Demonstration of how limestone is weathered

The ELI 'Weathering limestone – with my own breath!' is a classroom demonstration of how limestone is weathered. It involves blowing into neutral water to produce a weak acid. Powdered limestone is added to neutralise the acid, as a quick-acting laboratory example of how limestone is weathered in the
natural world.

This activity may be used in Geography or Science lessons.
Many more activities related to all types of weathering may be found on our website.

Modelling earthquake wave amplification

Our new Earthlearningidea is 'Jelly/biscuit modelling of how earthquake waves amplify and devastate; demonstrating how seismic shaking depends on local geology'

The model represents a place like Mexico City where the central part of the city is built on solid rock but the rest of the city is built on soft lake bed sediments. This means that different parts of the city, only a few hundred metres apart, respond very differently to earthquake shaking.
Many activities about earthquakes for all ages, can be found by searching our website.
This activity was devised and written by a colleague in the British Geological Survey.

Building survival in earthquakes

'Quake shake – will my home collapse? When an earthquake strikes – investigate why some buildings survive and others do not'

Video clip

Many more earthquake-related activities can be found on our website.

The rock cycle - common misconceptions

The new ELI today is 'Not misunderstanding the rock cycle: addressing common misconceptions about the rock cycle'

This is a sorting exercise directly focussed on common rock cycle misconceptions. The activity takes the educational approach known as constructivism. Through constructivism, student misconceptions are identified and directly targeted by teaching.
Many more Earthlearningideas related to the rock cycle can be found on the website.

Sorting out soils

Following on from last week's 'Is there life in soil?', have you tried 'Soil doughnuts; sorting out soils'?
Sandy soils allow water through easily and clay soils do not. Gardeners usually prefer loam soils.
For a farmer or gardener, it is important to know the soil type so that it can be managed properly and crop production increased.
This activity can be used in any lesson about the environment, rocks and landscape, agriculture, gardening or investigations out of doors.
More ideas for teaching about soils can be found on the website in teaching strategies.