NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Observing Erosion Scientist: _______________ Problem Scientists do experiments to find answers to problems. Our problem is: Will erosion affect the size and shape of a sand pile? Hypothesis Before scientists begin their experiments, they guess what will happen. Their guess is called a hypothesis. 1 2

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 To come up with your hypotheses, answer these questions: Will the sand pile be affected by wind and water through the processes of erosion? Yes No Will erosion cause the sand pile to become smaller or larger? Smaller Larger Will the location of the sand pile have any effect on erosion? Yes No Procedure Now you are ready to begin your experiment! The steps that you will follow to solve the problem are called the procedure. 1.Build a sand pile outside. 2.Record the location of the sand pile. 3.Observe the sand pile daily. 4.Measure the sand pile each day and record the measurements. 5.Compare your results to the rest of the class to see if the location of the sand pile mattered. 3 4

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Date: ______________________ This is the ________________ day I have observed my sand pile. The base of my sand pile has a circumference of _____________ The height of my sand pile is: ___________________________ Compared to yesterday, the circumference is: Larger Smaller Compared to yesterday, the height is: Taller Shorter Observations My sand pile is located: _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ 5 6

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Date: ______________________ This is the ________________ day I have observed my sand pile. The base of my sand pile has a circumference of _____________ The height of my sand pile is: ___________________________ Compared to yesterday, the circumference is: Larger Smaller Compared to yesterday, the height is: Taller Shorter Date: ______________________ This is the ________________ day I have observed my sand pile. The base of my sand pile has a circumference of _____________ The height of my sand pile is: ___________________________ Compared to yesterday, the circumference is: Larger Smaller Compared to yesterday, the height is: Taller Shorter 7 8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Date: ______________________ This is the ________________ day I have observed my sand pile. The base of my sand pile has a circumference of _____________ The height of my sand pile is: ___________________________ Compared to yesterday, the circumference is: Larger Smaller Compared to yesterday, the height is: Taller Shorter Date: ______________________ This is the ________________ day I have observed my sand pile. The base of my sand pile has a circumference of _____________ The height of my sand pile is: ___________________________ Compared to yesterday, the circumference is: Larger Smaller Compared to yesterday, the height is: Taller Shorter 9 10

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 For the next few questions, compare all of the sand piles made by the class. 6.At the end of the experiment, whose sand pile was the shortest?________________ 7. Where was the location of the shortest sand pile? ______________________ 8. At the end of the experiment, whose sand pile had the largest circumference?___________ 9. Where was the location of the sand pile with the largest circumference?_____________ 10.Which location resulted in the most erosion? _____________________ ____________________________ Results 1.Was the sand pile affected by erosion?__________________ 2.On which day was the sand pile the tallest?_________________ 3.On which day was the sand pile the shortest?_______________ 4.Did erosion cause the sand pile to become smaller?__________ 5.Did the location of the sand pile have any effect on how much erosion was observed?_______ 11 12