Try This at Home

TRY THIS AT HOME 5+ RECOMMENDED FOR AGES Soil Science

Erosion is the process of being worn away by wind, water, or other natural agents; the gradual destruction or diminution of something. Natural areas like Mangroves, Cypress Swamps, Coral Reefs, and Pinewood Flats act like buffer zones which lessen the harmful effects that natural disasters like tropical storms and hurricanes can have on Florida. For more information, visit www.soils.org

MATERIALS

• 3 plastic bottles • 6 cups of soil • 1 cup of mulch with some leaf litter • 1 square of grass taken from outside, remove a small section with a garden spade and place it inside one of the bottles • 1 watering can, which will simulate rainfall • 3 clear disposable cups • 3 pieces of twine (12 inches long) • Scissors or a box cutter • Hole puncher (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1 . Begin by cutting off one side of all three of the plastic bottles. (Cut the bottles vertically in half from top to bottom.)

2. Place the bottles on their sides and fill each one with two cups of soil.

3. In one bottle, add one cup of mulch and leaf litter and pack it down.

4. In the second bottle, add the grass and pack it down.

5. Lay the bottles horizontally with the mouth of the bottles hanging over the edge of a table.

6. Make two holes at the top on each side of the “catchcups” using the hole puncher or you can use the scissors or box cutter.

7. Pull the twine through the holes and tie them to make handles for the cups.

8. Attach one cup with twine to each one of the bottles so that each one has a cup hanging from the mouth over the end of the table (see photo).

9. Now the fun part! Use your watering can to simulate a rainstorm by watering each of the soil science bottles.

10. Make observations and record your findings about which model held the most rainwater and what the water looks like in the catch cups.

POST-ACTIVITY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Which model did the best job at keeping the soil in place? Do you think it’s a good idea to have natural areas with a lot of plants to protect Florida when it rains?