Katie's experiment most likely represents the interactions between the hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere. The hydrosphere is the part of the earth that holds water. Geosphere refers to the solid and rocky part of the earth. Biosphere is the domain of life on the earth.
The water poured represents oceans in the basins of the world which is a part of the hydrosphere.
The beach sand is the crust which contains the ocean water which is part of the crust.
The toothpicks on the sand dunes which are the vegetation represents the biosphere.
soft clay and wet and sandy soil as they are more likely to collapse or corrode over time especially the wet and sandy soil which will erode with rain or water