Project Overview

Throughout a 12-week expedition on the geology of the Genesee River, 4th graders at the Genesee Community Charter School in Rochester, New York focused on the questions: "How has the area we live in been shaped over time?" "How do scientists know that the earth has changed over time?" What might the Genesee River look like in the future?"

They travelled to the source of the river and followed its path north to its mouth conducting research along the way. They investigated the "stories" of different rocks along the Genesee River and what those rocks have seen throughout geological time. In class, they read informational text and conducted experiments to learn and understand river formation. 

The final product is a book that explores the Genesee River through its past, present, and future.