Experiments Using a Donut-like Water Tank for a Lesson on Strata in the 6th Grade of Elementary School

Abstract

Experiments on strata formation using a donut-like water tank were proposed for a lesson on strata in the 6th grade of elementary school. Six experiments were conducted with different detritus sediments being put into the water: Experiment A: granules, fine sand, and mud; Experiment B: granules, very fine sand, and mud; Experiment C: granules and fine sand; Experiment D: granules and very fine sand; Experiment E: fine sand and mud; and Experiment F: very fine sand and mud. In Experiments D and E, strata with obvious bed contacts were formed. On the other hand, the bed contacts were relatively unclear in Experiments A, B, and C. In Experiment F, flame structures were formed at the bases of the sand beds. This suggests that Experiments D and E are suitable as elementary school lessons on strata formation. The equipment is light in weight and the experiments are easy to prepare.