Erosion and Landslides

Erosion and Landslides
Type: 
Lesson Plan
Audience: 
Formal, 6 - 8
Standards: 
ESS3.B
Keywords: 
erosion, landslide hazards, landslide risk
Summary: 
Students will investigate the effect of different types of soil on how quickly a landslide occurs and how much mass is moved. They will then relate that information to TRMM/GPM data about rainfall and areas currently at risk of suffering a landslide.

To start the lesson, students will think about the natural processes that move materials such as sand, soil and gravel, leading to a discussion about what they know about landslides and what causes them. Students will then simulate landslides in trays, comparing how much precipitation causes a landslide in different materials (such as sand versus soil). After the lab, students will think about how rain information can be collected, especially via satellites such as TRMM and GPM, and how that data can be combined with data from other satellites to model where landslides will occur. Finally, students will look at areas currently at risk of landslides and research landslide hazards and how to prepare for a landslide event, and create a public service announcement sharing that information.

Download Resources

(right-click -> save as)

Credits: 
NASA GPM

 

Please Contact Us to Receive the Answer Keys
(please note, we can only provide the answer keys for "GPM Original" lesson plans)