Folds in the Earth

Category:Learning cycle lesson.

Learning Objectives:

1. Students will demonstrate the forces that cause folds in the earths crust by use of clay modeling.
   
2. Students will demonstrate there knowledge of terminology and concepts related to Earths folding processes by a written or oral report on data collected.

Materials, equipment and/or facilities:

• Modeling clay is preferred. (salt clay or potters clay may be used)
  4 bars per group colors or plain is your choice.
• waxed paper
• Pictures of folds, compressions,uplift, faults, domes, rifts

Sequence and duration of each part of lesson:
Exploration:
Divide students in to groups of 3. One is the captain, another is the recorder and the third is the reporter. Give each group of students 4 bars of clay and a piece of waxed paper. Tell the students to find out all they can about the pictures and how the formations were formed by using the clay. Students should record every thing that changes as they work, include all details and describe them to the best of their ability. Tell students to consider every change, and think of how it fits into the pictures or other things they have seen. Allow the students approximately 15 min. for this part. Have the students report their findings.

Concept invention:
Draw from the reports the vocabulary they use and the concepts they talk about. Key words to introduce are: folds, faults, syncline, anticline, layered, and dome. Other terms may come up. Use the terms to build the concepts of how these formations were formed and expand on them. Use thought provoking questions to help build these ideas. Demonstrate with clay to pull out ideas or concepts that they are struggling with. NOTE: You will have to interpret their terms into scientific terms. Question examples: What happens if you push two pieces together? What happens when you push the ends of one long piece together? What happens when you pull the ends away from each other?

NOTE: Remember to make your concepts and your questions relate to the pictures you use.

Application:
When students are familiar with the concepts, hand out another set of pictures. Have them explain in writing what took place to form these. The use of stratigraphy slides or drawings could also be used if the connection was made earlier.