Glaciers and Craters

The 4th graders are just completing their study of Earth's Changing Surface. They modeled cave formation and how glaciers build up and tear down the surface. Using clay and mini-glacier models, the students made the glaciers advance and retreat watching the affect of the weight, and sediments in the glacier on the surface below it. The cave formation lesson showed the students how acid erosion wears away the Earth's surface and forms holes below that become caves and caverns. Both of these activities helped the students understand the forces of nature working on the Earth' surface, and also is preparing them for their Wisconsin trip in mid-May. The 3rd grade students have almost completed their mission to Mars. As the young astronauts approached the Martian surface and looked for a safe landing spot, they noticed the surface was marred by many impact craters. They wanted to know what made these craters, so they carried out an investigation. They realized that there are many space rocks, asteroids, meteorites, and other space debris flying around out there, and that the size, shape, and force of the impactor determined the size of the crater. The students are finishing up their mission by investigating what makes a bone strong. This has also tied in with their Phy. Ed. class learning about bones. In the investigation, students are challenged to design a bone that can support the weight of a ream of paper (5 lbs.) and is made from two 3" x 5" index cards and some aquarium gravel. Good luck, astronauts, on completing this challenge!