Lesson 44 of 84 ยท Plate Tectonics
Experimentโญ 30 XPLayers of the Earth (Part 2)
Plate Tectonics.
๐ฏ Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
โก The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
๐ฌ The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Earth has three main layers: the thin outer crust, the thick mantle, and the dense core. The core has a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer made mostly of iron.
Key Words
- humidity
- barometer
- anemometer
Materials Needed
- spray bottle
- cups
- thermometer
Safety First
- Do not look directly at the sun or bright lights.
- Clean up spills immediately to prevent slipping.
Steps
Review the background information on Plate Tectonics before starting.
Model erosion: tilt a tray of soil and pour water from a cup at the top. Observe how channels form. Try adding plants or rocks to slow the erosion.
Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.
Create a data table to organize your measurements.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What causes earthquakes?
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week โ even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
โWhat's the most surprising thing you learned today?โ
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Plate Tectonics for 6th Grade
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