Into the Abyss: The Case of the Collapsing Sinkhole

These are the teaching notes for a case study on sinkholes. Designed for use with small groups in an introductory geology class, this case allows students to determine the relationship between sinkhole development and groundwater levels. Students then apply this knowledge to a lawsuit filed when a driver of a minivan lost his life after his car plunged into a sinkhole. This activity was designed to expose students to the process of hypothesis formulation and testing, teach students a principle that applies to sinkhole formation, and illustrate how an understanding of geologic processes is relevant in the real world. Educational levels: High school, Undergraduate lower division, Middle school