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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Mitigating Wildfire Erosion

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Mitigating Wildfire Erosion

A 4th grade STEM lesson

Kari Sjursen

May 2023

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Notes for teachers

Context: This lesson takes place in a classroom over two class periods, approximately 2 hours.
Students may work in small groups of 2-3 students.
An emphasis is on the research and design of a working erosion barrier prototype that will be tested at the end of the two days.
Creative solutions should be encouraged.
Connect to students’ own experiences with wildfires and other natural disasters.

List of Materials:

Makerspace/Recycled Materials

Building Material Examples: Glue, Straws, Popsicle Sticks, Pipe Cleaners, Clay, Rocks, Fabric, Toothpicks, Wood Beads, etc.
Non-Building Materials: Scissors, Glue, Tape

Outside hilly location
Watering Can and Water
3D Printer and Filament
Erosion Nonfiction Texts

Weathering and Erosion, by Torrey Maloof
How do Wind and Water Change Earth?, by Natalie Hyde
Examining Erosion, by Joelle Riley
That Rocks! Weathering and Erosion, by Maria Nelson
Science Works: Cracking Up: A Story about Erosion, by Jacqui Bailey and Matthew Lilly
Erosion: Changing Earth’s Surface, by Robin Koontz

Chromebooks and Internet
Graphic Organizer- Erosion

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Arizona ELA Standards

4.RI.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.

4.W.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

4.SL.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Arizona Science Standards

4.E1U2.10: Define problems and design solutions to minimize the effects of natural hazards.

3-5.7.d.: Students, in collaboration with an educator, work with others, using technology to explore local and global issues and identify possible solutions.

Arizona Technology Standards

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Objective(s):

Student will be able to identify the causes of erosion.

Students will be able to extrapolate the causes of Wildfire Erosion by applying their knowledge of what causes erosion.

Students will be able to design and build a barrier prototype that will prevent, or mitigate, wildfire erosion on a mountainside.

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Agenda (2 class periods, 2 hours)

Day 1:

Introduction to Wildfire Erosion

Pictures of 2020 Bighorn Fire, Tucson, AZ
Video of Flash Flood after Fire was successfully extinguished
Student models- Before, During, and After the Flash Flood

Erosion

What causes erosion?
What causes Wildfire Erosion?

Erosion Graphic Organizer

Day 2:

Wildfire Erosion Barrier Prototype Design, Building, and Testing

Optional: Day 3:

Redesign of Wildfire Erosion Barrier Prototype

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Introduction

Intro/Anticipatory Set/Opening: You can replace this introduction with information about a wildfire that has happened closer to your own city.

Living in Arizona, Wildfires are something we, unfortunately, are familiar with as our dry, hot climate makes it very easy for wildfires to start… and spread. During the summer of 2020, Tucson, AZ, and its surrounding area, experienced the Bighorn Fire, in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Many of us were able to watch this fire progress from our homes, especially at night when the fire’s glow lit up the dark sky.

Let’s look at some pictures that were taken before, during, and after the Big Horn Fire to help us understand the impact it has had on the surrounding area. Let’s start by taking a look at this map showing the area of the Bighorn Fire.

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What do you notice in this series of pictures?

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Time to Rebuild and Regrow

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You’ve seen the devastation that a Wildfire can bring.

But what happens when the fire is out? What do you think happens next?

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As you watch the video:

What do you notice?

What do you think is happening?

With the fire over, you might think that the only thing families had to worry about was rebuilding. But there was something else they had to worry about. Let’s take a moment to watch this video. We are going to watch it a few times. The first time, I want you to watch and take it all in. Play the video. Now that you’ve seen the video, we’re going to watch it again. As you watch it this time, what do you notice? Watch the video again. After the video, make a list of things on the board that students noticed. We’re going to watch the video one more time; as we watch it this time, what do you think is happening? Watch the video. Then make a list on the board detailing students thoughts about what they think is happening.

This video is actually a flash flood that happened during the Monsoons right after the fire was extinguished. That black stuff is the water, covered in ash and burnt materials. Where did it all come from? Take students thoughts/answers, then go to next slide.

Video Description: Charred debris from the Bighorn Fire moves down the Cañada del Oro Wash after a monsoon storm on July 15, 2020.

