sand from different places
magnifying glasses
microscopes
1. Prepare viewing stations with numbered sand samples.
2. Students examine and write a description of each sand sample.
3. Create a class chart with all the observations. Determine similarities and differences. Draw conclusions from data.
(Obviously, sand from Arizona, the Gulf of Mexico and Hawaii will all be very different. Sand from Padre Island, Mustang Island, and Galveston will provide a greater observation challenge.)