Make your own cross-bedding

The new ELI today is - 'Sedimentary structures – make your own cross-bedding: classroom activities to make and explain how cross-bedding forms'

At the end of this activity, pupils can demonstrate how cross-bedding is formed by water and by air currents. Also, they can explain the depositional processes involved.
Many activities about sedimentary structures can be found by using the search engine or the alphabetical index, and scrolling down, on our website.

A fairytale - - by a geologist

'Once upon a time, long, long ago . . .  a geological fairytale'.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, before geological time was even invented, a geologist was in disgrace due to his unconformity. He was locked away in the highest cell of the highest turret of the highest tower - - - - - - download the activity for more.
For some serious activities, please visit our website.
Season's greetings to everyone from the ELI team

How do sedimentary beds form?

The new ELI this week is 'How do sedimentary beds form? – and why can we see them? Demonstrating how the beds in sedimentary rocks are deposited'.

Bedding is a common feature of sedimentary rocks, but the ways in which bedding formed and the reasons why bedding is such a common feature of sedimentary rocks is not often considered. By demonstrating how bedding forms, in the classroom or field, classes can gain a much better understanding of this very widespread sedimentary process.
Many activities about sedimentary rocks and sedimentary structures can be found on our website.

Is there life in this soil sample?

"Is there life in this soil sample? Questions to consolidate pupil understanding of soil-formation"

Soil often looks like a non-living substance that simply covers many parts of the Earth’s surface. However, pupils should be aware that if soil did not contain living material (alive and/or dead) it would no longer be soil, but would just be part of the weathered rock material found on the surface where no obvious life is present. Such non-soil debris is called regolith, as found on mountain tops and polar regions on Earth and also on the Moon or planets like Mars.
Many other activities about soil can be found by using the search engine or alphabetical search (scroll down) on our website.

Which is the fastest spreading ocean?

New ELI today - 'Which is the fastest spreading oceanic ridge? A map-based activity to find the most active oceanic spreading ridge'

This ELI is a measurement and calculation activity to work out which of the oceanic ridges is spreading fastest, based on map data of the ages of the ocean floors. It provides the opportunity for pupils to investigate relationships of distance, time and speed in a novel, geological context. It also allows them to use a linear scale and become familiar with large numbers.
Our website contains many other activities related to plate tectonics.

Geophysics - remote sensing

'Modelling remote sensing geophysics: using a mock gravimeter and magnetometer set up in the classroom'

This activity uses a mock gravimeter and magnetometer to demonstrate the principles of the remote sensing of buried rocks by measuring gravity and magnetism.
Other geophysics activities can be found in our teaching strategies.

What evidence might be preserved in rocks from different environments?

'Beach, river, dune, mountain, plain – what layers might be preserved here? A discussion on what evidence might be preserved in rocks from different environments'.

This activity involves a discussion about the different types of layers and evidence that might be laid down and preserved in different land and coastal environments.
After this activity pupils can picture a modern environment and describe the types of sedimentary layers that might be deposited there. They can also explain how the layers might be deposited and the evidence they might contain for the sedimentary processes that deposited them.
Many more activities relating to sedimentary environments can be found on our website.