ACTIVITY

Meet Our Plant Protectors

Description:Conduct a simple experiment comparing water runoff from a potted plant and bare soil to investigate how vegetation can reduce runoff and erosion.

Intention:Help students understand how trees and vegetation influence the water cycle by reducing runoff and erosion, supporting infiltration, and helping protect ecosystems from flooding and water pollution.

Before:

  • Print one Student Activity Sheet per group and keep the Support Sheet handy.
  • Gather the materials needed for the experiment.
  • Use one well-rooted potted plant and one pot of bare soil or compost with the same fill height.
  • Place each pot in a tray or basin and label them “Plant” and “Soil”.
  • If students will conduct the experiment themselves, prepare one setup per group.
1

Introduction & prediction

  • Briefly introduce runoff, infiltration, and the role of roots.
  • Students predict which setup will produce more runoff.
  • Use Hypothesis Development if desired.
2

Set up

  • Students place the plant and soil pots in their trays.
  • Give each pot 500 ml of water.
  • Start the timer.
3

Observe

  • While the water moves through the soil, students observe and record what happens.
  • They can photograph/video the runoff.
4

Measure

  • Measure the runoff from both trays.
  • Compare volume, colour, and clarity.
  • Students record their results.
5

Analysis & discussion
Focus on just a few questions:

  • Which produced more runoff?
  • Which produced muddier water?
  • Why?
  • What does this tell us about the role of plants and soil?
  • What happens when vegetation is removed?
  • What can we do to protect soil and vegetation?

Then connect this to flooding, erosion, and water quality.

Didactic tips:

  • If enough equipment is available, let students conduct the experiment themselves in small groups to increase hands-on learning.
  • Explain that the potted plant is a simple model of vegetation and does not represent all the functions of a forest.
  • Encourage students to focus on evidence from the experiment when explaining their results.
GreenComp: 2.1 Systems thinking, 3.1 Investigation skills, 1.3 Promoting nature
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Investigate
THEME:
Nature & biodiversity
TIME: 45 minutes
AGE: 10-12 years, 13-15 years

SUBJECTS:

  • Nature sciences

TOOLS / MATERIALS:

  • Student Activity Sheet (1 per group)
  • Support Sheet: Answers for teacher/facilitator 
  • 1 well-rooted potted plant
  • 1 pot of bare soil or compost
  • 2 trays or basins
  • Measuring jug
  • Stopwatch or timer
  • Student Activity Sheet
  • Paper and pencils

METHODS:

RESOURCES: