Japan's Orphan Tsunami of 1700: A Jello Stratigraphy Activity for K-12 Students

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Amy Gross, Lecturer (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )

Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library

Abstract: As a Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Science Ambassador, I created an activity for middle school science students regarding Tsunamis. I presented a brief introduction to tsunamis and how they occur, and the story of Japan's "Orphan Tsunami' in 1700. Researchers scoured coastal wetlands in the Pacific NW looking for evidence of large tsunamis. They discovered tsunami deposits in several locations that dated back to around 1700. My activity involved making Jello stratigraphy layers in opaque cups, that included tsunami sand (sprinkles) and fossils (shell shaped pasta). Students used straws to take core samples of their "wetland sediment layers) and looked for tsunami sand. Spoons were included so the students could dig trenches in their sediment layers.

Japan's Orphan Tsunami of 1700: A Jello Stratigraphy Activity for K-12 Students
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Created on 4/29/2019
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Additional Information

Publication

UNCP Research and Creativity Showcase

Language: English

Date: 2019

Keywords

Education, Effective Teaching, Middle School Science, Curriculum Planning, Tsunamis, Japan, Japan's Orphan Tsunami, Orphan Tsunami of 1700, Tsunami Deposits, Stratigraphy Layers, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Subjects

Science -- Study and teaching (Middle school) -- United States

Tsunamis -- Japan -- History -- 18th century

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