Title of Project: Erosion: A Lesson in Science

Grade Level: 3-5

Number of Students Participating:

Contributed by:

Teacher: Susan Jones; Information for this lesson plan was compiled by Jennifer Cofer

School: Bald Knob Elementary

District or County: Franklin County Schools, KY

Overview/Description of Project: Students used lessons learned in science to fix an erosion problem in the outdoor classroom area of their school.

Goals:

-To fix an erosion problem on school grounds, which provided a way to develop student ownership in their outdoor classroom

-To help students understand how erosion affects them

-To develop an understanding of the importance of maintaining the land the best way possible

-To help students understand how to fix and prevent erosion problems

Core Content Areas:

Reading/Writing: 1.2, 1.11 Students read about erosion and soils in their regular science textbook. Students visited community sites, looked for other erosion-prone areas. They took pictures of the sites and wrote a booklet about the entire erosion project.

Math: 2.8 Students calculated the number of seeds needed to cover the eroded area in their outdoor classroom.

Science: 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 Students studied the characteristics of soil and how erosion occurs. They were involved in a small-scale erosion simulation activity to help them understand how erosion occurs and what can be done to prevent it. They also discussed weathering and how it can affect erosion problems. In life science, the students how plants can be used to prevent erosion. Students used problem-solving skills to determine the best method of fixing the erosion problem at their school.

Social Studies: 2.19 Students learned about how geography and human activity effects erosion.

Art and Humanities: 2.22 Students learned about how photography skills through their production of a booklet about their project.

Vocational Studies: 2.37 Students studied careers in agriculture (many careers in this community are agriculturally related), how erosion can be a problem for farmers, and how they, as possible future farmers, can prevent erosion problems from occurring.

PARC MODEL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

PREPARATION: 1) Students began this project by studying erosion through their science curriculum. 2) Students learned how erosion can affect farmers (many community members are in the farming profession), and discussed why farmers may be concerned about erosion. 3) Students conducted an experiment with a tray of dirt, mulch and gravel. They predicted which medium would be least resistant to erosion and conducted experiments to test their hypotheses. 4) Students visited different sties in the community where erosion was a problem. They learned how to take proper photographs to document these sites. Once developed, students developed a display with captions below each about why this area had an erosion problem. 5) Students began investigating the erosion problem in their outdoor classroom which was located on the school grounds. They determined what was causing the erosion and brainstormed ideas on how to go about solving this problem.

ACTION: 1) Students developed a plan to fix the erosion problem. They purchased grass seed, straw, native grasses and plants, railroad ties, mulch, rocks, and topsoil. They used these materials to fix the erosion problem. 2) While fixing the area, students took pictures to document the project, as well as to show others what they had done.

REFLECTION: 1) Students compiled a booklet showing the pictures they had taken of their site, both before and after, and helped to educate others in their school about erosion and how proper planning can both fix current problems and prevent possible future problems. 2) For years to come students can see how their efforts benefited the outdoor classroom. 3) Prompt (suggested): You are a local farmer who has been called to help a newcomer to the community whose driveway has been damaged by erosion. Explain what erosion is and list several ways that erosion can be prevented. Give at least three ways that the problem may be fixed and prevented in the future.

CELEBRATION: