Geology Rocks! How a Waterfall Created Two Cities

The plans for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have been laid out for millions of years, we just have to read the layers of rock. Students will hear a story of a massive, glacial waterfall that carved out the riverbed as it eroded millions of years worth of sedimentary rock and set the stage for the booming flour industry in Minneapolis and the bustling port of St. Paul. Additional time can be added to take an in depth look at the fossils of the Ordovician era at the request of teachers. 

Grades: 4-6

Main Objective Question: How did the geological features of Minnesota, such as the waterfall of St. Anthony, impact the geographic locations of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul? 

Main Standard(s): 
4E.1.2.1.1 - Observations of the effects of erosion by the forces of water. 
4.3.3.6.1 - Geographic features affect population distribution and growth of cities. 
6.4.4.20.1 - Rise of big business and use of natural resources influenced MN economy.

Organization: National Park Service