What happens to rain or melting snow when it can’t go into the ground? Set up an easy stormwater runoff model with your kids to demonstrate what happens. Get them talking about how they can help reduce runoff pollution. A great project for Earth Day!
LEARN ABOUT STORMWATER RUNOFF SCIENCE
WHAT IS STORMWATER?
Stormwater is rainwater or snowmelt, plus anything the rain carries. Stormwater is also known as ‘polluted runoff.’
Stormwater runoff is created by rain or melting snow that flows over the ground. In cities, stormwater runs over streets and parking lots, picking up oil and other pollutants before flowing into rivers or streams.
Also, check out: Water Cycle In A Bag
Why is stormwater runoff a problem?
When rainwater can’t soak into the ground in urban areas because of pavement, the water is forced to run along streets and parking lots, picking up pollutants.
Stormwater runoff can contain chemicals, paint, building construction waste, fast food packaging, cigarette butts, cooking oil, car oil, animal waste, etc.
This stormwater runoff pollution can flow into our streams and rivers, and into the ocean affecting marine life.
In farming areas, stormwater runoff can push excess nutrients from fertilizers and other pollutants into waterways, which leads to algae blooms.
Heavy stormwater runoff can also overwhelm infrastructure and cause sewage overflows, as well as cause soil erosion to stream banks and rivers.
TRY: Learn more about erosion with this edible soil layer model, a coastal erosion demonstration, and this hands-on soil erosion activity.
How do you reduce stormwater runoff?
You can help prevent stormwater pollution in your backyard by reducing runoff into local stormwater drains. Wash your car on the lawn instead of the driveway, and keep leaves, grass clippings, and soil from entering drains.
In the street, pick up pet droppings and other litter and dispose of them in a garbage bin.
On the land, re-plant areas affected by soil erosion, and add plants to the banks of rivers and streams. Support a reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides through organic farming.
Let’s make stormwater runoff clean and keep pollutants out of our waterways!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR STORMWATER RUNOFF PROJECT!
STORMWATER RUNOFF MODEL
Let’s build a model to explore the impact of stormwater runoff. This is a great hands-on STEM activity that is sure to get kids thinking!
This stormwater runoff project asks a few questions!
- What is stormwater runoff?
- What causes stormwater runoff pollution?
- How can we prevent or reduce stormwater runoff pollution?
Let’s explore the answers together!
SUPPLIES:
- Paint tray or baking pan
- Printable Stormwater Runoff Worksheet
- Markers
- Tape
- Water bottle
- Pollutants – Oil, chocolate, frosting, shaving cream, salt, sand etc.
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Print the stormwater runoff worksheet and color it in. Cut out the pieces.
STEP 2: Tape the images to your paint tray or a baking pan.
STEP 3: Place the substances on the tray you have chosen to represent oil, chemicals, and animal excrement.
STEP 4: Add clean water to the bottom of your tray or pan.
STEP 5: Use spray bottle to represent the storm water runoff during a rain storm.
What happens to the water? Discuss and record your observations.
MORE EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES
Discover many fun and doable Earth Day activities for kids, including environmental ideas like these:
Set up this easy acid rain experiment to explore the effects of acid rain on plants.
Explore ways to help the Earth by reducing your carbon footprint.
Learn about the effect of storms on coastal erosion and set up a beach erosion demonstration.
Here is a simple ocean science experiment you can set up in the corner of the kitchen or classroom that explores the effects of ocean acidification.
Try this oil spill cleanup experiment to learn about ocean pollution at home or in the classroom.
Learn about the impact of pollution on the nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle.
Printable Earth Day Activities Printable Pack
40+ Earth Day science activities and STEM projects for kids that are easy to set up and fit into your available time, even if it’s limited!
- Printable Earth Day theme STEM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.
- Dive into simple background science explanations to share with kids. At the same time, kiddos can explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities such as cleaning up oil spills, exploring water filters, and more!
- Engaging Earth Day Enginers pack with theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Learn about the design process and think like an engineer while you design and build a better recycling can and more!
- Easy to gather supplies makes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Specialty activities include growing a grass head, making an insect hotel, DIY birdseed ornaments, and more!
- Additional STEM activities include a recycling sort, brick-building ideas, puzzles, and screen-free coding activities.
- Earth Day Bingo Activity Pack is included as well.
