Last updated: July 25, 2024
Lesson Plan
Changes in the Landscape: Weathering and Erosion
The Overlook Trail is a great way to get a bird's eye view of the landscape!
National Park Service
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- Kentucky
Science
4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation. - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience.
Essential Question
How does weathering and erosion impact the environment?
Objective
Students will understand how weathering and erosion impacts the environment.
Background
Difference between weathering and erosion process
Causes of weathering and erosion
How weathering and erosion change the earth’s surface
Preparation
Resources to find images of weathering and erosion:
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/weathering-erosion.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/sedimentation.htm
- https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-arches-national-park
- https://www.nps.gov/places/an-ever-changing-landscape-wayside.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/teachers/lessonplans/ErosionWeatheringChangeActivityGuideADA.pdf
Materials
Memorial "Then and Now" Images
Download Memorial "Then and Now" Images
Lesson Hook/Preview
Show the images of the Lincoln Memorial from 1930’s and early 2000’s. Ask students to find things in the image that have changed over time.
Procedure
After discussing the changes that have occurred in the Memorial building images, begin a discussion of how land changes over time and what might cause those changes.
Introduce students to the vocabulary words: weathering and erosion.
Look at the various images of landforms from the NPS websites to identify types of weathering and erosion. Determine possible causes of the weathering such as wind, water, or living things.
Optional: Students can do their own search for images of weathering and erosion.
Create a chart to identify ways weathering and erosion can harm the environment.
When students take a trip to Knob Creek, they can explore the creek area to look for evidence of weathering and erosion.
Vocabulary
Weathering: the breaking down of rocks and minerals by wind, water, or living things
Erosion: the movement of sand, soil, and minerals from one place to another by wind, or water
Assessment Materials
SortingTeacher can create an assessment of images or descriptive phrases to sort by weathering or erosion.
Students can sort pictures of descriptions to identify examples of weathering and erosion.
Supports for Struggling Learners
Struggling learners may need picture supports to explain the vocabulary definitions.
Enrichment Activities
Excelling students could find ways to prevent or slow down the process of weathering and erosion and create a diagram or infographic.
Related Lessons or Education Materials
Meets Kentucky 4th grade science standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.