Resources

Students test different soil types, moss, and peat wetlands to compare drainage, porosity, and water retention. Students learn that soil porosity and water retention determine water storage capacity of the particular material within the watershed. They summarize their results in a bar graph and rank the “ground” in different types of places in terms of relative capacity to retain and store water. Students also consider what happens when soils become waterlogged and runoff may result in erosion.