From: ___ <stamid@aopen.advtel.net>
Subject: Re: Mars soil
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 10:52:00 -0600
Sorry I didn't comment earlier. I've just been on overload with Mars = info. coming over the email alone. Throw in the internet - NASA - and = LFM --oooooooo - am I the only one to feel overwhelmed?? When I did my second presentation I had two possibilities for "Mars = Soil." A few of my students were heading toward Mississippi and they = brought back some red soil. It was very close to the material that I = brought back from D.C. But, in the meantime, I bought some dry dog food = (red) and ground it up in my blender. I added some fine sand to this = and came up with a neat blend to make a steeper angle of elevation than = the other samples - sand and kitty litter. When we begin to compare and = contrast the volcanoes on earth and Mars, I'm expecting/hoping they will = see that even though IT is the RED soil------ The other types (kitty = litter and sand) will lend themselves more to forming shield volcanoes. = Also, to get all students more involved in the data collection part - I = had them write the angle of elevation on a large card for their = particular soil type - then stand up in a line from the lowest = measurement to the highest with the card in front of them. Then one member from each end dropped = off until we located the median of each soil type. Be sure to let them = know - again that the measurements dropping off are not WRONG. In my parish (counties for the rest of you) we are deep into = math/science reform. My last two presentations have been the Mars = lessons (angle of elevation and soil) It was a great example to use and = was well received. Joan Besselman (Louisiana) STAMID@advtel.net