Science projects offer students an opportunity to delve into geology topics.
Geology is a type of earth science that involves the composition, processes and structure of the earth. It also includes studying the changes in the earth over time, as well as the organisms that inhabit the earth. The earth and geology activities in this article are appropriate for elementary school students.
Rocky Secrets: Hidden Oil?
For this project, you will need mineral oil; three paper plates; three samples each of sandstone, shale, and limestone; a camera; a magnifying glass; an eyedropper; a clock; and an observation notebook. On each plate, place a sample of each rock type. Try to choose rocks that are similar in size. Predict which rock type you think will absorb the most oil. Record the time in a notebook. Add three droppers of oil to each rock sample on all three plates. Take pictures and make notes of how the rocks look immediately after applying the oil. After 30 minutes, take more pictures and additional notes concerning the appearance of the rocks. Describe whether the oil has absorbed or if it is pooling atop the rocks. Repeat pictures and observations after one hour. Tell which rock absorbed the most oil. Compare this to the initial predictions.
Soil Porosity
Fill three beakers with 500 ml of water. Fill three additional beakers with 500 ml of soil. Use a different type of soil in each beaker: sand, topsoil and clay. Make a prediction concerning which soil type you think will hold more water. Use the first water beaker to add water to the sand. Pour until the water level meets the top of the soil level. Record how much water the sand holds. Using the second water beaker, add water to the topsoil until the water level meets the top of the soil level. Record the amount of water the topsoil holds. Add water from the third water beaker to the clay until the water level meets the top of the soil level. Record the amount of water the clay holds. Make a graph showing the difference in the amount of water each soil type holds. Compare your results to the initial hypothesis.
Geodes: Guess What's Inside
You will need six geodes that look different on the outside. Spread two paper towels on a table. Place the geodes on the towel and assign a number to each. Write the numbers beside the rocks on the paper towel. Examine the geodes and make notes concerning each one's appearance in a lab notebook. Make a prediction concerning the contents of each geode and write these predictions in a notebook. Crack open each geode with a hammer. Observe the contents. Write down the observations of the contents and note the differences from the initial predictions.
Testing Soil Compaction
For this project, you need a small spool, a metal knitting needle that will fit inside the spool, a rubber band, a metric ruler and a permanent marker. Slide the knitting needle inside the spool. Mark where the needle comes out of the top of the spool. This is the zero line. Wrap the rubber band tightly around the capped end of the needle. Choose eight locations to test for soil compaction. Number and describe the locations in your lab notebook. Hypothesize which location will have the most compacted soil. At each location, stick the need in the ground with the pointy side down. Push down until the needle stops moving. Push the rubber band down until it touches the top of the spool. Pull the needle out of the ground. Measure the distance from the rubber band to the line with the ruler. Record the measurement. Repeat the process at each location. Tell how the results compare to the initial hypothesis.
Tags: rubber band, amount water, level meets, level meets soil, level Record
