From the faulted mountains of the Basin and Range Province to the uplifted sediments of the Colorado plateaus, and from the massive Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains to their east, the Southwestern United States provides infinite opportunities to teach geologic processes and Earth history.

Coming in Spring 2012, the Teacher-Friendly Guide to the Geology of the Southwestern United States will serve both formal and informal educators with a “go-to” reference that will provide a comprehensive overview of the area’s history and features, answering the question: Why does this place look the way it does?  Standard textbooks make few references to the geology of any one area because of their nationwide audiences, and popular geology literature concentrates on a particular state, often failing to show how local geology fits into a regional context.  The Teacher-Friendly Guide will fill this need.  Intended as a curriculum supplement, the guide will provide educators with the content and tools necessary to introduce local and regional Earth system science into their classrooms.  Although targeted for 8-9th grade Earth science teachers, the guides are appropriate for anyone who incorporates Earth science into their curriculum, from elementary school through college.