Surface Microbiology and Erosion

Local Learning

If you don't know what type of science fair project to create then take a look at the world around you. In your backyard you can find examples of soil erosion and soil creation. You can also find examples of small ecosystems.

Objectives

The main objectives of this Mini-teach are:
1. Students will recognize different populations in a soil sample.
2. Students will demonstrate and observe water and wind erosion.
3. Students will construct a levee flood control technique.

Materials Needed

1. Soil Sample - 4 to 6 cubic centimeters of turf per group, hand lenses, paper plates, microscope (optional).
2. Water and Wind Erosion - one piece of 10x13 inch shelving board per group, 2 pieces of 1x2 furring strips, nails or screws, catch container, loose soil, straws, plastic cups, water.
3. Levee Construction - use apparatus constructed in #2, sand, plastic sandwich bags, twist ties, plastic spoons, 2 quart pitcher.

Strategy

Soil Sample

1. Place the turf sample on a paper plate. Analyze the soil using your hand lens. Look for as many different populations as you can find.
2. Draw any organisms you can identify.

Water and Wind Erosion

1. Attach the furring strips to the shelving board (the 2 inch side should be vertical). Place one strip along the top left side of the board and the other strip 5 inches away (parallel).
2. Make sure the board is placed on a 45 degree incline.
3. Place a mound of loose soil midway up the board, on the opposite side place a piece of turf.
4. Distribute a straw to each group, allow students to blow on both soil samples. Observe what happens.
5. Distribute 2 eight ounce cups of water to each group, allow students to pour the water over each soil sample. Remember to use your catch containers! Observe what happens.

Construction of Levee

1. Use the apparatus constructed in strategy #2, but remove the soil samples.
2. Give each group 6 plastic sandwich bags and 6 twist ties, plastic spoons, and a container of sand.
3. Allow students to fill their sand bags and give them time to develop their own methods for constructing a levee.
4. When students feel their levee will hold back the water, they should raise their hand and the teacher will pour water from a pitcher to test levee strength.
5. If students levee does not hold back the water, allow them to rearrange their sand bags.

Performance Assessment

At the completion of this Mini-teach students will be able to answer the
following questions:

1. What is a population? List the types of populations found in your soil.
2. What is a community? Give an example of a community.
3. From your observations, what held the soil together?
4. What is water erosion?
5. What is wind erosion?
6. From your observations which soil sample had a greater amount of wind
erosion? Explain your answer.
7. From your observations which soil sample had a greater amount of water
erosion? Explain your answer.
8. When would levee construction be needed within a given area?
9. If your levee successfully held water, explain why? If not, why?
10. What properties of sand make it useful in levee construction?

Conclusion

At the conclusion of this Mini-teach students will understand the following:
1. Soil contains many different populations.
2. Less erosion occurs in areas where turf exists.
3. When levee construction is needed and how levees are built. 3rd party contributor

Have you find that most interesting experiment that you would like to do for your science fair?