Student Activity Sheet
You are expected to complete a task from at least one activity sheet.
SANDS OF TIME
Do you think deserts are quiet? Find out about the strange booming noises that are coming from the sand in
some parts of the world and some of the stories that are told about these. Develop a fact sheet about the
noises desert sand makes and then write and publish your own legend about what could be causing these
mysterious sounds. Include the fact sheet about the booming dunes at the end of your story.
●
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/booming-sands.html: a video about sand dunes that behave like
giant musical instruments with dunes creating booms and rumbles which have been noted by ancient
travelers in the Sahara desert and in the Gobi Desert, by explorer Marco Polo.
●
Echoing-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan): An article about the Echoing Sand Mountains in China, and a
legend that has been told about what makes the sound.
RESOURCES AND MATERIALS
●
Internet access, paper and pencil.
Assessment
Uh-oh!
Good start
Great effort
Wohoo!!
Process
Watched Booming
Sands and found
out about legends
told about desert
sand noises.
Grouped and
listed relevant
facts.
Developed an
interesting
storyline for a
legend.
Shared legend and
facts with class.
Product
Created a mindmap of the main
points.
Created a fact
sheet about the
noises produced
by sand in the
deserts.
Wrote and
published legend
relating to the
sounds made by
the desert sands
including fact
sheet at the back.
Spoke clearly
when presenting.
Attempted to
answer questions
presented to you
at the end of your
presentation.
document1 | Page 1