Lake Erie Partnership - Education and Outreach


Literacy Home

Principle 1: Great Lake, Many Features

Principle 2: Natural Forces Formed

Principle 3: Effects weather and Climate

Principle 4: Freshwater Sustains Life

Principle 5: Diverse Life & Ecosystems

Principle 6: Humans and the Watershed

Principle 7: Exploration Ongoing

Principle 8: Great Significance


Literacy Contacts:


ODNR

Office of Coastal Mgmt
Brenda Culler

419.626.7980



ODNR

Old Woman Creek NERR

Heather Elmer


419.433.4601



Ohio Lake Erie Commission

419.245.2514


Ohio Sea Grant

Lyndsey Manzo


614.789.0850

Jill Jentes Banicki


614.292.8949

Melinda Huntley


419.609.0399


Lake Erie Literacy Principle 2

Natural forces formed and continue to shape Lake Erie and its watershed. 

Learning modules

NOAA Ocean Explorer
Lesson 9:  Waves

NOAA Ocean Explorer
Breaking Waves

This Lake Erie Literacy Principle is aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Go there now

    a

    Many of the geological features underlying Lake Erie and its watershed originated when shallow tropical salt water seas covered the region. Large salt deposits below the lakebed are remnants of these seas. Many of the rocks now exposed on land were deposited or shaped during the advance and retreat of glaciers that carved the bed of Lake Erie.

    • Rocks found in Lake Erie and its watershed include shale, sandstone, limestone, till and bolder clay.


    b

    During the Ice Age, mile-thick sheets of ice covered what is now Lake Erie and northern Ohio multiple times depressing the crust with their weight. Since the glaciers retreated (more than 10,000 years ago), Earth’s crust has been adjusting upward in a process of isostatic rebound that continues today.



    c

    Lake level changes influence the physical features of Lake Erie’s coast. Lake water levels vary over periods ranging from hours to millennia. Ancient beach ridges found in the watershed miles from the current water’s edge mark previous lake shores. The difference between the yearly low and high water levels averages 1 to 2 feet.

    • Lake Erie water levels have been recorded by reference gage records beginning about 1860 with sporadic records back to the early 1800's. These water level records, collected and archived by NOAA's National Ocean Service, show daily, seasonal, annual and multi-year level changes and patterns. (see www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now/wlevels/lowlevels/plot/Erie.gif)



    d

    Erosion - the wearing away of rock, soil and other earth materials - occurs in coastal areas as wind, waves, river flow and currents in Lake Erie move sediments.



    e

    Sediments are a product of erosion and consist of fragments of animals, plants, rocks and minerals. Sediments are classified by grain sizes, from silt and clay to sand, cobbles and boulders. Sediments are seasonally redistributed by waves and coastal currents, nourishing beaches and coastal wetlands.



    f

    Beaches, barrier beaches and coastal wetlands protect upland areas by reducing the impact of storm waves and wind tides. Waves breaking on the beach area and wetland plants reduce wave height and energy.

    • Physical modifications (changes to beaches, shores, coastal wetlands, and rivers) can exacerbate effects of erosion, storm surges and lake level changes.



    The Lake Erie Literacy Principles and Concepts were finalized in the spring 2011.

 


Lake Erie Literacy Concepts aligned with
National Science Education Standards Elements


Principle 2: Natural forces formed and continue to shape Lake Erie and its watershed.


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
All Grades 1. Systems, Order and Organization         x  
2. Evidence, Models and Explanation x x x x x x
3. Change, Constancy and Measurement x x x x x x
4. Evolution and Equilibrium x          
5. Form and Function         x x

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
EARTH AND SPACE 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
Grades K-4 6. Properties of Earth Materials x x x x x x
7. Objects in the Sky            
8. Changes in Earth and Sky x x x x x x
Grades 5-8 9. Structure of the Earth System x x x x x x
10. Earth's History x x x      
11. Earth in the Solar System            
Grades 9-12 12. Energy in the Earth System           x
13. Origin and Evolution of the Earth System x x x   x  
14. Origin and Evolution of the Universe            
15. Geochemical Cycles x       x  

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
LIFE SCIENCE 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
Grades K-4 16. Characteristics of Organisms            
17. Life Cycles of Organisms            
18. Organisms and Environments         x  
Grades 5-8 19. Structure and Function in Living Systems            
20. Reproduction and Heredity            
21. Regulation and Behavior            
22. Populations and Ecosystems            
23. Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms           x
Grades 9-12 24. Interdependence of Organisms            
25. Behavior of Organisms            
26. Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems            
27. Biological  Evolution x          
28. Molecular Basis of Heredity            
29. The Cell            

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
Grades K-4 30. Properties of Objects and Materials   x   x x  
31. Position and Motion of Objects            
32. Light, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism            
Grades 5-8 33. Properties and Changes of Properties in Matter       x x  
34. Motions and Forces   x   x x x
35. Transfer of Energy           x
Grades 9-12 36. Structure of Atoms            
37. Structure and Properties of Matter       x x x
38. Chemical Reactions       x    
39. Motions and Forces   x   x x x
40. Conservation in Energy and Increase in Disorder            
41. Interactions of Energy and Matter   x   x x x

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
All Grades 42. Science as Human Endeavor K-12            
43. Nature of Scientific Knowledge 5-12            
Grades 5-8 44. History of Science            
Grades 9-12 45. Historical Perspectives x x x      

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
All Grades 46. Personal Health K-8            
Grades K-4 47. Characteristics and Changes in Populations         x  
48. Types of Resources            
49. Changes in Environments     x     x
50. Science and Technology in Local Challenges           x
Grades 5-8 51. Populations, Resources and Environments            
52. Natural Hazards     x x   x
53. Risks and Benefits            
54. Science and Technology in Society           x
Grades 9-12 55. Personal and Community Health            
56. Population Growth            
57. Natural Resources            
58. Environmental Quality            
59. Natural and Human-Induced Hazards     x x    
60. Science and Technology in Local, National & Global Challenges           x

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
Grades K-4 61. Abilities to Distinguish Between Natural Objects & Objects Made by Humans x x     x  
62. Abilities of Technological Design K-4            
63. Understanding About Science & Technology K-4            
Grades 5-8 64. Abilities of Technological Design 5-8            
65. Understanding About Science & Technology 5-8            
Grades 9-12 66. Abilities of Technological Design 9-12            
67. Understanding About Science & Technology 9-12            

 


National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f
All Grades 68. Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry K-12            
69. Understanding About Scientific Inquiry K-12 x x x x x x