Preventing Erosion

Learning Targets

  • Students will devise an experiment to test a hypothesis.
  • Students will attempt to prevent erosion from occurring.

Success Criteria

  • I have asked a question and developed a hypothesis that can be tested.
  • I have completed an experiment and made a conclusion based on the results.

Roles

  • Organizer, Materials Manager/Technician, Time Keeper, Checker, Reader

Can you Prevent Erosion?

Objective

Using the Stream Table and available resources you will attempt to prevent erosion.

  1. Brainstorm - Discuss with your group things that you think might prevent erosion. Turn your best idea into a question that can be answered by conducting an experiment.
    • example: To what extent would ___________ prevent erosion from happening?
  2. Make a hypothesis.
    • I think _________ will prevent erosion because _________.
  3. Develop a materials list and set of procedures.
  4. Conduct your experiment.
  5. Collect data and make a conclusion that attempts to answer your original question.

Brainstorm

  • Meet with your team to develop a plan for preventing erosion.
  • Consider the resources that are available to you.
  • Create a written plan with diagrams that you will use to implement your plan.
      • Your plan should...
        1. have a clearly stated objective.
        2. include all materials.
        3. include diagrams to identify all associated parts.
        4. include a step by step list of instructions for implementation.

Whole class...

  • Meet with other teams to describe your plan.
  • Listen to other plans and ask questions for clarification:
        • Why did you choose...?
        • How are you going to...?
        • When are you...?
  • Provide feedback.

Back to teams...

  • Consider what you have learned by viewing other plans.
  • Modify your plan based on the questions and feedback you received from the other teams.

Erosion Research

  • Use the following links to find out a little more about ways to control and prevent erosion.
Using Concrete to Prevent Erosion and Save Ecosystems
Preventing and managing erosion
Erosion: 5 Effective Ways to Control and Prevent It
Prevent Soil Erosion on Your Property