Science Lesson: Buffer Zones and Erosion
Lesson Plan
1 hour 45 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Engineering
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Written by Pamela Fellner
About this lesson
Students engage in a riparian buffer simulation to test its function and write a report with recommendations.
Inquire: Students define four terms to understand riparian buffers.
Investigate: Students make a model to engage in a riparian buffer simulation and test the relationship between structure and function.
Inspire: Students use their data and findings to write a report and recommendations.
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Everything you need to teach it
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Suggestions
- This lesson can be taught in a middle school science classroom during a unit on Earth and Human Activity.
- The Riparian Buffer Simulation in the Investigate section can be spread over two days or completed during a longer block period.
- The Inspire section can be taught on a subsequent day or class period.
- This lesson can also be integrated into NGSS unit MS-ESS2-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales, specifically DCI ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes: Water’s movements—both on the land and underground—cause weathering and erosion, which change the land’s surface features and create underground formations.
- Students authentically analyze cause-and-effect relationships.
- Students directly observe and gather evidence to support the idea that climate and Earth systems can be restored through human activity, which promotes a hopeful and action-driven perspective.
- This lesson is intended for a Science classroom focusing on weathering and erosion; however, the lesson can be shifted to focus on an Engineering Design standard.
- Teacher may want to cover workspaces with drop cloths.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to prepare and gather materials ahead of time, including:
- Large aluminum baking pans or rectangular plastic tubs with a small hole drilled in one end.
- Bags of soil, sand, and pea gravel
- Spanish moss and pine needles to model roots
- Popsicle sticks, regular sticks with puffs of tissue paper to simulate canopies,
- Straws to mimic young tree protection tubes of a riparian buffer
- Twist ties
- Buckets
- Water jugs and plastic orange juice containers are optimal, as liter marks can be drawn on and the bottoms are square, which makes calculating volume easier.
- Plastic cups with holes poked all over the bottom (use a pushpin). These are called sprinkle cups and function to simulate rain.
- 2 liters of water for each test
- A 3-inch block to provide gravity
- Towels
- Drop cloths
- If the classroom does not have a sink, teacher could provide containers of warm soapy water for students to wash their hands in, with a towel to dry them.
- Shelf area to store pans in between tests
- Students should have previous practice with composing claim, evidence, and reasoning (CER) statements.
- Students would benefit from previous knowledge about mL and liquid volume.
Differentiation
- Students can conduct further research, particularly related to the types of trees that are most effective in providing riparian buffer structures.
- Teacher can read and model the Useful Phrases for Group Problem Solving which can be found in the Student Document. Individually, students can consider the phrases for a few minutes and check off at least two phrases they can commit to using during the group design process. Students can verbalize their choices to help them feel more comfortable with initiating the language.
- If it is not feasible for each group to remediate a model, students can create a class model and share restoration responsibilities. For example, Group 1: Insert moss and pine needles into the stream bank; Group 2: Reshape the stream channel; Group 3: Sprinkle the water; Group 4: Data collection.
- Students can explore the Stroud Water Research Center for more learning opportunities or to participate and volunteer in community events.
- Students can research more into the relationship between traditional ecological practices and environmental science in protecting waterways in their region.
From the scientist review
Students can explore the idea of ecological restoration, discover the value of riparian forests surrounding rivers, and model the effects of riparian forest topologies on biodiversity and river health. This lesson has passed our science review process after all the materials used to create it were examined.
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About the teacher writer
Pamela Fellner
Pamela has been teaching 5th and 6th grade Science and Math for twelve years in Warren County, NJ. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, whether exploring nature trails or engaging in DIY science experiments at home, and is passionate about rehabilitating orphaned squirrel babies.
