Students can learn about the planet by taking part in hands-on crafts.
Learning about the Earth and teaching students about climate, topography and composition of our planet should be an important part of every school curriculum. There are many ways to present lessons about Earth, but students will often learn more effectively if given hands-on projects.
Separating Soil
The Earth is composed of different types of soil. You can demonstrate this to students by creating an experiment that shows students how they can separate the soil into different layers. Dig up some dirt outside and pour it into a glass mason jar. Pour water up to the top of the mason jar, and screw on the cap tightly. Shake the jar to mix the water into the soil well. Allow the mixture to sit for around three days. The different types of soil will separate into different layers.
Tornado in a Tube
The weather patterns on Earth can produce some incredible events, such as tornadoes. You can demonstrate what a tornado looks like up close by create a tornado in a bottle. Empty two 2-liter soda bottles, and fill one half way up with water. Pour 1/4 cup of sand and 1/4 cup of colorful glitter into the bottle. Place the second soda bottle on top of the first one, with the openings laying on top of each other. Tape the openings closed with duct tape. Make sure that the duct tape make a tight seal and that there are no holes that the water could leak out of. Turn the bottle upside down to let the water drain from one bottle into the other. The water, glitter and sand will create a magnificent, sparkly tornado in the bottle.
Papier-Mache Earth
Students can see what the Earth looks like from a distance by creating a globe out of papier-mache. Create the papier-mache mixture by combining 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of water. Heat it in a pot over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Allow the mixture to cool. Cut newspaper into strips. Next, blow up a large balloon and tie the end so that it does not deflate. Dip the newspaper into the papier-mache mixture, and drape the soaked strips onto the balloon. Smooth the strips flat with your fingers. Cover the entire balloon with around four to five layers of papier-mache newspaper strips. Let the balloon dry completely, then stick a straight pin into the balloon to pop it. Paint the outside of the balloon with acrylic paint to resemble the Earth as seen from space.
Tags: about Earth, Allow mixture, balloon with, different layers, different types, different types soil
