Understanding of Landforms - Activities

NC Standard:  2.03, 2.05

Activity:  Water Erosion

Question: What factors affect water erosion?

Vocabulary: erosion

Materials:
2 identical erosion trays
sprinkler
2 basins or plastic dishpans
several books
paper towels
soil
leaves
sticks
small rocks
water

Procedure:

• 1.  Put an equal amount of soil on the two erosion trays.
• 2.  Spread several leaves, sticks, and small rocks over the top of the soil in one tray.
• 3.  Tilt both trays at the same angle and place the basins below the trays. Use the books to tilt the trays.
• 4.  First predict which tray will lose the most soil, then sprinkle one quart of water over each one.
• 5.  Observe any changes the water makes to the soil. Record your observations.
• 6.  Again place equal amounts of soil on the two trays. This time leave the soil bare on each tray.
• 7.  Lower one tray slightly (1 book) and raise the other slightly (1 book). Which do you think will lose the most soil during the rainstorm?
• 8.  Sprinkle one quart of water over each tray.

Observations:

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusions:
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Further Questions:  What can you say about soil erosion in the mountains and factors that affect it? Where in your area is water erosion a problem?

Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
__________________________________________________________________________________________