Eighth grade students in Ms. Mason’s science classes at Copiague Middle School recently took part in an engaging hands-on lab activity as part of their study of river erosion and water movement.

Working collaboratively in groups of three, students used stream tables to investigate how gradient affects water velocity. By setting the tables at three different heights, they observed how changes in slope impacted the speed of water flow and tested how long it took an object to travel downstream under each condition.

Through the experiment, students applied scientific concepts in a real-world setting while practicing teamwork, observation and data collection skills. The activity helped them gain a deeper understanding of erosion, stream dynamics and the relationship between landforms and water movement. The hands-on lesson provided eighth graders with an interactive opportunity to bring classroom learning to life and further develop their scientific inquiry skills.