2nd Grade Investigates Sand

2nd grade looked closely at a vial half-filled with sand.  They described how the sand looks, how it feels  and how it sounds.

It feels soft.

When we shake it, it sounds like rain.

It feels bumpy.

It looks dusty and small.

It's gray with bits of black.

It sounds like a maraca.

Next we added water to the top of the vial and described what happened.  Both the water and the sand got darker.

There were bubbles and smoke when you put the water in.

And now the fun part...shaking the vial with sand and water!

If you turn it upside down, the sand falls!

Look at the water! It looks like coffee!

The water looks like the Gowanus!

The students were asked to make a prediction as to what the sand and the water would look like their next science class.  Many thought the mixture would look the same, that the water would evaporate, or the sand and water would stay mixed.

Surprise!The water is clearer a week later and there is a layer of
silt sitting on top of the sand.  Silt is smaller in size than sand.

Carefully pouring out the water to see if we can touch
the silt.

It's not easy to feel the silt.

It's fun to touch!