An Easy Science Project On the Effect of Cutting Rainforests

Lets do a "green" science projectright or wrong, what is important is the way you
As we are all aware, we have to care for our planetarrived at your finding.
of we want to prevent all kinds of catastrophes toNow for our little-jungle
happen. Using a wide variety of easy experiments weThis is what you'll need:o One large, see-through plastic
can learn about the earth around us and what we cancontainero Garden gloves.o Enough small rocks to
do to preserve it.cover the bottom of your container.o Some gravel.o
Today we are going to look at soil erosion.Charcoal (fine).o Potting soil or compost.o A trowel.o
It is an alarming thing to hear of the rapid pace thatSmall tropical plants.o A watering can with a sprinkling
rainforests are being cut down. Many of thosenozzle.
rainforests contain valuable hardwoods that are usedHere's what you have to do:
for building and making furniture. And even more1. Make sure your jar is completely clean.
alarming is the pace at which trees and other valuable2. Cover the bottom of your container with your small
vegetation are cut out for the making of roads,rocks.
pastures and for agriculture. We do have to eat, but3. Place enough of the gravel at the bottom of your
we will have to be more careful of how we cultivatejar, covering your small rocks, to form a layer that will
our food.represent the bottom layer of your little-jungle.
The roots of the trees and the other vegetation hold4. Now you have to mix the charcoal with the potting
the soil firm and prevent it from being washed awaysoil or compost.
by water during heavy rain falls. We are going to look5. Add a nice deep layer of this mixture to your jar a
at soil erosion and build ourselves a little-jungle.smooth it over.
Soil Erosion6. Now you are ready to plant your plants in your jar.
This is what you'll need:o 2 Plastic, see-through cupso7. You have to gently lift them out of their pots and
A plant poto A potted planto Some soilo 2 Wateringcarefully plant them in your jar.
cans8. Make sure you firm the soil around your plants so
This is what you have to do:that they are planted secure and the roots are firm in
1. Take the potted plant and fit it into the neck of oneyour soil.
of your cups.9. Thoroughly mist your soil and your plants with the
2. Now you have to fill the empty plant pot with thewatering can, take care not to wash the plants open
soil.and loose from your soil. You mist wet it with a spray
3. Place this pot in the neck of your other plastic cup.nozzle to represent misty forest rain.
4. Now to imitate the rain, you have to pour water into10. Now you have to put the lid on your jar and
the potted plant and onto the plant pot that only hasobserve what happens.
soil in it.11. What happens with the water you sprayed onto
5. What do you see? Make a note and try to thinkyour soil and plants?
why it is happening.12. Write down all your findings over quite a few days.
Think of the introduction above and try to give an13. How do you think it represents what happens in a
explanation.rainforest?
Remember when you are doing an experiment you14. If you did it right you'll find that the water condenses
have to start with an hypothesis, that is what you thinkon the jar and drips back onto the plants and soil. This
is going to happen, then you have to do youris how the water is being recycled.
experiment and make careful note of everything youCan you now understand why cutting down the
do. When you are finished with your experiment yourainforests has such devastating effects on nature?
have to write down your findings and explain why itWe must all try to do our bit of preserving nature
has happened. Now you will know if your hypothesiswhere ever we can.
was correct. It does not matter whether you were