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Wasatch Geology Studies Rock!

What do peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have to do with Geology? Mrs. Hatch’s 5th grade class will tell you these “earthquake sandwiches” are the perfect demonstration of how mountains form.

Guided by visitor and UVU Professor, Kristina Davis, the Wasatch students crafted their sediment sandwiches with layers of everyday condiments (bread, peanut butter, oats and jelly).

When geologists study layers of rock, they are often horizontal or nearly horizontal. However, they frequently see layers that are bent (folded) or broken (faulted).

To demonstrate this, Davis instructed the kids to gently fold their layered sandwiches and bend them back and forth to create lines and destructive forces that formed peaks or “mountain ranges”.

Other hands-on stations included experimentation with different types of erosion and weathering, wind velocity, plaster landforms and deposition of mountains by volcanoes.

“Students enjoy this Geology learning unit,” said Mrs. Hatch.

“When we study geology, we make sure to circle back and talk about how this applies to understanding the land around us.”

This could be the beginning of some Geologists in the making!

Shauna Sprunger
  • Coordinator of Communications
  • Shauna Sprunger
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