Teaching soil erosion in high schools. A coherent set of experiments showing processes and factors
Enseigner l'érosion des sols dans les lycées. Un ensemble cohérent d'expériences montrant les processus et les facteurs
Résumé
The national program for French high schools requires teaching about soils. Because soils are new in the curriculum, “Life and Earth sciences” teachers have a limited knowledge about soils. Pedagogic resources need to be expanded. A consistent set of experiments has been built to demonstrate some erosion processes and controlling factors. Simple experiments are considered and use soil samples brought by students. The aggregated structure of the top soil is shown by hand-breaking soil crumbs. Sensitivity of aggregates to water is explained by immersing aggregates into water: disaggregation can be seen and the range of sensitivity can be demonstrated using different soils. The splash process (impact of raindrops) is shown using a layer of aggregates put at the center of a plastic sheet. Water drops are dropped onto it, and splashed material and distances can be seen easily. Controlling factors (aggregate and drop sizes) can be exemplified. Interrill erosion is experimented using small trays. Slope can be adjusted. A soil cover (grass, straw) can be added to illustrate means of limiting soil erosion. To expand the pedagogic scope, a GIS-based software able to compute erosion risk depending on controlling factors has been setup, and short movies presenting rainfall simulation experiments have been made. This experimental set allows to use the knowledge acquired in both physics and biology-geology courses. Students' involvement in the building of the experiments allows to teach scientific methodology. The description of the experimental set is made available to teachers and requires only easy-to-find and cheap materials.
Domaines
Sciences de la Terre
Fichier principal
2012_Algayer_EuroSoil_Bari_poster_1.pdf (976.79 Ko)
Télécharger le fichier
2012_EuroSoil_Bari_FinalProgram_2.pdf (5.38 Mo)
Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)