Earth Changes
Submitted by:Marlene Triplett, Orofino Elementary, Orofino, ID
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have
attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher
from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural,
western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC
uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the
participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met
at the Workshops.
Date: May 1994
Grade Level: Appropriate for grades 4-6.
OVERVIEW: There are many changes that occur in the earth's crust. There are
those that come quickly and others that take millions of years. The material given
are activities that have worked to show students what these changes are and why they take
place.
PURPOSE: The purpose of these activities is to give students a hands-on feeling for
the relationships between the earth's structural layers and to aid them in the
understanding of the world around them.
OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:
1. Identify, by modeling, the earth's structure, namely the core, mantle and crust
2. Identify by experiment and demonstration the forces within the earth that cause
constant changes on our earth's surface--- earthquakes
ACTIVITIES: The following activities are some that are used in a unit about
the earth's surface to give students the feel of what happens and what has happened in
different circumstances on the earth.
1. Earth's Structure. Give each student a large styrofoam ball (6 in.).
Using a knife cut a large wedge out of the ball so it can be seen to the center.
(These could be pre-cut to keep the students from using a knife.) Draw lines to show
the relative thickness of each layers. Color with wax crayons. Label.
Put cut-outs of continents on the outside. Summarize what was learned.
2. Earthquakes - Shifting vertical layers. Lay two separate strips of cloth or
plastic next to each other on the bottom of a cake pan. Let the excess length of one
strip hang out at one end of the pan, the other at the other end. Cover the strips
with damp soil up to the edge of the pan and pack it down firmly. Place toys on the
soil to represent houses, cars, bridges. Now pull the protruding strip at one
end and the other at the other end simultaneously. Children describe what happens;
they predict what might happen if similar objects were to occur on earth.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: None needed.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: When and other activities are completed a display of
their work for other grades and parents is held. At this time, the experiments done
will lead to projects for the Science Fair held in our school each spring. They are
also
encouraged to take their projects to the District Science Fair held in Lewiston, Idaho in
mid March.
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