Effects of Water & Weathering
GPS Correlation: Use observation to compare the similarities and differences of texture,
particle size, and color in top soils (S3E1c) and determine how water and wind can change rocks
and soil over time using observation and research (S3E1d).
Materials Needed:









Popsicle sticks (one per student or one per group)
Permanent markers or crayons
Rulers
Watering can with sprinkler top
3 plastic containers of the same size
Sand
Potting soil
Clay
Plastic houses, plants, trees (optional)
Preparation:
Put sand, potting soil, and clay in separate plastic containers. Pile each soil type to make a
mountain. If used, arrange houses, plants, and trees around the base and sides of the mountain.
Procedures:
1. Students use a ruler to draw lines 1 cm apart across both sides of a popsicle stick
2. Use markers or crayons to color one centimeter wide bands in the following order from
the top: red, green, orange, blue, yellow, purple
3. Students push their sticks into the mountain and surrounding land, red ends up, so that
they are at right angles to the surface and evenly distributed. The boundary between the
orange and blue bands should be even with the surface.
4. Students or teacher create a rain event by sprinkling the mountain with the watering can
so that the rain falls straight down
5. After the mountain is well eroded, ask the following questions:
a. Do the popsicle sticks indicate where the erosion is taking place? Where?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
b. Are there areas that have been built up? Where?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
c. Which of these features can you identify:
i. Streams
ii. Canyons
iii. Waterfalls
iv. Lakes
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
d. What, if anything, seems to slow erosion on the mountain?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
e. Which soil showed the most erosion? Which soil showed the least amount of
erosion?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
f. Based on your results, what can you conclude about the particle size of each of
the soil types?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________