FACTivity – Logjams and Beaver Dams
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In this FACTivity, you will build a physical representation, or a model, of a beaver dam. Some of the questions you will answer in this FACTivity are:
- How can you successfully build a model of a beaver dam?
- What are the similarities and differences between a beaver dam and a logjam?
Materials (for each student or group of students):
- Large disposable aluminum pan
- Dirt - enough to cover the pan's bottom to 1"
- A bucket of extra dirt with water, mixed to a thick mud
- Scissors (for the educator or supervisor)
- Plastic gallon jug filled with water
- Water source
- Sticks of various sizes
- Other natural materials (i.e. gravel, small rocks, leaves, bark, grass, etc.)
- Graphic organizer (included)
Part Of
Logjams and Beaver Dams: How Different Landforms Affect the Amount of Carbon in an Ecosystem
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Standards addressed in this Activity:
Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are a set of K-12 science education standards emphasizing inquiry-based learning, real-world applications, and integrating engineering practices, aiming to deepen understanding of science while promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- MS-ETS1-2Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- MS-ETS1-3Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
- MS-ETS1-4Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
- MS-LS2-3Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.