Assignments

Earthquakes

Students will make an earthquake model in class using cardboard strips (representing parts of Earth’s crust) and damp sand. Paper cups placed on the sand will represent buildings on Earth’s surface. Students will gently move the cardboard strips and record their observations. Students will make inferences to answer the following questions- What does pulling the strips represent? What do the sand and the paper cups represent? How do you think earthquakes affect Earth’s surface?

Volcanoes

Students will make a model of an erupting volcano using a plastic cup and modeling clay. Students will place grass, leaves and twigs around the sides of the volcano. Baking soda will be placed inside the volcano, then vinegar will be added to the mixture. Students will record their observations about what happens to the grass, leaves, and twigs on the sides of the model volcano during the eruption. Students will hypothesize- How do you think a real lava flow would affect the land near a real volcano?

Landslides

Students will make a model using a milk carton that has one side and one end cut away to model a hill and a landslide. Sand, pebbles and diatomaceous earth will be added to the bottom. One end of the carton will be propped up. Students will slowly pour water on the material at the top of the “hill” until a landslide is created. Students will repeat these steps increasing the steepness of the hill each time. Students will record their observations. Infer- what effect does the steepness of a hill have on a landslide?