Question to Explore
How can you stop landslides after a wildfire?
Materials
- measuring cup
- spoon for mixing
- cornmeal land:
- Combine 1 1/2 cups cornmeal, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/2 cup water. Mix together
- paper plate
- plastic plate
- cotton balls
- paper towels
- tinfoil
- toothpicks
- cup for water
- small cup with holes poked into the bottom (can use pushpin for this)
Procedure
- Place your paper plate on top of your plastic plate.
- Create a hill atop the paper plate using your cornmeal land. Form with your hands.
- Decide what design and materials you will use to prevent your landslide.
- Create your design. Draw what it looks like pre-rainstorm.
- Hold your plastic cup with the holes atop your hill. Slowly fill with water (to create a rainstorm) and observe.
- Draw your hill now. Did it stay in tact during the rainstorm?
- Decide on how you will revise your design and test again!
Follow Up Questions
What other materials can we use to stop the landslide?
What design solutions do engineers use to prevent landslides? Have you seen any in your city?
Resources
This lesson was from Mystery Science.