Teaching Earth Sciences - Earth Science Teachers' Association

Idea Title:
Presenter:
Brief description:
Death Assemblages – in a nutshell
Pete Loader, St Bedes College, Manchester, peteloader@yahoo.co.uk
The shells of pistachio nuts are used as an analogue for bivalve shells. When randomly dropped into
a bowl of water they nearly always orientate with the concave part of the shell facing upwards (the
shell providing least resistance to the water in this direction (see photo). When the water is then
stirred the shells generally flip over to show a typical transported “death” assemblage identified in
some shelly limestones. This works well as a laboratory coursework investigation and simple statistics
can be easily obtained by counting with the significance of the results evaluated against probability.
This works well if around 25 shells are used in a standard kitchen mixing bowl (or equivalent). If more
are used (greater density) the shells often interfere with each other and form an imbrication also seen
in some limestones (photo).
Nutshell ‘bivalves’ after dropping into water
‘Imbricated’ nutshell ‘bivalves’
Age range:
Apparatus/
materials needed:
All
A bag of pistachio nuts
Bowl (or equivalent)
Water
A good film to watch whilst shelling (and eating) the nuts
Idea Title:
Presenters:
Brief description:
Age range:
Apparatus/
materials needed:
Fossil revision cards – updated
William Lynn, Foyle and Londonderry College, and Nicole Sloane, Oakgrove Integrated College,
Northern Ireland, roc_chic_nic@hotmail.com
This unique collection of 24 A6 revision cards for the four AS and A2 modules has been updated.
It describes the morphology, evolutionary changes, description and function of body parts for the
main invertebrate fossil groups and plants including Ammonites; Belemnites; Bivalves; Brachiopods;
Crinoids; Corals; Echinoids, Gastropods; Graptolites; Trilobites. Many schools are currently using sets
of these purchased for their students and are finding them invaluable.
A-Level
None – other than the cards. Please contact the authors for more details.
16 Teaching Earth Sciences Vol 35 No 1 2010 www.esta-uk.net