Case+Studies+for+Chapter+Grade

**Case Studies on Erosion**
Erosion Case Studies

Overview
Students begin exploring the causes of erosion by analyzing case studies. The class is introduced to what case studies are. Then the class investigates a case study together to provide a good example for students on how to analyze and use information from a case. Student groups then work on investigating one of three cases. Groups then share their analysis via a poster and presentation to the class. At the end of all the presentations, the class discusses the various types of erosion and students reflect on what erosion is, what might affect it, and how it may be controlled. Groups then update their class’s Project Board, filling in what they have learned about erosion and the evidence that supports what they have learned.

• Science Process: How do case studies help scientists and engineers answer questions? (Students should describe how analyzing different cases of situations provides scientists and engineers with information that allows them to find trends and draw conclusions.)
 * Reflection**

• Science Content: What are some of the causes of erosion? How do you think you can stop them? (Responses should include at least two of the following: wind, water, rain. The second part of the question is to get students thinking about how they will try to stop or slow down different causes of erosion.)

• Nature of Science: How do you think water affects the erosion of soil? Do you think different soils are affected differently by water? (Students should describe that moving water can erode or move soils and that different soils probably are eroded at different rates.)

=**Erosion Case Studies**=

Looking at evidence of erosion has helped you identify some of the causes of erosion. It has also helped you raise questions about what causes erosion. Other people have had to deal with erosion before. You are now going to review some real life situations in which erosion created big problems. These situations are known as cases. The cases you will read about have been studied by scientists and engineers. Those experts have written about the cases so others can learn how erosion happens and how to prevent it. The case studies you will be reading are about large-scale erosion. They will also give you some more ideas about how the erosion examples you identified might have happened.

Case Study One

Case Study Two

Case Study Three

Case Study Four