Transcript ppsx

Modeling Geologic
Columns With Sand Art
By Debra Rockey
Wellsburg Middle School
Objectives
Overview
Materials
and
Equipment
Teaching Suggestions
Time
1. Prepare the plastic tube. One end should be permanently sealed. If
necessary, prepare the end of the tube by using a permanent glue to seal
the end.
2. Mix the non-toxic powdered Tempera paint with the sand and water as
needed. You may use buckets or large plastic containers to mix the sand.
3. Divide the students into small groups of 2 or 3.
4. Each group is given a handout of geologic formations. The students will
use colored pencils to shade the geologic columns and local cross
sections to correspond with the various rock strata. The students will color
the rock layers in the following manner: limestone (Ls)—blue; shale (Sh)—
green; coal (C)--black; sandstone (Ss)—yellow; clay—green; and
concealed areas—white or undyed sand.
5. Determine any appropriate scale for the model. Divide the total height of
the rock layers in the cross section by the length of the tube. (Caution:
Leave space at the top to seal the tube.)
6. The students must place a strip of masking tape on the side of the plastic
tube, placed from the sealed end of the tube to the opening at the top.
The tape will be used to note measurements, presence of fossils, or
special features of the rock strata.
7. Each group will construct a geologic column to represent their assigned
outcrop. Using the handouts as a guide, the students fill their tubes with
the colored sand to complete their model. As each layer is poured, it must
be compacted with a dowel rod. (If the layers of colored sand do not
completely fill the tube, the remaining area should be filled with undyed
sand.
8. Each completed tube is capped with a stopper. Attach labels to indicate
the outcrop represented in the model.
Procedures
Safety Note
Assessment
Further
Challenges