Teacher Note: Lesson 6D and Lesson 6E both have an option for planting a native species, such as plains coreopsis, or black oil sunflower seeds to show how roots help slow erosion. If you wish to demonstrate this, you will need to plant the seeds in 2 trays several weeks ahead of time. Plant the seeds in a small mound of soil in one
end of each tray. One of these trays will be used for a water demonstration and the other for a wind demonstration. You could also have the students plant the seeds in a tray that they design as a group. This lesson can be conducted over several days.
List of Materials
- 3 trays or pans for demonstration
- 1 tray or pan per group with the same amount of soil
- Potting soil for each tray
- Small rocks
- Straw or grass clippings, if not planting seeds
- Native plant seed or black oil sunflower seed (Note: Seeds from native plants such as plains coreopsis or common sunflower are preferable for this activity and recommended to transplant outside when finished with the activity. Email DNSchools@mdc.mo.gov for plains coreopsis seeds.)
- Hair dryer or hand fan
- Book: Turning Points in US History: Dust Bowl by Veronica B. Wilkins
Estimated Time
2 hours
- Engage: 10 minutes
- Explore: 45 minutes
- Explain: 30 minutes
- Elaborate: 30 minutes
- Evaluate: 15 minutes