Geology from a Beaker: Student Activities in Earth Science

Abstract

Student activities based on deposition in a beaker introduce Walther’s Law, which states that, if uninterrupted, vertical deposition is duplicated in the horizontal. When gravel, sand, and clay (mud) are stirred in a beaker of water, they settle out predictably. The heaviest (gravel) deposits first, then sand, and, finally, clay. This is Walther’s Law in the vertical. The same sequence is seen in streams flowing into the sea. Gravel settles out first, followed by sand and clay. This is Walther’s Law in the horizontal. Activities in this article use Walther’s Law to introduce high school Earth-science students to stream deposition, shifting shorelines, and regional deposition.

Keywords:

• Earth and space science
• curriculum
• careers
• climate change
• instructional materials
• lesson plans
• teaching strategies

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author acknowledges Rudy Slingerland and David Gold, Professor Emeriti of Geosciences at The Pennsylvania State University, for reviewing this manuscript. Any errors are those of the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Charles Miller

Charles Miller ([email protected]) is a former high-school Earth-science teacher, adjunct college instructor, petroleum geologist, and hydrogeologist. He received his doctorate in Earth science from The Pennsylvania State University.