Exploring Sand and Silt

2nd grade has been exploring some of the smallest rock particles: sand and silt. They have been looking at properties of these rocks when they are dry and when they are wet.

It leaves some dust when it is moved around the plate.

The sand sounds like a maraca!

It feels dusty and bumpy.

What does it smell like?

When we added water to the sand,
bubbles came to the top and the water is changing color.

When I turned it over, the sand fell to the bottom
 and the water went to the top.

The sand is staying at the top!
And their is air stuck in between!

Shaking the vial as fast as he can!

The vial of sand and water was left for a week.  We made predictions about what it would look like.  Some thought the water would evaporate.  Others thought the sand would turn ever muddier. Very few predicted that the muddy water would be clear!

The sand settled at the bottom and a thin
layer of silt settled on top of the sand.

We poured the water out so we could touch the silt.

It was hard to touch the silt, but when we did, it felt so small!