Unusual Structures

Model and test the geological processes that occur throughout our planet. Unusual Structures will help any young geologist learn about and test the intricacies of Earth’s geological processes.

In this kit, students will build, grind, and wash away “dirt” and rocks to discover the fascinating world of erosion and weathering. Students will use these hands-on science experiments to delve into the different mechanisms of erosion and weathering. Unusual Structures comes with a full-color Student Workbook and Teacher Guide. This kit contains activities and information that focuses on the phenomenon of unusual looking, natural structures that result from the geological processes of weathering and erosion.

As part of a special program from Home Science Tools, this Launch level kit will provide over 15 hours of knowledge, educating your student about erosion and weathering, and what that means for the environment.

In this kit, the student will partake in these fun activities:

1. View images of unique, natural structures from around the world.
2. Test their knowledge on what dirt really is and how nature moves it using erosion tables.
3. Compare and contrast the interconnectedness of erosion and weathering by using ice.
4. Model wind weathering with several specimens.
5. Get hands-on with their own chemical weathering experiment.

Use the Unusual Structures kit to answer questions such as:

• What makes the structures we see around the world?
• Do structures around the world stay the same or change?
• What are Earth’s geological processes?
• How do Earth’s geological processes affect rocks?

More Information

• Safety Information (SDS)

This kit contains:

• 3 Aluminum Pie Plates
• Baking Soda
• 4 Bottles
• 1 Bottle Cap
• 1 White Construction Paper
• 1 Limestone
• 1 Modeling Dough
• 1 Peat Moss
• 1 Pebbles
• 1 Red Sandstone
• 6 Rubber Bands
• 1 Sand
• 1 Sand Paper
• 1 Talc
• 2 Bottles of vinegar

You will also need:

• Objects to create a slope (ex. books, blocks, bowls, tray)
• Scissors
• Water

• Learning outcome: Build, grind, and wash away dirt and rocks to discover the fascinating effects of erosion and weathering.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• HS-ESS2-2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
• HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
• MS-ESS2-2 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.