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Earth's Landscapes Activity for Kids
Sedimentary Rock Model DIY
- Duration: 30-60 min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: $0 to $5
Model the formation of sedimentary rock through deposition!
Material List
- 1Plastic container with lid
- 1Handful of small rocks
- 1Handful of gravel
- 1Handful of sand
- 1Baby powder or flour (optional)
- 1Liter of water
- 1Spoon
Instructions
- 1Add a handful of rocks to the plastic container.
- 2Then add a handful of the gravel.
- 3Then add a layer of sand followed by a layer of baby powder or flour.
- 4Add water until the container is almost full but not all the way.
- 5Place lid on tightly. Shake and allow to settle.
How It Works
When water is moving, like in a river or ocean waves, sediment is suspended in the water making it look dirty or muddy. When it slows down, sediment settles down on the bottom of the lake or ocean and it is deposited. Larger sediment settles first and finer sediment remains suspended longer. Layers form based on the size of the sediment. Over time, the layers can become compacted to form sedimentary rock. Additional layers form on top of the first as more sediment is washed into the system. After thousands or millions of years the layers can be as high as some mountains!
Check out the Full Lesson on Earth's Landscapes
In this lesson, we learn that:
- Rock layers provide evidence of Earth’s landscapes from the past.
- The oldest rock layers are at the bottom and the newest layers are at the top.
- The location of fossils in rock layers provides evidence of earth’s past landscapes.
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