A Grain of Truth: Formation of Sandstone Activity Model

Demonstrate the stratification of different sized grains.

With this teacher-developed activity, students quickly and easily demonstrate layer separation in the formation of sandstone using a mixture of sugar and colored fine sand. The mixture is placed in a squeeze bottle then poured into a tank. As the mixture heaps together, the sugar and sand separate and form a striped pattern easy to discern. It includes blue sand, sugar, squeeze bottle, 9⁷/₈"W x 8"H x ³/₄"D acrylic tank, ten sandstone samples, and instructions.