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DISCUSS:
What kinds of things are good to build houses with?
What makes them good for building?
DISCUSS:
How could you figure out what kind of soil is best for building a house?
DISCUSS:
What tests could you do to see if your mud changes in extreme weather, like hot sun or rain?
Mystery Mud Tester worksheet | 1 per student |
Mystery Mud Tester Answer Key teacher-only resource | 1 per class |
Cornmeal
|
3 teaspoons per pair |
Dixie Cups (3 oz)
|
3 cups per pair |
Flour
|
3 teaspoons per pair |
Paper Plates
|
1 plate per pair |
Paper Towels
|
1 paper towel per student |
Plastic Spoons
|
1 spoon per pair |
Solo Cups (9 oz)
|
1 cup per pair |
Toothpicks
|
3 toothpicks per pair |
We suggest students work in pairs. You will need access to water for this activity.
Divide your Dixie cups into three equal piles. Use a marker to write “A” on each cup in one pile, write “B” on each cup in the second pile, and write “C” on each cup in the third pile.
Add 2 teaspoons of cornmeal into each cup that is labeled “A.” This is a model for sandy soil.
Add 2 teaspoons of flour into each cup that is labeled “B.” This is a model for clay soil.
Add 1 teaspoon of flour and 1 teaspoon of cornmeal into each cup that is labeled “C.” Gently shake these cups to mix the cornmeal and flour together. This is a model for a mix of sand and clay soil.
Fill each Solo cup about a quarter full of water. Each pair of students will only need a few spoonfuls.
Making a mud model is very fun, but it can also be distracting! We recommend waiting to distribute the cups of water and spoons until Step 5 of the activity, after students have explored the dry soil models.
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