Geology projects for 5th grade students can be entertaining.
Geology is one of the core science concepts in the 5th grade curriculum. Although standards vary from state to state, all states require some form of geology in the curriculum. Especially important is the development of the scientific process and the ability to think logically and reason. Projects that meet the curriculum requirements for the geology subject matter while simultaneously engaging the students in scientific thought are ideal.
Glaciers
Build your own glaciers to simulate land mass movement and erosion caused by glaciers. Begin by building a simulated landscape with dirt and sand. An ideal set up would be a small pan with sand on one side merging into dirt on the other side, approximately 1/2-inch deep. You can also create land forms with plaster or modelling clay, making hills and valleys as you prefer. This would also be best in a pan, like a disposable aluminum pan you can find at any grocery store. Freeze a cup of water that contains sand and gravel to simulate a glacier. There should be approximately about three times as much water as there is sand and gravel in the cup. Place the frozen cup of water on top of your landscape and watch what happens as the glacier melts. You can expedite the process and discuss global warming by adding a heat lamp, like you would use with a reptile, to the landscape and seeing the difference the lamp makes in the rate of glacier melting.
Weathering and Erosion
There are a variety of practical hands-on projects to demonstrate the effects of weathering and erosion. You can test the effect of acid rain by dropping vinegar onto a penny and observing the effect of the vinegar over time. Another test is that of chalk in water compared to vinegar. Place chalk pieces in two separate cups and add water to one cup and vinegar to the other and compare the difference.You should see a difference within a few minutes. This test shows the effect of acid rain on limestone. For erosion, you can place sand in a pan with water and move pan side to side, causing the water to wash over the sand. Observe the results. You can also observe what happens when a pile of ice cubes melt on a bed of dirt.
Rock Cycle
Lead a discussion about the rock cycle. Discuss the meanings of key words to the process, including the terms describing the various types of rocks. Make sure the children understand how a igneous rock forms from cooled magma, how weathering and erosion can create sedimentary rocks, and how heat and pressure can turn a sedimentary rock into a metamorphic rock. Contact the local geological society to see if they will lend you samples of the various kinds of rock.
Fireworks
Soak skewers or craft sticks in a concentrated solution of table salt and water overnight. Also have a set that has been soaked in a potassium solution. Working carefully and in small groups, light a candle and then place the stick that has been soaked in the sodium solution over the flame and observe what happens when it catches fire. Repeat with the sticks that have been soaked in potassium solution and discuss the difference between the two sticks and explain how the difference in the chemical composition caused the difference in the color when the sticks caught fire.
Tags: been soaked, what happens, acid rain, been soaked potassium, effect acid
