Junior+Geology+Page+3

Session 4: Crystals
This session started the "growing crystals experiment. Children were shown how to measure water with the meniscus at the 100ml mark on their measuring cylinder.The measured water was transferred to a jar, using a chopstick held at the spout to prevent spillages. Children stirred in their chemicals a teaspoon at a timeto make a saturated solution. The jars were placed into a water bath with a temperature of 70 -75 degrees celsius.
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 * Timothy and the atomic model of feldspar. || Eli, measuring chemical salts. || Wade ready to stir the solution. ||
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 * Aimee, measuring her chemicals. || The water bath, marbles and jars. || Eli, stirring his solution in the water bath. ||

Marbles were added to the water bath to ensure an even distribution of heat. Students stirred their solutions until the chemicals were completely dissolved. Covers were placed on the jars. The warm jars were placed in chilly-bin and covered with polystyrene beads for insulation. Now we wait!

The atomic model of feldspar showed how atoms in rocks join together in a particular pattern. Mineral atoms have to wriggle through the rock to join crystals growing in a pattern unique to each mineral. That is why it takes so long for rock crystals to grow. - Mark

Session 5: River Energy and Sediments
The session introduced children to the concept of river energy and the way different amounts of water energy are associated with deposits of different sizes of rock sediments. By looking at different samples of rocks, graded according to size, they were able to work out where in the river system they had been deposited. This concept was reinforced by shaking two samples of mixed sediments in water and watching the sediment settle in layers of different sediment size as the water became still.
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 * Loading the jars with sediment samples. || Sediments graded according to river energy. || Jars showing layers according to sediment size. ||