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This outdoor activity (on page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Sand Dunes) is a full inquiry investigation into how the amount of moisture in a sand dune relates to the number of plants growing there. Groups of learners will scout at least two locations in a sandy area, count the number and types of plants in contact with a 10 meter line, and then sample the moisture in the top 30 cm of sand in each location, graphing their results to analyze their data. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV: Sand Dunes.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 2 to 4 hours
- $10 - $20 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Field Trip
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 10-foot (3 meter) length of rope
- soil moisture indicator (or hair dryer and scale)
- Access to sand dunes, or a sandy beach area
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Processes
- Weather and Climate
-
Earth Structure
- Rocks and Minerals
- Oceans and Water
- Earth's History
-
Earth Processes
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Plants
-
Ecology
- Ecosystems
-
Diversity of Life
-
Mathematics
-
Algebra
- Equations and Inequalities
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
- Measurement
- Number and Operations
- Representation
-
Algebra
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Problem Solving
-
The Design Process
-
Physical Sciences
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Mass and Weight
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- About Inquiry
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Gardening
- Nature and Environment
- Outdoor Activity
- Physical Activity
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
-
Girls
- Explicity developed for this group
- Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection
- DragonflyTV
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2005
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 436260