Design a landslide
Build a tabletop model of a landslide using sand, soil, water, and slopes. Test erosion, slope stability, and prevention methods.
About this activity
Build a tabletop model of a landslide using sand, soil, water, and slopes. Test erosion, slope stability, and prevention methods.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Place the tray on a table and press two small cardboard dividers to make three equal lanes.
- 2
Step 2
Sprinkle a thin layer of pebbles into the bottom of each lane for drainage.
- 3
Step 3
Fill a cup half with sand and half with potting soil and mix them well.
- 4
Step 4
Spoon the same amount of the sand soil mix into each lane so they start at the same height.
- 5
Step 5
Shape the left lane into a gentle slope about 2 cm high the middle lane into a medium slope about 4 cm high and the right lane into a steep slope about 8 cm high using the ruler to check heights.
- 6
Step 6
Press and smooth each slope gently with your hand or the back of a spoon to compact the soil.
- 7
Step 7
Leave the left slope bare as your control with no prevention added.
- 8
Step 8
Push small plants or twigs into the middle slope or sprinkle and press grass seeds to add vegetation.
- 9
Step 9
Place pebbles and build a tiny terrace or rock barrier across the top of the right slope to act as a prevention method.
- 10
Step 10
Set a clean sheet of paper or a small shallow container at the bottom of each lane to catch any runoff.
- 11
Step 11
Pour exactly 100 ml of water from about 10 cm above the top of each slope three times for each slope using the same speed and method for each test one lane at a time.
- 12
Step 12
Look closely and draw or write what happened to each slope noting how much soil moved and which prevention worked best.
- 13
Step 13
Take photos or a description of your finished landslide model and share your creation and results on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I build a tabletop landslide model?
Start with a shallow tray or baking sheet as the base and prop one end up to form a slope with a piece of cardboard or foam. Layer sand and potting soil to make realistic stratification, add small pebbles or vegetation, then slowly pour water at the top using a cup or spray bottle. Observe how water causes erosion and slope failure, then test prevention like terracing, retaining walls, or planting to compare results.
What materials do I need to make a tabletop landslide model?
You’ll need a shallow tray, cardboard or foam to make the slope, sandbox sand, potting soil, small pebbles or gravel, a cup and spray bottle for water, spoon or spatula for shaping, toy plants or grass clumps, ruler or protractor to measure slope angle, masking tape, and a plastic sheet or towels for easy cleanup. Adult supervision and a notebook for observations are also helpful.
What ages is a tabletop landslide model suitable for?
This activity suits ages about 5 and up with adult help. Younger kids (5–7) enjoy building slopes and pouring water with supervision. Ages 8–12 can plan experiments, change slope angles, measure erosion, and record results. Teens can design systematic tests and quantification. Always supervise water use and small parts; adapt complexity to the child’s motor skills and attention level.
What safety precautions and variations should I consider?
Work on a waterproof surface or outdoors to manage spills and protect floors; wear old clothes and wash hands after handling soil. Keep small parts away from very young children and never let kids drink the experiment water. Variations: change soil types, slope angles, rainfall rate, add model buildings, or test different prevention methods (vegetation, retaining walls, terracing). These changes teach erosion, engineering, and environmental stewardship.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of the tray, pebbles, or potting soil if they are hard to find?
If you can't find a shallow tray or small pebbles, use a baking sheet or muffin tin as the tray and substitute aquarium gravel, dried beans, or clean marbles for the drainage pebbles and use garden soil or compost mixed with clean play sand in place of potting soil for the 'half sand half potting soil' mix.
What should I do if the slopes keep collapsing or the water pours unevenly during the tests?
If slopes collapse or runoff is inconsistent, press and smooth each slope more firmly with the back of a spoon as in step 6, re-level the sand-soil so all lanes 'start at the same height', and use the same 100 ml cup plus a 10 cm height guide (stacked books) to keep pouring speed and position identical.
How can I adapt this landslide activity for younger or older children?
For younger kids, pre-cut the 'two small cardboard dividers', pre-measure the sand-soil mix, and allow a single gentle pour while older kids can precisely shape the 2 cm/4 cm/8 cm slopes with the ruler, run three 100 ml trials per lane, and record soil moved in the catchers for data analysis.
How can we extend or personalize the project after finishing the basic tests?
To extend the activity, add food coloring to the 100 ml water to visualize flow paths, compare extra prevention methods like mulch or fabric under the 'pebbles and tiny terrace', and take photos or a time-lapse of your 'finished landslide model and results' to share on DIY.org.