Holding Soil in Place

Explain how plant roots, mulch, and gutters keep soil from washing away.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 19

People can slow down erosion. Plant roots act like a net that holds soil together.
Mulch covers soil so raindrops can't splash it away. A splash block under a downspout spreads the water out.
On Georgia's beaches, sand fences and sea oats help hold the dunes, so the wind can't blow them away. Sea oats are protected, so never pick them!
Scientists test their ideas. Pour the same water over a tray of bare soil and a tray of soil with grass. Less soil washes off the grassy tray!

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science:

S3E1.c — Make observations of the local environment to construct an explanation of how water and/or wind have made changes to soil and/or rocks over time. (Clarification statement: Examples could include ripples in dirt on a playground and a hole formed under gutters.)