develop and use a model to demonstrate how a system transfers energy from one object to another even when the objects are not touching.
- P2U1.3 – Develop and use a model to demonstrate magnetic force.
Social Studies
- The content areas of civics, economics, geography, history, and disciplinary skills and processes.
Standards
- SP4.1 – Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.
Click here to download the SIR – Grade 5 Standards
Physical Science
- Students develop an understanding that changes can occur to matter/objects on Earth or in space, but both energy and matter follow the pattern of being conserved during those changes.
Core Ideas
- P1: All matter in the Universe is made of very small particles.
- P2: Objects can affect other objects at a distance.
- P3: Changing the movement of an object requires a net force to be acting on it.
- P4: The total amount of energy in a closed system is always the same but can be transferred from one energy store to another during an event.
Standards
- P1U1.1 – Analyze and interpret data to explain that matter of any type can be subdivided into particles too small to see and, in a closed system, if properties change or chemical reactions occur, the amount of matter stays the same.
- P2U1.3 – Construct an explanation using evidence to demonstrate that objects can affect other objects even when they are not touching.
- P4U1.6 – Analyze and interpret data to determine how and where energy is transferred when objects move.
Social Studies
- The content areas of civics, economics, geography, history, and disciplinary skills and processes.
Standards
- SP4.2 – Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.
- G2.1 – Describe how natural and human-caused changes to habitats or climate can impact our world.
Please tell us about your Field Trip experience
Thank you for participating in the Sabino Canyon Field Trip Program. We are constantly striving to make our program valuable for children and teachers. Could you help us evaluate our performance by completing this quick survey?
Schedule a Field Trip
Field trips are offered from mid-October through mid-April.
A maximum number of 50 students can be accommodated per day. Multiple classes may come together as long as that maximum is not exceeded.
Programs begin no earlier than 9:00 am. Allow 2 hours and 15 mins for the program, and add an additional 30 mins if your class(es) will be staying for lunch.
To schedule a trip:
Step 1:
Check the CALENDAR to identify available dates. Those dates that are currently available will be identified as AVAILABLE FOR ELEMENTARY FIELD TRIP.
Step 2:
Complete a request form for the date you have selected. Be sure to provide an accurate estimate of the number of students.
Double check your school’s academic calendar to avoid any scheduling conflicts. Given the program’s popularity, it can be difficult to reschedule.
REQUEST AN ELEMENTARY FIELD TRIP
To add your school to our wait list:
If none of your desired dates are currently available, you may add your contact info to our Wait List. We can then contact you as soon as there is a possible opening in the schedule.