Lesson 3: Courting Erosion

The only location for a basketball court a school wants to build is near a steep hillside. The threat of landslides is a real possibility when heavy rains blanket the area. Can you design erosion control methods to keep the basketball court safe and not get dunked on by falling soil?

Doing the science

1. Start the Erosion Control Simulation by clicking on the “Simulation” tab.
2. Click the “Court Builder” button at the bottom of the screen. You’ll have three investigations to build the best erosion control system to protect the basketball court.
3. Check one or more boxes for the erosion control method you want to investigate. Use a “√” to record your selection(s) in Table 1.
4. Once you’re satisfied with your selection(s), click the blue “Rain” button on the left side of the screen.
5. Note and record in Table 2 the results and the total costs of your erosion control method.
6. Repeat steps 3 – 5 for a total of three investigations. Make sure to record your selection(s) in Table 1 and your results and costs in Table 2.