Goals:

1. Students will understand the processes of weathering and erosion.
   
   
2. Students will understand that landforms change over time.
   
   
3. Students will collect and interpret data to explain an event or concept.
   
   
4. Students will know the properties of different types of soil.
   

Objectives:

The learner wiil:

• make predictions of sedimentation results;
  
  
• be able to record data on sedimentation time;
  
  
• be able to create a sedimentation bottle.

• aquarium, gravel, sand, potting soil
  
  
• electrical tape
  
  
• flashlights
  
  
• spoons or small shovels
  
  
• stopwatches
  
  
• water, plastic water bottles, newspaper
  
  
• students' journals
  
  
• Data Sheets. PDF file.
  

Prior to the lesson, prepare jars with the following (for each small group of students): one containing sand and water, one containing gravel and water, and one containing soil and water. Each jar should have 100 ml of solid and 400 ml of water (depending on the size of the jars).

Students will take turns disturbing the sediment jars by shaking them vigorously for 10 seconds. Students will predict how long it will take the sediment to settle and record their prediction on the data sheet. Students will then use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the water to clear up. The time should be recorded on the data sheet as well.

Students will shake the sample jar again. Using a flashlight, students will observe how much light can penetrate the sample. Students will classify the amount of light as good, fair, or poor. Students will record their observations on the data sheet. Students will repeat this process for the other two jars.

Discuss the following:

1. Which kind of sediment settled the fastest/the slowest? How did this compare with your estimate for each sample?
   
   
2. Which sediment allowed the most light to pass through?
   
   
3. Why is it important for light to pass through water?

• sediment: matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
  
• sedimentation: the process of matter settling to the bottom of a liquid
  
• erosion: the wearing down of material by various forces of weather, man, or chemical processes
  
• weathering: erosion by weather