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Sand

The Sand Lab

This lab has students inspect sand samples under magnification and make observations on the sand's grain size, sorting, roundness of grains, and composition. It's geared toward high school level but can be adjusted for lower grades also.  

VIDEO OVERVIEW: How to Do the Sand Lab

I put together a video to introduce the lab to other teachers (click here or below.)
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VIDEO:  Sand Collection

During the Summer of 2015 I collected sand samples on my travels specifically for this lab.  I shot video along the way and showed the montage as an introduction to the lab.  It helped to connect the sand samples in the jars to the real world.  And yes, it was as fun as it looks...   
video link

Student Materials

​Student Sand Analysis Sheet (142)
142_sand_analysis_updated_2017.pdf
File Size: 145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sand Reference Sheet (sorting, size, shape)
sand_lab_reference__sheet.pdf
File Size: 98 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Additional Sand-related Material

1.  New York Times  Sand article (with video and cool interactive map feature)

​The article focuses on Oregon State University's Dr. Rob Holman, a coastal oceanographer with an impressive sand collection.  The highlight of the homework is the interactive feature, showing a wide variety of sand from around the globe.  NY Times article link is here.  Interactive sand map link is here.
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The interactive feature shows sand from across the globe.
Direction sheet for students:
140_nyt_sand_article.pdf
File Size: 155 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Quiz on the article (to keep kids honest):
140_quiz_nyt_sand_article.pdf
File Size: 75 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Dr. Rob Holman
2.  Podcast: Radiolab's "Fu-Go" episode
Students listen to 19 minutes of a captivating podcast based on real world events during World War II. Sand analysis plays a crucial role in the story (as do some other earth science principles as well.)  Student really enjoy this and it's lead to some great class discussions. Link to podcast is here.
Direction sheet:
141_fu-go_podcast_directions.pdf
File Size: 64 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Quiz on podcast (to ensure students listened):
141_quiz_fu-go.pdf
File Size: 64 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Fu-Go podcast

3. Close up photos of Sand 

Dr. Rob Holman (Oregon State University) created a "Sand Quiz" that highlights 25 sand samples from around the globe, complete with close up photos and comments. It's totally cool.  I find it's best to go through the quiz with your class before doing the lab, as it provides a good introduction to the variety of sand as well as some basic sand analysis skills (e.g. recognizing quartz; determining roundness and degree of sorting).  Ways to access:
  • Holman's Coastal Imaging Lab website [please note that this site is quite clunky to use].  Link is here.  (once on the page, click on The CIL Sand Collection, then on "Take the CIL Sand Quiz".  Click on each photo to see a close-up)
  • ​File downloads.  With Dr. Holman's permission (thanks Rob!) I transformed the online sand quiz into more user-friendly formats by creating both PowerPoint and SMART Notebook versions.  See below to download.
PowerPoint Sand Quiz
File Size: 24681 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

SMART Sand Quiz
File Size: 15702 kb
File Type: notebook
Download File

  • And here is the Sand Quiz as a YouTube video.  If you judiciously use the pause button, this may be the easiest way to experience the Sand Quiz. 
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Santorini, Greece
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Pipeline, Oahu, HI
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Sardinia, Italy
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Big Island, Hawaii
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Morocco
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Northern CA
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Cape Cod, MA
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Indonesia

4.  Rob Holman's Google Earth Sand Tour

Rob Holman used his extensive sand collection to create a Google Earth Sand Database.  It's nothing short of amazing in its shear scope - there are hundreds of sand samples from every corner of the globe.  Just click on a red square to see multiple close up photos of the sand. A tremendous resource.  Click below to download the tour (you must have Google Earth installed)
Google Earth Sand Database
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More resources for teaching about sand

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Why is All Sand the Same?  [Minute Earth]:  Good overview of sand.  I don't love the oversimplification when they say all sand is the same since the main point of this mini-unit is that all sand is unique.  But I understand and appreciate the overall point of the video.
2 1/2 mins
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Sand Under a Microscope [GeologyLogic]:  Walks you through the analysis of the characteristics to 2 sand samples under a microscope.  Shows the difference between sand grains transported by water and wind.  Not super-exciting but well done.
4 1/2 mins
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Let's Talk About Sand: Denis Delestrac at TEDxBarcelona [TEDx Talks]:  Comprehensive overview of sand by a non-geologist, focused on human usage of sand and its importance as a natural resource.
​
15 mins
 

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The Song of the Dunes [Mathias Théry]:  Well done look at the "singing" sand dunes in Morocco. Cool stuff.
4 min 5 sec
 
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ARTICLE: The World's Disappearing Sand  NY Times June 2016.  A good Op-Ed piece about sand as a natural resource and its global depletion.  Students should find this article interesting and eye-opening on some level, since most people don't see sand as a valued natural resource.
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ARTICLE:  How to Steal a River NY Times March 2017.  A hefty NY Times Magazine expose on illegal sand mining that's rampant in India.  Best for college level or higher level high school.  Will fit well in an environmental studies course.    

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Sand Wars [documentary]:
This 74-minute full length documentary investigates the issue of depleted sand reserves around the globe.  View the trailer here.  Not available for free, but it can be purchased or rented at their site: Sand-Wars.com 
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"World Faces Global Sand Shortage" [NPR Morning Edition] Audio and written transcript available
A discussion with journalist Vince Beiser on the global sand shortage.  Gives a good overview of the issue and its short length makes it very appropriate for use with students.
​4 min 23 sec
    

Way off in left field...

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Phish "Sand" 12/31/99 Big Cypress
While the song's title is Sand, they say the word exactly once in this number.  The other 22 minutes of the song is built around a bassline so infectious that it'll have your mitochondria pulsating to it for hours.  It's difficult for me to talk at any length about sand without this groove working its way into my brain.
   
"the world is big, your classroom is small"

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  • Home
  • Regents Review Earth Science
  • "Best of the Web" Videos by Topic
  • Applied Physics
  • More...
    • HW Videos
    • Gazda Made Videos
    • Sand Lab
    • handmade frames
    • Film Your Own Videos
    • PD & Conferences
    • Teacher-Made Videos
    • Teaching with YouTube Videos
    • Video Best practices
    • ELL - YouTube Auto-translate
    • Contact
    • About