Mountain formation

Class: 4ème

Lesson: La terre, planète active

Rationale: Show how mountains are formed from thick piles of sediment when compressed.

Materials:

3 - 5 cm stack of paper

2 wide rulers (or boards or books)

markers

Procedure:

1. With a marker color the edges of the paper to form 3 different layers of about 1.5 cm thick.

2. The layers of paper represent the layers of sediment on the sea bottom.

3. Press inward against the layers from both sides with the two rulers.

4. The paper will buckle under the pressure thus showing the start of a mountain.

Note: Clay (~20 cm x 8 cm x 5 cm) with different colored layers would work even better if enough clay is available. It too can be colored with a marker.

Source: HBJ Concepts in Science Orange, p. 181.