Wear on Earth
View Sequence overviewStudents will:
- design an erosion control strategy.
- design and carry out an experiment to test the effectiveness of the erosion control strategy (optional).
- share their erosion control strategy with a chosen audience.
Students will represent their understanding as they:
- communicate their understanding of how humans can influence erosion rates.
- use labels on their prototype to identify and explain the erosion and erosion control strategy.
- produce a written or verbal report on erosion and their chosen strategy.
In the Act phase, assessment is summative.
Students working at the achievement standard should have:
- demonstrated an understanding of erosion as a local issue. Evidence might include:
- labelled diagrams or model explaining the erosion control strategy.
- discussed the effect of erosion on the community.
- collected and represented data to refine their erosion control strategy.
- discussed/described how communities use scientific knowledge.
Refer to the Australian Curriculum content links on the Our design decisions tab for further information.
Whole class
Class science journal (digital or hard-copy)
Optional video: How do weathering and erosion shape Earth’s surface? (4:26)
Optional: Demonstration copy of the Erosion report Resource sheet
Each group
Materials are variable dependent on the erosion issue each team tackles, the strategy they design, and whether they actually test their strategy
Optional: Variables grid Resource sheet
Erosion control testing investigation planner Resource sheet
Each student
Individual science journals
Optional: Erosion report Resource sheet
Lesson
The Act phase empowers students to use the Core concepts and key ideas of science they have learned during the Inquire phase. It encourages students to develop a sense of responsibility as members of society—to act rather than be acted upon. It provides students with the opportunity to positively influence their own life and that of the world around them. For this to occur, students need to build foundational skills in an interactive mutually supportive environment with their community.
When designing the Act phase, consider ways that students could use their scientific knowledge and skills. Consider their interests and lifestyles that may intersect with the core concepts and key ideas. What context or problem would provide students with a way to use science to synthesise a design? How (and to whom) will students communicate their understanding?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkScience education consists of a series of key ideas and core concepts that can explain objects, events and phenomena and link them to the experiences encountered by students in their lives. The purpose of the Anchor routine is to identify and link students’ learning to these ideas and concepts in a way that builds and deepens their understanding.
When designing the Act phase of a teaching sequence, consider the core concepts and key ideas that are relevant. The Anchor routine provides an opportunity to collate and revise the key knowledge and skills students have learned, in a way that emphasises the importance of science as a human endeavour.
What have we learned?
Review the learning that has occurred over the course of the sequence using the class science journal.
Optional: View content that summarises weathering and erosion, for example, the video How do weathering and erosion shape earth’s surface? (4:26).
The Act phase empowers students to use the Core concepts and key ideas of science they have learned during the Inquire phase. It encourages students to develop a sense of responsibility as members of society—to act rather than be acted upon. It provides students with the opportunity to positively influence their own life and that of the world around them. For this to occur, students need to build foundational skills in an interactive mutually supportive environment with their community.
When designing the Act phase, consider ways that students could use their scientific knowledge and skills. Consider their interests and lifestyles that may intersect with the core concepts and key ideas. What context or problem would provide students with a way to use science to synthesise a design? How (and to whom) will students communicate their understanding?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkEach student comes to the classroom with experiences made up from science-related knowledge, attitudes, experiences and resources in their life. The Connect routine is designed to tap into these experiences, and that of their wider community. It is also an opportunity to yarn with community leaders (where appropriate) to gain an understanding of the student’s lives, languages and interests. In the Act phase, this routine reconnects with the science capital of students so students can appreciate the relevance of their learning and the agency to make decisions and take action.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider the everyday occurrences, phenomena and experiences that might relate to the science that they have learned. How could students show agency in these areas?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkOur erosion issue
Revisit the weathering and erosion sites identified by students during the school or community walk/virtual tour in Lesson 1. You might take another in-person visit to the site, view photographs and images taken during the first visit, or undertake another virtual tour.
