Student Sandbox Investigation


 Goal:  Students will develop their own experiment to investigate a geological question on the sandbox.




Directions

1.   Get together a team of 4 students.  

2.   Discuss an experiment you'd like to do on the sand box.  

3.  Write a proposal for your idea.  Include the following:
       - Your team members
       - You research question.
       - Background informaiton.  Why are you interested in this question?
       - Your hypothesis.
       -  A detailed explanation of your experiment.  Tell exactly what you plan to do.
       -  A sketch of the experimental set up.  What will your experiment look like at the start?
       -  A title for your experiment.

4.  Your proposal is due Friday.  Mary must approve your experiment and give you feedback.
     We will try to start experiments next Tuesday.  Mary will develop a schedule for sharing the sandboxes. 


5.  Here are some ideas for experimental questions to get you started.  You can invent your own experiment... these are just suggestions!

        1.  How do old faults affect new faults?  Suppose there are faults already in the sandbox when you start, and they you push from a different angle.  Do the new faults start where the old faults are?

        2.  How does the shape of the land affect new faults?  Suppose you start with a square block on the pushing wall.... will that change the way the new faults develop?

        3.  Suppose you start with a pointed block on the pushing wall.... what will happen to new faults?  Where will they develop?

        4.  Suppose you don't use the rubber sheet under the sand for extension - what will happen?  Will faults develop?

        5.  How does erosion of mountains change the way faults develop? 
   
        6.   Is it possible to make a slip/strike fault in the sandbox?

        7.  Suppose you start with mountain... how does extension affect a mountain?


Guidelines for doing your experiment

    1.  All of your team must be involved with your experiment.

    2.  Use your lab notebook to record everything - your question, hypothesis, results (drawings), observations, and conclusions.

    3.  Observe carefully.  Include problems and mistakes in your notebook.  Also suggestions to make it a better experiment.

    4.  You have ONE CLASS PERIOD to do your experiment.  Be prepared.  Plan ahead - know exactly what you will do.

    5.  Take pictures during your experiment.

    6.  Write a lab report (web page) about your experiment and link it to your online portfolio.


For the Best Experiment

If you do a really good job,  I will ask Dr. Cooke if she will videoconference with your group about your experiment.