Lesson 13 of 13 · Earth Systems

Experiment⭐ 30 XP🌋 Rock Realm

Layers Tell a Story

🧪Lab Brief #13

Earth Systems.

🎯 Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

⚡ The twist

Today's mountain was yesterday's ocean floor.

🤯

Mind = Blown

🌋 There are 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth right now.

🔮

Make a hypothesis first

Guess: where will the water go first?

What You'll Learn

Sediment settles in layers, so in undisturbed rock the deepest layer is the oldest. Reading the order of layers and the fossils inside them is how geologists work out the sequence of events without knowing exact dates.

Key Words

Tap a word to see its definition.

Materials Needed

clear jar
sand
gravel
soil
small objects

Safety First

Wash hands after handling soil.
Small objects are a choking hazard for young children.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.

Step 2 — Do

Build layered strata in a clear jar with sand, gravel and soil, pressing a different small object into each layer. Swap jars with a partner and put their objects in age order.

Step 3 — Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layer is:

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

🌍

Where you see this in real life

This is shaping the ground you walk on, slowly, every single day.

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Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Find a rock outside and try to guess how old it is.

👨‍👩‍👧

For the dinner table

“What's the slowest change you can think of?”

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

🌱Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

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Ready?