Soil and Erosion Demonstrations

See also: Rocks

Soil and erosion demonstrations explore how soil forms and how wind, water, and human activity shape landscapes. They make large-scale environmental changes understandable by showing them in small, observable ways.

Demonstration	Materials	Difficulty	Safety	Summary
Bread Model of Ground Pollution	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	This experiment uses slices of bread and food coloring to simulate how pollutants seep into the ground after rainfall. Students can observe how different amounts of precipitation affect the spread and depth of pollution in porous layers.
Impact Craters	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Projectiles are dropped into a tray of powder to observe crater size, shape, and ejection patterns.
Panning for Gold	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students simulate a gold rush by panning for “gold” (metal pieces or BBs) in a container filled with sand, pebbles, and minerals. They learn how the density of gold causes it to separate from lighter materials when shaken in water.
Sedimentary Rock Snacks	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Using rice krispies, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and candies, students create layered snack bars that model the formation of sedimentary rocks in the rock cycle.
Soil Erosion Model	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students build a simple erosion model using soil-filled bottles to investigate how ground cover (grass or mulch) reduces soil erosion compared to bare soil. By simulating rainfall, they observe differences in water clarity and soil loss, linking soil conservation to water quality and agriculture.
Soil Liquefaction and Earthquakes	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students investigate how different soil types - sand, peat, and topsoil - respond to shaking when saturated with water. By placing a model “house” on each soil type and simulating earthquake motion, they observe liquefaction effects and determine which soils provide the most stability.
The Jar Test: Soil Texture Analysis	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	The jar test is a simple soil analysis technique that helps determine the proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil sample. By shaking soil with water and allowing the particles to settle, you can visually analyze soil texture and apply the results to gardening, farming, or permaculture practices.
Wind Erosion	★☆☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	This activity demonstrates how wind erosion moves sediments and how variables such as soil moisture, particle size, and protective coverings affect the rate and extent of erosion. A hair dryer simulates wind blowing across different soil conditions.
Chemical Weathering	★★☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	This demonstration shows how acid can chemically weather sedimentary rocks. Vinegar simulates acid rain reacting with chalk or limestone, representing how minerals in rocks break down and form new materials.
Freeze Thaw Weathering	★★☆	★☆☆	★★☆	This demonstration models freeze–thaw (ice wedging) weathering using water-saturated chalk or sandstone that is repeatedly frozen and warmed. Expansion of freezing water inside the porous chalk weakens it until it cracks and breaks, simulating how rocks fracture in nature.
Making Fossils	★★☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students create fossil replicas by pressing shells, leaves, or other objects into plasticine to form a mold, then filling it with plaster of paris. The plaster hardens into a fossil-like cast that can be painted for detail.
Soil Analysis	★★☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Students investigate a “cold case” by analyzing soil samples from suspects and a crime scene. Using observations of color, texture, structure, and pH, they determine which suspect’s soil matches the evidence.
Soil Field Capacity	★★☆	★☆☆	★☆☆	Different soil types are tested for field capacity by adding water and measuring how much each soil retains after drainage, showing how soil properties affect water holding capacity.
Rainfall Simulator	★★★	★☆☆	★☆☆	This demonstration uses a rainfall simulator to show how different types of land use - such as natural vegetation, agricultural land, and urban surfaces - affect water runoff and water quality. By comparing runoff and infiltration between surfaces, students learn how human activities influence water pollution and watershed health.

Materials
★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories

Difficulty
★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires a more experienced teacher

Safety
★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely
★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff