Objective:

Students will design and test multiple solutions to prevent wind and water erosion, applying computational thinking skills such as problem decomposition and iterative testing. By creating and refining physical models, students will understand the real-world application of erosion prevention strategies.

Materials Needed:

• Sand or soil

• Small trays to represent land

• Water spray bottles (to simulate rain)

• Straws (to simulate wind)

• Materials for erosion solutions (e.g., small rocks, grass, sticks, clay)

• Chart paper for data collection

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Start by asking, "How does wind or water change the shape of the land?" 

  • Show pictures of erosion and discuss how people use various strategies to prevent it, such as planting trees, building barriers, or creating dikes. 

  • Explain that students will design and test solutions to prevent erosion, applying computational thinking by breaking the problem down and testing solutions iteratively.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into groups and provide each group with a tray of soil and various materials to create their erosion prevention designs. 

  • One group may choose to plant grass (represented by shredded paper), while another group may build a dike with small rocks. 

  • They will simulate wind using straws and water erosion by spraying water on their land models.

• Testing and Refining:

  • After building their designs, students will test the effectiveness of their solutions by simulating wind and rain. 

  • They will observe how well their designs prevent the land from eroding, and record their observations on chart paper. 

  • Groups can then refine their models by adjusting materials or adding new elements to strengthen their designs.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their results, explaining what worked and what didn’t in their erosion prevention models. 

  • Lead a discussion on how different designs succeeded in preventing wind or water from changing the land, and how these solutions can be applied to real-world erosion problems.

Equity and Access:

Provide tactile and hands-on materials for students who benefit from sensory learning. Offer visual aids, like pictures and models, to ensure all students can understand the erosion concepts, and pair students with diverse abilities for collaborative problem-solving.

Real-World Application:

Connect this lesson to real-world erosion control methods used in farming, coastal protection, and urban planning. Explain how scientists and engineers test multiple designs, just like the students did, to find the best solutions to prevent land damage caused by natural forces.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students identify wind and water erosion as problems and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks they can solve with their designs.

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students use hands-on testing to evaluate the effectiveness of their models, refining their designs based on real-time feedback, akin to how engineers debug and improve solutions.

Standard(s):

• CA NGSS 2-ESS2-1

• CA CS K-2.DA.8

Objective:

Students will use physical computing sensors, such as water sensors or tilt sensors, to simulate and measure the effects of wind and water erosion on land. Through physical computing, students will design and test erosion prevention strategies, integrating computational thinking and real-time data collection with sensors.

Materials Needed:

• Water sensors or tilt sensors

• Microcontrollers (e.g., Microbits, Arduino)

• Sand or soil

• Small trays to represent land

• Materials for erosion prevention (e.g., rocks, grass, sticks, clay)

• Water sprayers (for simulating rain)

• Tablets or computers for programming sensors

• Chart paper or digital tools for data collection

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin with a discussion on how wind and water erode land and change its shape. 

  • Show examples of erosion, highlighting the importance of preventing it. 

  • Explain that students will design solutions to prevent erosion and use physical computing sensors to measure the impact of simulated wind and water. 

  • For example, tilt sensors will detect land movement (caused by erosion), while water sensors will measure the amount of moisture retained by different erosion prevention materials.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into small groups. 

  • Each group will build a model land area using soil or sand and design an erosion prevention strategy using materials like rocks, grass, or sticks. 

  • Students will set up physical sensors, such as a tilt sensor to detect shifts in the land due to erosion or a water sensor to monitor moisture levels after simulating rain. 

  • They will connect these sensors to a microcontroller (e.g., Microbits or Arduino) and write code that collects and displays data in real-time.

• Testing and Refining Solutions:

  • Once the sensors are in place, students will simulate rain using a water sprayer or simulate wind by tilting their land model. 

  • The sensors will measure how well each erosion prevention design holds up. 

  • For example, the water sensor might show how much moisture is absorbed by grass, or the tilt sensor might detect land movement caused by erosion. 

  • Students will analyze the data, record their observations, and iteratively refine their designs to improve performance.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their data, showing how the sensors measured the effectiveness of their erosion prevention solutions. 

  • Students will explain how the data informed their design decisions and how they adjusted their strategies to reduce erosion. 

  • Lead a class discussion on the value of real-time data and how engineers use sensors in real-world projects to protect land from erosion.

Equity and Access:

Provide pre-coded sensor setups for students who need additional support. Allow students to work in mixed-ability groups so that they can collaborate and learn from each other while interacting with the physical computing components.

Real-World Application:

Explain how sensors are used in engineering to monitor environmental factors like erosion, rainfall, and land movement in real time. Emphasize how technology and data help engineers design solutions to protect landscapes and prevent damage from erosion.

CS Practice(s):

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students analyze real-time data collected from sensors, using it to refine their erosion prevention designs.

Standard(s):

• CA NGSS 2-ESS2-1

• CA CS K-2.DA.8