Confirm if these sites are indeed affected by weathering and erosion, and identify how they are affected based on new learning. Identify new potential sites of weathering and erosion.
Discuss the impact the local weathering/erosion issue could have on people, plants and animals, such as:
- loss of soil for growing.
- uneven ground causing injury.
- decrease water quality due to soil runoff.
- less water absorption into the soil for plants and animals.
- dust entering homes or classrooms, causing cleaning and asthma issues.
If, as part of preparing for this sequence, you identified and discussed an erosion issue that students will be designing a solution for, revisit this site now and discuss the issues it faces and potential solutions.
Otherwise, allow students to consider and select their own site to design an erosion control strategy for.
The Act phase empowers students to use the Core concepts and key ideas of science they have learned during the Inquire phase. It encourages students to develop a sense of responsibility as members of society—to act rather than be acted upon. It provides students with the opportunity to positively influence their own life and that of the world around them. For this to occur, students need to build foundational skills in an interactive mutually supportive environment with their community.
When designing the Act phase, consider ways that students could use their scientific knowledge and skills. Consider their interests and lifestyles that may intersect with the core concepts and key ideas. What context or problem would provide students with a way to use science to synthesise a design? How (and to whom) will students communicate their understanding?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkWhen students use their knowledge and skills in new ways, they also have an opportunity to develop and use their creative and critical thinking skills. With scaffolded support, they can become more confident to work in a team and develop a stronger sense of autonomy. This results in stronger student outcomes, attitudes and sense of empowerment.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider what activity would allow students to showcase their knowledge and skills. Consider the current abilities of your students. What are they capable of explaining? What props could they design or build that would support their explanations? How much information would they need in their design brief to support their thinking? How does this connect with their lives and interests?
Designing an erosion control strategy
In this section, students will design an erosion control strategy for an area of need in their school/local environment. The option to test the strategy is outlined separately in the next section.
Consider if you will require students to design their strategy in teams, and if so, how you will determine these teams. Alternatively students can work independently, however this can require more time and classroom resources and have greater demands on you as the teacher.
Define
Students name the site of the erosion issue they would like to address and consider what is causing erosion at the site, how serious the issue is, and how easily it might be controlled.
Students list all the people/animals/plants that are negatively impacted by the erosion issue they have chosen to address, and how they might be impacted.
Ideate
Brainstorm ideas related to the design of their erosion control strategy. What strategies, particularly in reference to the ones they learned about in the previous lesson, will be effective at their site and why? What other strategies might they employ?
At this stage, to support creative thinking, every idea offered by students should be recorded in the class science journal. No idea is discounted, as the practicality/possibility of each idea will be considered later.
Select/Critical thinking
Revisit each of the ideas offered and ask probing questions (How will this idea reduce erosion? or Will this idea reduce both weathering and erosion?) to draw out how students are applying their understanding of weathering and erosion.
For example:
- Small, weathered pieces of rock and soil can be eroded by wind and water naturally.
- Slow-flowing water erodes riverbanks at a slower rate than fast-flowing water.
- Soil covered in vegetation erodes more slowly than exposed soil.
- Permeable surfaces absorb water and reduce runoff into rivers.
- Weathering and erosion rates can be increased and decreased by human actions.
Prototype
Determine if students are going to draw labelled diagrams, build models as prototypes, or do both for their erosion control strategies.
If students build model prototypes they will need access to materials. They might create a model of the site using similar materials to those used in Lesson 6, and test different erosion control strategies. Building the prototype provides an opportunity to consolidate and refine their understanding.
Designing an erosion control strategy without building it requires fewer materials but can be more challenging, as students are required to express their understanding in an abstract manner. Teacher judgement should be used to determine which approach is best for your students.
Allow teams/students time to design/build their erosion control prototypes.
All works should include labels identifying:
- the main landscape features (hill, slope, river, path…).
- weathering and erosion (soil containing weathered rock, transportation, deposition…).
- measures used to reduce erosion (trees, berms, mulch, ground covers, swales, stick rake lines…).
