Combine clay and science together to create Play-Doh Geology! In this experiment, you can model the continental crust and perform core sampling!
Materials:
Play-Doh or modeling clay, a container, straws.
Time Estimated:
10 minutes
Directions:
In your container, layer your Play-Doh in any way that you'd like. For best results, spread the different colors out as unevenly as possible
Next, take a straw and stick it into the Play-Doh, twist, and pull! You should then be able to squeeze it out of the straw. Do this as many times as you'd like, but remember where you took each sample!
Think Like a Scientist:
Why is core sampling important?
How can we use each sample to learn more about a location?
How It Works:
In this activity, you’ve performed a process known as core sampling!
Core sampling takes place when a portion of the earth is dug out and observed. Similar to the experiment, imagine a huge straw taking out a piece of the ground! By taking a core sample, geologists can find out the best place to build houses, plant new trees, and flowers, and it can even tell us a lot about the earth’s history!
Geologists, who are scientists who study the earth and its materials, use this technique to discover new information about the earth’s layers! The earth has four major layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. These layers also have their own sublayers! For example, the crust, which is the outermost layer of the earth, has two sublayers: the continental crust (dry land) and the oceanic crust (the land beneath the ocean).
Using the Play-Doh model you created as an example, we can imagine that we have recreated a part of the continental crust! The crust is composed of several different types of soil. Take a look at the layers that you made and try to associate each color with a different type of soil. Here are a few suggestions:
Peat: spongy soil that is usually dark brown and often has sticks and leaves.
Loam: a mixture of clay, sand, and silt. Also known as topsoil, loam consists of many different nutrients.
Sand: soil that is made of light, dry, and warm mineral particles.
Rock: a soil layer that is composed of very large, solid masses that are made up of different minerals.
Now that you have an idea of what different types of soil are composed of, take another look at your results. Ask yourself the following question: which location would be best for planting a garden? What about building a house? Try your best to find the correct answer!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
