Station Descriptions
Mystery Dig: In this activity, the students conduct a stimulated archeological dig. With brushes provided, gently sweep away the sand to discover the skeleton buried in the sand. Just as archeologists discover ancient civilizations or paleontologists uncover dinosaur bones, this activity encourages student discovery of a buried skeleton and allows them to try to identify the creature from its structure. This activity meets the Structure and Function Grade 5,8 benchmarks. Students follow the scientific process of discovery, analysis, and comparison, theory formulation, theory testing, and conclusion.
Sand Sleuth: Investigate a true story about how balloons and the knowledge of wind currents were used to deliver bombs to the west coast of the United States during World War II. Help students locate the origin of the bombs by scientific detective work. Observe the sand samples at the stations. Match the sand taken from Japanese beaches to the sand in the sandbags of the balloons. This activity meets the Force and Motion Grade 5,9 benchmarks. (Note that the sand used is not actually from Japan.)
Shells of the World: At this station, students sort shells by structure, shape, and other similarities, just as scientists must do with the discovery of a new species. To what group should it be assigned? Does it have similarities to other animals we have already identified? Observe the shells and identify their origin on the world map. Compare tropical shells to our native shells. Why might shells be shaped the way they are? These and other observations allow students to compare and investigate shells of the world. This activity meets the Structure and Function Grade 5,8 benchmarks and the Physical and Biological Change Over Time Grade 8 benchmark.
After completion of these stations, encourage students to explore the remainder of the displays in an orderly fashion. Start students in different locations within the Visitor's Center so that all aren't crowded about the same display at the same time. If you wish to use them, general student guide sheets are available for the Visitor's Center.
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Mystery Dig Pre-visit Guide | Mystery Dig Activity Station | Sand Sleuth Pre-visit Guide | Sand Sleuth Activity Station
Shells of the World Pre-visit Guide | Shells of the World Activity Station
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Last Update:
February 24, 2004
URL: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/education/
Comments: sea.grant.web@oregonstate.edu