Erosion: A force to play with

DINGMANS FERRY — While many branches of the natural sciences are directly affected by erosion studies, this powerful force of nature affects all of our lives, as students at the Dingman-Delaware Middle School (DDMS) recently learned.
“If you’re a contractor or construction worker, erosion affects where you can build a house," Max Walsh explained.
Max and his peers worked hands-on to explore this natural process under the direction of DDMS science teacher David Koretz. They created a streambed using rocks, pebbles, and soil. They then tested how the steepness of a slope affected erosion by pouring water through the streambed while raising its angle at various levels.
True to the nature of experiments, students learned through failure and success.
“Ours didn’t really erode because we put way too much water in,” Rylee Etzkorn said of her group’s first attempts. "It just turned to mud.”
But subsequent attempts gave a clearer picture.
“When we poured the water slow, I could really see how the water picked away the rocks and dirt,” Rylee added.
Like Max, many students realized the importance of understanding erosion in real life.
“So we can identify if it’s happening,” classmate Victoria Wilson emphasized.
“And so we can explain why,” Alex Mancuso agreed.
While not all the students plan to become full-time scientists, playing with erosion has definitely affected how they will think about the landscape throughout their lives.