View this Bozeman Science Video - Developing and Using Models

Think about a question that you have about the process of erosion. How could you design an experiment that would answer that question?

You can now choose to learn more about a related topic by researching it on your own. Possible investigation questions:

• Do all materials erode in the same way?

Use this Erosion and Deposition Investigation sheet as a guide, if you like.

Local Connections: Vanport (One article and 60 minute video from Oregon Experience. In the context of Portland, it is important to understand not just the flood, but the community formation and response.)

For ideas about how you might investigate erosion at home, you might look at how we would have investigated in class.

Skim Activity 31: Resistance to Erosion to see how we would have created small “mountains” with different earth materials to analyze how different materials erode at different rates. Pages C-35 to C-38 in SEPUP student textbook Erosion and Deposition

Skim Activity 32: Modeling Erosion to see how we would have used a model ocean basin and cliff to model erosion due to waves and attempt to mitigate the erosion with model breakwaters and seawalls. Pages C-39 to C-43 in SEPUP student textbook Erosion and Deposition

Additional resources if you want to learn something more about local landslides.

• How it really happened - Oso, Washington

• The science of mudslides

• Landslide in West Hills of Portland OR

• Landslides - National Geographic

The Challenge - Find a live animal and observe its characteristics (color, shape, size, etc.). Write about or draw what you notice and any questions you are wondering about what you see why does it look the way it does? What characteristics are helpful?

Materials

• A live animal to observe (try collecting a worm, ant, snail, or other bug from your yard or a nearby park)

• Drawing materials

• Magnifying glass (optional)

More ideas

Compare and contrast your observations and what you notice and wonder.

Try to find answers to the questions you are wondering about

• http://www.nwf.org/natureguides

• http://www.insectidentification.org.

• http://www.backyardnature.net/insectid.htm

• http://www.bugfacts.net/insects/php