:Sand
Trend Task
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Approach:  One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Geology 
Resources: 3 sand samples, hand lens
388KB

Questions/instructions:

Give student hand lens and 3 sand samples.
Tip a small quantity of sand in each lid.

In this activity we’re going to look at different kinds of sand.
You can have a close look at each of these sands now.


[click on image for enlargement]


 
% responses
2003 ('99)
y4
y8
1. These sands were gathered from different places in New Zealand.

Where might you go to collect sand?

Prompt: Anywhere else?

ocean beaches, estuaries, mudflats
95 (98)
98 (99)
riverbeds, banks, lakes
24 (30)
43 (48)
deserts
2 (6)
4 (3)
places where there used to be a beach or river
(including commercial sandpits)
2 (5)
2 (6)
quarries where rock is ground up
2 (0)
4 (6)
2. How do you think sand is made?



by rocks, stones, shells getting broken up
36 (39)
68 (52)
Mechanisms:
(rubbing against each other – e.g. in river beds; wind action; water/wave action)
really good account including at least 2 of these ideas
0 (1)
2 (0)
mentioned two ideas
2 (5)
7 (5)
mentioned one idea
18 (18)
35 (28)
3. I want you to have a good look at the sands.
Use the hand lens to help you.

Why are the sands different colours?
come from different types/colours of rock/stone/shell
20 (16)
45 (30)
vague, but on right track
(come from different places)
40 (41)
36 (34)
4.The sands are different sizes.
Why are some pieces of sand big and some pieces of sand small?


different materials and different stages of breakdown
2 (2)
9 (2)
different stages only
20 (17)
42 (31)
different types only
11 (8)
13 (11)
Total score:


8–11

4 (5)

20 (13)
5–7
22 (14)
40 (27)
2–4
53 (62)
36 (47)
0–1
21 (19)
4 (13)
Commentary
Year 8 students performed much better than year 4 students. While there was little change between 1999 and 2003 for year 4 students, there was a marked gain for year 8 students.
 
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