Have you ever wondered how amazing places like the Grand Canyon or the White Cliffs of Dover were formed? Or maybe you’ve noticed how the beach changes over time. These beautiful landscapes are shaped by a process called erosion. Erosion happens when materials like dirt and rocks are moved from one place to another, often by water. And guess what? You can see erosion in action right at home with a simple and fun experiment!
Before we start, make sure you’re in a place where it’s okay to make a little mess. Here’s what you’ll need:
Let’s get started by making our mini landscape! Fill your pan about halfway with dirt. Now, create a slope by piling more dirt on one end of the pan than the other. This slope will help us see how water moves the dirt, showing us erosion in action!
For extra fun, add some little features to your landscape, like tiny mountains or cliffs. Once your landscape is ready, fill your cup with water and carefully poke a small hole in the bottom. You might need a grown-up to help with this part.
Hold the cup over the top of your slope and watch as the water drips down. As it moves, you’ll see it carry some of the dirt from the top to the bottom. This is erosion happening right before your eyes!
Take a look at your landscape now. Does it look different? Is there more dirt at the bottom than when you started? What about the top? Notice how the water has changed color from clear to a mucky brown. That’s because it picked up tiny pieces of dirt as it flowed down the slope.
Now that you’ve seen erosion in action, try experimenting with different ideas! What happens if you change the features of your landscape? How does a steeper slope affect erosion? What if you pour all the water at once instead of letting it trickle? Keep experimenting and asking questions to learn more about how erosion works.
Thanks for joining this messy and fun experiment! A big thank you to Google Making Science for helping us create this episode. If you have a project to share or questions for us, ask a grown-up to leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
Observe Erosion in Your Neighborhood: Take a walk around your neighborhood with a grown-up and look for signs of erosion. Can you find places where dirt or sand has moved? Look at the edges of sidewalks, near drains, or in gardens. Draw a picture of what you see and talk about how water might have moved the dirt or sand.
Build a Mini River: Use a long piece of aluminum foil to create a riverbed in your backyard or a sandbox. Shape the foil into a winding path and place it on a slight slope. Pour water at the top and watch how it flows down the riverbed. Notice how the water changes the shape of the riverbed over time. Try adding small rocks or leaves to see how they affect the flow of water.
Story Time with Erosion: Imagine you are a tiny piece of dirt on a big adventure. Write a short story or draw a comic strip about your journey as you are moved by water from the top of a hill to the bottom. What do you see along the way? How do you feel about being part of the erosion process?
