Lesson Plan : Erosion

Teacher Name:
 Ms. Harrison
Grade:
 Grade 5
Subject:
 Science

Topic:
 Soil Erosion
Content:
  Sediment results from the erosion of land and streambanks. Vegetation helps prevent erosion by holding soil in place. This protects soil from impact of rain thus helping to prevent soil erosion.
Goals:
 Children will appreciate the significant impact that soil erosion has on water quality and how leaf canopies and plants significantly prevent erosion of soil.
Objectives:
  Student will observe: 1. The effect of rainfall on soil erosion. 2. The effect of leaf litter on the reduction of soil erosion. 3. The added sedimentation in the water.
Materials:
 480ml of soil one cake pan at least 12 x 12 inch 4 x 12oz paper cups (1 cup has 8-10 holes punched in bottom) water handful of vegetative litter (leaves, twigs, grass, stems ets)
Introduction:
 Teacher talk about water quality. What it means to a)student, b)farmer c)manufacturer How is the water used? Quality of water changes due to natural or human activities. When does it become polluted and what causes it? Class takes a walk to collect soil and vegetative litter-schoolgrounds. Warn about poison ivy and careful about animal waste.
Development:
 Teacher talk about water quality. What it means to a)student, b)farmer c)manufacturer How is the water used? Quality of water changes due to natural or human activities. When does it become polluted and what causes it? Class takes a walk to collect soil and vegetative litter-schoolgrounds. Warn about poison ivy and careful about animal waste.
Practice:
 Students continue with experiment as teacher walks around the groups. Teacher introduces words erosion (movement of soil from mound) and sediment (soil deposited in the lake. Now have students remove soil and water from the pan. Refill 1 paper cup 2/3 water. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using the second cup of soil. Place leaf litter on top of the soil this time. Have it rain on the mound again and observe the run-off.
Accommodations:
 Since groups are small any child needing support will be placed within an appropriate group. Visual lesson, hands on.
Checking For Understanding:
  Interpretive questions. 1. Which one of the mounds produced the greatest amount of sediment? 2. What effect did the vegetative litter have on erosion .
Closure:
 Stress importance of retaining our forests and emphasise where these have been removed how this has affected the land. If there is significant erosion of soil, then there can be no farming.
Evaluation:
 From students answers to questions showing understanding. Participation in the experiment, from an academic and effort standpoint.
Teacher Reflections:
  Lesson went well. Could have been a mud bath! Students enjoyed the experience. This will lead on to Surface and Ground-Water Pollution well.

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