Grade 6 Inquiry Unit

'For our inquiry unit this term all the 3-6 classes have been looking at the Earth, Moon and Sun. While the 3/4/5 classes are focusing more specifically on the position, direction of movement and effects of these three objects in space, the Grade 6s have been exploring the structure of Earth and how this structure causes major geological events.

 We started by observing and discussing tectonic plates, which make up the crust layer and 'move' across the mantle layer of our planet. We looked at an orange with the peel cut into different shapes, like puzzle pieces, but still resting on the fruit underneath. We experimented with pushing the peel pieces against each other and away from each other. We also created models of our planet, using a small rock to represent the core, modelling clay to represent the mantle and a small dusting of dirt to show the crust (a relatively thin layer compared to the core and mantle!).

Today, we took this knowledge of tectonic plates and used wooden planks to observe the movement of soil, when dry and wet, on top of two moving planks. We discovered some predictable and unpredictable results as well as getting our hands dirty!