This page is dedicated to lessons about sand that I have created, or that have been shared. Feel free to use any or all.
BEACH PROFILE
This site gives a great description of using the Emery Method to create a beach profile with your class. Website.
ATLANTIC COAST SAND
I first saw this lesson during a workshop at the NSTA National Convention in St. Louis several years ago. Students investigate samples of sand from Maine to Florida. The teachers who presented the lesson had their students bring in samples when they went on vacation. This lab is designed for the Atlantic Coast, but it could easily be modified for the West Coast, or for interior regions.
OVERVIEW - This tells you everything you need to know. It also gives you a review of my website. I created this document for a course in System Science I took at Montana State University. Word PDF
LAB SHEET - This would be what you give the students to complete during the lab. Word PDF
DATA SHEET - During the lab, students must make many measurements, they should be recorded in this table. Word PDF
QUESTIONS - When the lab is completed, the students should have a listing for all of the samples measured. How well did they do? Word PDF
When I retired I cleaned out my classroom and found a collection of 25 glass vials from Ward Scientific containing sand samples with microfossils. I didn't even remember buying them! I immediately thought they would make a perfect addition to the sand website. The only problem was there were no labels for the samples, only identification numbers. I posted to several lists asking if anyone had the collection with the names. Several people from Wards responded, and within 24 hours I had a pdf of the list! Thank you Wards! Over time, I'm going to add the samples to this page. I have no idea how long it will take. They will be displayed by geologic age. The table includes a thumbnail of the 3X image, the Formation along with a link to the description of the formation, the Location where the sample was collected linked to my page on the sample, the Geologic Period with a link to that period, the Microfossils found in the sample with a link to their description.
While taking a course in Lunar Geology offered by Montana State University, I was introduced to the ALTA II reflectrance spectrometer sold by Vernier. I've been looking for an instrument to use to create spectral images of my samples. The spectra cannot help you to identify what is in the sand, but it will allow you to compare sand samples to measure their relative reflectance and make comparisons. Enjoy!
This is a great "All-In-One" lesson for introducing sand to your students. So far, all I have are the images from the kit posted. If I get permission, I'll post the lessons from Ward's discontinued package.
H. McGrew photograph and Sand Painting
One of my contributors is also the new Sand Art Advisor for ISCS (International Sand Collector Society). She also maintains a website on Natural Earth Craft that describes the process of sand art. In addition, she has started a blog on sand art. Be sure to pay them a visit.
MISSISSIPPI STATE & LOUISIANA STATE SAND LAB
This article A Scientific World in a Grain of Sand by Renee Clary, assistant professor of geology and curator of the Dunn-Sieler Museum from Mississippi State, and James Wandersee professor of Biology education at Louisiana State, appeared in the summer, 2011 issue of "The Science Teacher. It is a perfect "all-in-one" package for doing a unit on sand. Be sure to read it!
As part of my work on NASA's Expedition Earth and Beyond project I am required to go to Johnson Space Center for one week each year. That week this year occurred at the same time as the landing of the last Space Shuttle. Click here to follow my journey during that incredible week.
Feel free to follow your scholar's adventures as we go through the rock cycle and minerals during my stay standing in for Mrs. Jaymes. Hopefully I can make this transition as seamless as possible, and when Mrs. Jaymes returns all will be as it should be. Listed on the page will be pdfs of all of my lessons as well as the rational for doing the lesson. Click here to go to the complete listing.
TEACHING EVOLUTION THROUGH THE FOSSIL RECORD
Click here to view the images I recorded from the workshop.
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