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Fall of the Leaning Tower: Hold It Up
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2611_pisa.html
From DLESE Community Collection (DCC)
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This activity allows students to experiment with different soil structures and discover the ability of each to carry a specific load. The Tower of Pisa is leaning because it was built on highly unstable ground right above an old river bed. Students will make their own soil mixture and see how well it supports a brick on end to learn what kind of soil is best to build on. This activity has a stated objective, a list of materials, procedure, activity answer, and links for more information.
Intended for grade levels:
  • Middle (6-8)
Type of resource:
  • For the classroom:
    • Classroom activity
Subject:
  • Soil science
Technical requirements:
No specific technical requirements, just a browser required
Cost / Copyright:
No cost
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DLESE Catalog ID: DLESE-000-000-005-343
Educational standards:
  • National Science Education Standards (NSES):
    • 5-8:
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
        • Understanding about scientific inquiry
      • B - Physical science:
        • Properties and changes of properties in matter
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Structure of the earth system
Resource contact / Creator / Publisher:
Publisher: WGBH Educational Foundation