What Can River Pebbles Tell Us About Upstream?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What can river pebbles tell us about upstream?

The Big Idea

Each pebble in a river came from somewhere upstream! By looking at the kinds of rocks, scientists can tell which hills and mountains the river flows through. A handful of gravel is like a postcard from the headwaters.

Rock Types

Step one: rock types. Different mountains are made of different kinds of rock. If a river carries a certain type of rock, that rock came from somewhere upstream.

Round or Sharp

Step two: round or sharp. Pebbles that are round and smooth traveled a long way. Sharp ones are fresh from somewhere nearby, and have not been rolled much yet.

Postcards

Step three: postcards. Together, the pebbles tell the story of the river's trip. Scientists read them like a map without leaving the riverbank.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at pebbles! Sharp pebbles have not traveled far. Round pebbles have come a long way. Colors and patterns show the kind of rock. Each one is a clue about upstream. Rivers carry stories in their gravel, from the hills all the way down to the sea.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Colorful pebbles can include granite, quartz, and sandstone. Granite is a hard rock with tiny sparkly grains. Quartz is a hard, often clear or white mineral. Wash your hands after touching pebbles, and stay with a grown-up near water.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Gather a few different pebbles, from a path, a garden, or a store. Group them by color and texture. Draw what you notice. Wash your hands afterward. You just sorted like a geologist!

Outro

Every pebble is a postcard from upstream. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!