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Wildfire Erosion

Wildfires can burn away ground cover and vegetation across the landscape, leaving soils exposed and easily erodible by precipitation. In other cases, fires can cause soil surfaces to harden.

Instead of the rain soaking into the soil, rainwater and melted snow can rush across these hardened surfaces, gaining enough power to erode loose sediments.

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What’s Happening Now

Regional Flood Control Staff installing a new real-time ALERT rainfall monitoring site in the burn area in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson in July 2020. These are the backbone of the flash flood warning system and is being used to control erosion.

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Before - During - After Model

What happened on the mountain BEFORE the video take place?

What happened on the mountain AFTER the video take place?

What we saw in the video

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Small Group Research

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Erosion Facts

Preventing Wildfire Erosion

Erosion Facts for Kids

Fire Danger: Preventing Erosion after a Fire

Erosion Control Ideas

Prevent Soil Erosion on your Property

Conduct More Research Online!

Interesting Facts about Erosion

Erosion Control after a Wildfire

Erosion Control Techniques and Methods

Earth Science for Kids: Erosion

Post-Fire Erosion

What is Erosion Control?

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Your Erosion Challenge:

Erosion Barrier Prototypes

Wildfires are a huge issue in Arizona during the dry season as there is plenty of dry fuel and very little water. Once an area has been devastated by fire, it is further destroyed by summer monsoons, which wash away soil, burnt material, etc., which are essential components of the renewal and regrowth process.

Located at the top of Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalinas, Summerhaven has hired you to develop a cost-effective Erosion Management Solution to prevent the further loss of soil following the Bighorn Fire in 2020 and the potential loss of soil from future wildfires. As part of the process, you will design, build, and test a barrier prototype to mitigate erosion on the mountain.

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Prototype Parameters

Prototype must fit within the testing apparatus (lengthwise)

Prototype must extend no more than 3 inches above the soil surface

Prototype must prevent the most erosion possible around the house

Prototype must be created using only the provided materials

Possible Prototype Materials:

String
Tape
Glue
Straws
Popsicle Sticks
Pipe Cleaners
Clay
Rocks
Fabric
Toothpicks
Wood Beads

These are the parameters I provide students for their Prototype.

For the testing apparatus, I created something similar to what can be seen by clicking the link below, using aluminum baking trays, dirt, and a water bottle with holes punched in the lid to simulate a watering can. I spread a fresh layer of dry dirt on top for each new round of testing so we could see how the water traveled. Testing Apparatus Source: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/erosion/lab.htm

Students received 10 minutes to plan and 20 minutes to build their prototype before we tested them and shared the results. Testing is conducted in front of the entire class, with the design team explaining the choices they made and how they think it will help to mitigate erosion. After the watering can is poured, have the team look at the testing apparatus and share with the class what they observe. They can also talk about any changes they might make based on their observations.

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Assessment

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Prototype Dimensions	Prototype meets neither of the dimension parameters.	Prototype extends higher than 3 inches above the surface or may not fit lengthwise across the testing surface.	Prototype extends no more than 3 inches high (above the surface) and fits lengthwise across the testing surface.
The Process of Erosion	The prototype demonstrates little to no understanding of the process of erosion and its potential impact on Earth's materials.	The prototype demonstrates some understanding of the process of erosion and its potential impact on Earth's materials.	The prototype demonstrates understanding of the process of erosion and its potential impact on Earth's materials.
Prototype Demonstration	The student(s) does not present much of an explanation of erosion or a prototype .	The student(s) presents some explanation of erosion and a prototype and uses some important facts or details.	The student(s) presents an explanation of erosion and a prototype in an organized way that uses important facts and details.
Prototype Testing	The prototype prevents little or no erosion around the house.	The prototype somewhat prevents excessive erosion around the house.	The prototype completely prevents excessive erosion.

Wildfire Erosion Barrier Prototype

3 Point Rubric

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Differentiation

Leveled texts can be used to make this assignment easier, and scaffolded worksheets can be provided, per teacher discretion.

Online videos, or links to books available in EPIC! can be provided for students who need additional reading support.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students may bring in additional materials to use when building and testing their prototype.

Students may adjust the water flow to test their barriers under other conditions.

Students may design their own house to use when testing their prototype using TinkerCad; if available, a 3D printer may be used to print the house design.