Erosion Demonstration: Comparing Grass, Dead Leaves, and Soil
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Science
Authors: The Kid Should See This, Fun Science Demos
Location: Earth, North America
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video and accompanying article demonstrates how different types of ground cover (specifically grass, dead leaves, or bare soil) affect the process of erosion.
- Students will learn what erosion is, how water runoff is affected by different types of ground cover, what roots do underground, and the best way to prevent erosion.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video provides a straightforward and engaging demonstration of how erosion works.
- This resource provides links to additional resources and provides an example of an experiment that students could easily do in their classroom.
Additional Prerequisites
- It may be helpful for students to have a basic understanding of the concept of erosion and how plants "drink" water.
- The PBS link in the article is broken.
Differentiation
- This experiment could be replicated in a classroom or teachers might choose to use the link to other Fun Science Demos referenced in the article.
- The article provides a link to 14 other videos about erosion that could be used for extension activities.
- Language arts classes could write a few sentences that compare and contrast the water runoff from the three containers, being sure to explain why the process works differently.
- Science classes could work in groups to research how human activities are impacting the land, rates of erosion, and our Earth.
- Other resources on this topic include this video about slowing coastal erosion and this video which provides an overview of soil science.
This resource is an 8-minute video with an accompanying website that demonstrates the ways in which ground cover can affect water runoff and water retention. Bare soil is compared to soil with leaf litter and soil with grass. This is a very clear and interesting demonstration. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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