OVERVIEW:
This science workshop will consist of a series of demonstrations and an experiment
that emphasize “comparing and classifying.” The content of the
workshop focuses on planets, atmospheres, soils, and classification of objects.
Students will work in groups of four for their hands-on experiment.
TERMS
USED:
Process related—observation,
hypothesis, comparison, classification, prediction, dependent variable, independent
variable, inference, data
Content related—asteroid,
astronomer, astrobiologist, atmosphere, fossil, gas, infiltration, landforms,
meteorite, nanobacteria, particle size, percolation, soil moisture, soil profile,
soil texture, soil types, solar system
OUTLINE
OF ACTIVITY:
The first 50 minutes of this workshop consists primarily of slides, demonstrations
about classifying objects, and a discussion of the search for life on Mars
in the “fossil evidence” of martian meteorites. Dr. Chris Romanek
of SREL was a member of the scientific team that examined a meteorite and
concluded that there was evidence for the possibility of life on Mars. We
will tell his story, then branch off into comparisons of the atmospheres of
Earth and Mars, soils, and soil characteristics.
Students will work in groups of four to examine some soil components (sands, clays, pebbles, and organic matter). Each student will examine three vials of soil particles and use their senses to record data on particle size, texture, smell, and color. The group will then combine their samples and decide how they would classify these soils based on various soil characteristics. For example, students will be assigned "occupations" (farmer, builder, artist) and will decide how to classify the soils based upon which properties of the soils would be most important to people with various occupations.
After the group session, students will observe a class experiment on how soil texture affects infiltration of water into the soil. Students will make predictions and then test their ideas with a brief experiment. We will close with a “science seminar” in which the students compare their findings and discuss the importance of soils and soil properties.
