A simple activity to teach 4th-8th graders about OSL dating and its applications

Abstract

I have developed a simple hands-on activity for 4^th–8^th grade children (10–14 years old), with the goal to teach about the need for geochronology and the basic principles of OSL dating. The children are first introduced to the basic concepts of OSL dating, and participate afterwards in an activity to answer a scientific question. In our case they are asked to answer the question “Do islands move?”. In the hands-on part of the activity, children playfully simulate the process of dating a sample. They use measuring spoons to fill clear plastic cups with beads to a pre-determined fill level. By counting the number of spoon-loads needed, students can determine the “age” of the sample. Ages are entered into a map and the results are discussed. The activity has been designed to be suitable for varying group sizes and different settings. It can easily be adopted by other researchers, we recommend however that the scientific question be modified to fit the regional setting of each laboratory. This manuscript describes the different stages of the outreach event – i.e., introduction, hands-on activity and discussion – and the rationale behind each step, as well as the materials needed.