Reuniting Kids w/ Nature - Erosion (2)

Photo source

MATERIALS: 
Three one-liter plastic bottles (soda bottles will work perfectly) with their caps on, three smaller plastic bottles, potting soil, natural materials (wood chips, fallen leaves, small sticks, etc.), string, grass (or any other quick growing) seeds, an exact-o-knife or box cutter (be careful!), a piece of cardboard, duct tape

TIME FRAME: 
60 - 90 minutes + 2 - 4 weeks “grow” time

PROCEDURE:

1. Lay your larger bottles on their sides, side by side, and tape them to your cardboard.
2. Carefully using your knife, cut out the top side of each bottle (you are creating a bowl of sorts).  Save one of the pieces you have cut off.
3. Fill all three bottles up with soil.
4. Place your natural materials on top of the soil in the middle bottle creating a thin layer.
5. Pick one of the end bottles and sow your seeds into it, gently water it and place the plastic pieces back where you cut if from (you are creating a mini greenhouse.
6. Cut the bottoms off your remaining three bottles about 4 inches from the bottom.  Carefully poke holes in each side using your knife and tie a 6 inch string to each bottom.  Hand these “cups” from the mouth of the larger bottles.
7. Carefully move your experiment to a sunny indoor location, check on it daily and water it as needed.
8. Once your seeds have germinated and have grown 2-4 inches tall, using a watering can, gently pour water  into each of the bottles towards the end of the bottle (the opposite of the mouth) and watch what happens.

REFLECTION: 
What happened as the water made its way through each bottle?  Did the surfaces of the soil change?  Did the water look different in each cup?  Why do you think that is?  How does this relate to our woods and forests?

IMAGININGS:
Imagine a world  without any vegetation...could we survive?  Could animals survive?  Now imagine a world with more vegetation than concrete in every city.  How can you work towards a greener world?

This activity is part of a series of low cost, hands on activities that can be used by anyone who has a passion for nature and who believes that a child's time spent in nature is not only important, but necessary.  Each activity was either created by me or gathered from a variety of sources.  You can find the complete list of all of the activities on my Nature Activities tab.

xoxo,

M