Optional: Students/teams are provided opportunities to share their ideas and receive peer feedback (download AITSL's guide for more on peer feedback).
The Act phase empowers students to use the Core concepts and key ideas of science they have learned during the Inquire phase. It encourages students to develop a sense of responsibility as members of society—to act rather than be acted upon. It provides students with the opportunity to positively influence their own life and that of the world around them. For this to occur, students need to build foundational skills in an interactive mutually supportive environment with their community.
When designing the Act phase, consider ways that students could use their scientific knowledge and skills. Consider their interests and lifestyles that may intersect with the core concepts and key ideas. What context or problem would provide students with a way to use science to synthesise a design? How (and to whom) will students communicate their understanding?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkWhen students use their knowledge and skills in new ways, they also have an opportunity to develop and use their creative and critical thinking skills. With scaffolded support, they can become more confident to work in a team and develop a stronger sense of autonomy. This results in stronger student outcomes, attitudes and sense of empowerment.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider what activity would allow students to showcase their knowledge and skills. Consider the current abilities of your students. What are they capable of explaining? What props could they design or build that would support their explanations? How much information would they need in their design brief to support their thinking? How does this connect with their lives and interests?
Testing the erosion control strategy
This optional design element allows students to design a fair test for their erosion control strategy. See the embedded professional learning How to design a fair test for erosion control strategies for more information.
Students consider who and what might be negatively impacted if their erosion control strategies are ineffective. This might take into account considerations such as:
- further detrimental effects on the environment.
- the possibility for increased levels of erosion.
- the potential costs of the control measures, including the cost of removal and replacement.
Discuss why testing the strategies is an important way to determine their effectiveness.
Students consider ways they might test their erosion control strategies. The tests they design will depend upon their chosen erosion control strategy.
As students brainstorm ideas for testing, support them by asking probing questions about fair testing. For example:
- How can we ensure it is a fair test?
- How can we measure results?
- How will you collect and present the data?
- How will the test help you determine if your erosion control strategy might be successful?
You might provide students/teams with a blank Variables grid Resource sheet to support the identification of variables and the creation of a clear investigable question. Teams will also need an Erosion control testing investigation planner Resource sheet.
Determine the criteria for how students’ fair testing might demonstrate the science inquiry skills developed during the sequence. For example:
- Change one thing (independent variable).
- Measure/observe the outcome (dependent variable).
- Keep the other things (controlled variables) the same.
- Organise and represent the data.
- Identify any errors that were made during testing and describe what could have been done to correct the errors.
Allow teams/students time to set up and run a fair test on their erosion control prototype.
Time permitting, based on the results, students can make changes to their erosion control strategy then run another fair test to observe/measure improvement.
Reflect on the sequence
You might:
- discuss future plans for the erosion site and student involvement.
- discuss any plans for measuring and documenting change at the erosion site: How will we know if our erosion control measure is successful? What will we see? Is there a way to measure it?
How to design a fair test for erosion control strategies
How might students test their erosion control strategies?
Designing a fair test during the Act phase provides students with an opportunity to extend their science inquiry and design thinking skills. This can be done by reviewing the results of their testing and making further changes to their erosion control strategy.
If students are going to test erosion strategies, allow additional lesson time and collect appropriate equipment as required such as: sand, trays, pop sticks, leaves, bark etc.
Students should gather results during the testing through observations, diagrams, photographs and potentially weighing eroded materials etc. These results can be used to:
- guide improvements to their erosion control strategy
- share their findings in the Communicate routine.
A variables grid helps to identify and record which variable will be measured/observed (M), changed (C), and kept the same (S).
Explain to students that in this investigation they will be measuring the amount of soil eroded. Record this and write ‘M’ for measured/observed outcome in the middle cell.
You might, for example, pose the question: What things might affect the amount of soil eroded during our test?
Brainstorm other variables in the surrounding columns/rows. Add or remove additional columns/rows are required.
