4th Grade Art & Science Projects — Design and Discover — Engineering and Art Challenges
Students will conduct erosion experiments to see how water, wind, and ice shape the land God created, and learn how plants help prevent erosion.
Erosion is the process of wearing away soil and rock by water, wind, and ice. God designed the Earth to change slowly over time, and erosion is one of the ways the land is shaped and reshaped.
Water erosion happens when rain or rivers carry soil and rock from one place to another. You can see water erosion in action when rain makes small channels in dirt or when rivers carve through valleys.
Plants play a very important role in preventing erosion. Their roots hold the soil in place like tiny anchors. When plants are removed, soil washes away much more quickly. This is why God covered the earth with vegetation.
Farmers and gardeners use special techniques to prevent erosion, such as planting cover crops, building terraces on hillsides, and using mulch. Being good stewards of the land means protecting the soil God gave us.
Set up three aluminum trays tilted at an angle: fill one with bare soil, one with soil and grass or plants, and one with soil covered in mulch. Pour equal amounts of water at the top of each tray and observe which one loses the most soil. Collect the water that runs off and compare how muddy it is.