Lesson 3 - What’s strong enough to make a canyon?

Cornmeal Canyon Activity

I’m having trouble with the cornmeal consistency.

The ratio we suggest in the lesson Activity Prep is 3 parts cornmeal, 1 part salt, and 1 part water for each group of 4 students. If you're having difficulty getting the correct consistency, we suggest experimenting with the proportions of cornmeal and water. If you use too little water your cornmeal land becomes too crumbly; too much water makes the canyon slump too soon. Add water as you mix the cornmeal so that it becomes a little stickier than wet sand.

What if I can't find cornmeal? Can I use sand?

Many teachers have asked about using sand as an alternative, however, please note that cornmeal will clump better for this activity. Still, many teachers have had success with sand, so you are welcome to try this activity with sand instead of cornmeal.