In consultation with students, determine the variable to be changed and mark the cell with a (C). Write (S) in every other cell to support students to commit to keeping other variables the same.
Alternatively, measuring water runoff might be more useful for students.
Explain to students that in this investigation, they will be measuring the amount of water runoff. Record this and write ‘M’ for measured outcome in the middle cell.
Pose the question: What things might affect the amount of water runoff?
Brainstorm other variables in the surrounding columns/rows. Add or remove additional columns/rows are required.
In consultation with students, determine the variable to be changed and mark the cell with a (C). Write (S) in every other cell to support students in committing to keeping other variables the same.
Undertaking testing can support students to refine their designs.
Designing a fair test during the Act phase provides students with an opportunity to extend their science inquiry and design thinking skills. This can be done by reviewing the results of their testing and making further changes to their erosion control strategy.
If students are going to test erosion strategies, allow additional lesson time and collect appropriate equipment as required such as: sand, trays, pop sticks, leaves, bark etc.
Students should gather results during the testing through observations, diagrams, photographs and potentially weighing eroded materials etc. These results can be used to:
- guide improvements to their erosion control strategy
- share their findings in the Communicate routine.
A variables grid helps to identify and record which variable will be measured/observed (M), changed (C), and kept the same (S).
Explain to students that in this investigation they will be measuring the amount of soil eroded. Record this and write ‘M’ for measured/observed outcome in the middle cell.
You might, for example, pose the question: What things might affect the amount of soil eroded during our test?
Brainstorm other variables in the surrounding columns/rows. Add or remove additional columns/rows are required.
In consultation with students, determine the variable to be changed and mark the cell with a (C). Write (S) in every other cell to support students to commit to keeping other variables the same.
Alternatively, measuring water runoff might be more useful for students.
Explain to students that in this investigation, they will be measuring the amount of water runoff. Record this and write ‘M’ for measured outcome in the middle cell.
Pose the question: What things might affect the amount of water runoff?
Brainstorm other variables in the surrounding columns/rows. Add or remove additional columns/rows are required.
In consultation with students, determine the variable to be changed and mark the cell with a (C). Write (S) in every other cell to support students in committing to keeping other variables the same.
Undertaking testing can support students to refine their designs.
The Act phase empowers students to use the Core concepts and key ideas of science they have learned during the Inquire phase. It encourages students to develop a sense of responsibility as members of society—to act rather than be acted upon. It provides students with the opportunity to positively influence their own life and that of the world around them. For this to occur, students need to build foundational skills in an interactive mutually supportive environment with their community.
When designing the Act phase, consider ways that students could use their scientific knowledge and skills. Consider their interests and lifestyles that may intersect with the core concepts and key ideas. What context or problem would provide students with a way to use science to synthesise a design? How (and to whom) will students communicate their understanding?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkA key part of Science Inquiry, the Communicate routine provides students with an opportunity to communicate their ideas effectively to others. It allows students a chance to show their learning to members of their community and provides a sense of belonging. It also encourages students to have a sense of responsibility to share their understanding of science and to use this to provide a positive influence in the community.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider who might be connected to the students that have an interest in science. Who in their lives could share their learning? What forum could be used to build an enthusiasm for science. Are there members of the community (parents, teachers, peers or wider community) who would provide a link to future science careers?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkHow can we control erosion?
Students share their erosion control strategy with a chosen audience, including any results from their testing. The audience may include other students, parents at an evening science fair, school council member(s), local paper/newsletter, local council or Landcare member etc.
The communication method will depend on the audience, context and cross-curricula opportunities, some examples include:
- a written field report. You might use the Erosion report Resource sheet.
- a verbal presentation (live or recorded) such as an erosion site tour, news report, interview, science quiz, podcast etc.
- a letter of recommendation, accompanied with diagrams, to the local council or school board. It could be presented to the Mayor in person or presented at a local Council forum.
The CROWN strategy can also be used to structure discussions around the erosion control strategies that students have designed (and potentially tested).