Lesson Plan

Journey Through Earth’s Transformations: Erosion and Sinkholes

cave entrance

Sinking Spring

National Park Service

Grade Level:
Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade
Subject:
Science
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
State Standards:
Kentucky
Science
2-ESS1-1. Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.
Thinking Skills:
Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

How are Earth features, such as sinkholes, formed?

Objective

Students will gather evidence from various sources to understand that Earth events, such as erosion, can occur at different rates—some quickly and others slowly—leading to features like sinkholes.

Background

To successfully implement this second-grade lesson on erosion and sinkholes, the teacher needs a solid understanding of the geological processes involved in erosion, particularly how different types (water, wind, ice) shape landscapes over varying time scales. Familiarity with the formation of sinkholes, including factors like underground water dissolution of soluble rock, is crucial.  

Preparation

  • Pictures or videos showing different types of erosion (e.g., water, wind, ice) 

  • Photographs or diagrams of sinkholes 

  • Books or articles about erosion and sinkholes (at different reading levels) 

  • Drawing materials (paper, pencils, crayons/markers) 

Lesson Hook/Preview

To hook second-grade students into the lesson on erosion and sinkholes, start with a hands-on demonstration using materials such as sand, water, and small objects like rocks and toy figures. Begin by pouring water onto the sand and observe how it flows and shapes the surface, simulating erosion. Encourage students to predict and observe what happens to the objects placed on the sand as the water flows over them. Prompt them to think about how this relates to real-world scenarios they may have seen, like rivers changing their paths or beaches being reshaped by waves. This engaging activity will immediately capture their interest and curiosity, setting the stage for learning about erosion's effects and preparing them for their upcoming field trip to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, where they will encounter geological features like sinkholes. 

Procedure

Step One:  

Introduction (10 minutes): 

  1. Begin by asking students if they know what erosion is and if they have heard of sinkholes. Allow them to share their thoughts and experiences. 

  1. Introduce the lesson objective: to understand how erosion can occur quickly or slowly and lead to the formation of features like sinkholes. 

  1. Explain that they will explore different types of erosion and learn about sinkholes to prepare for their upcoming field trip to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. 

Step Two: 

Activity 1: Types of Erosion (15 minutes): 

  1. Show pictures or videos depicting different types of erosion, such as water erosion (river cutting through land), wind erosion (sand dunes forming), and ice erosion (glaciers carving valleys). 

  1. Discuss with students how each type of erosion changes the Earth's surface. Ask them to identify which types they think happen quickly and which happen slowly. 

Step Three:  

Activity 2: Understanding Sinkholes (15 minutes): 

  1. Show photographs or diagrams of sinkholes. Explain that sinkholes are holes in the ground that form when underground rock dissolves, often due to water erosion over a long period. 

  1. Read aloud or provide simplified readings about sinkholes. Discuss with students the factors that can lead to sinkhole formation and why it can happen quickly in some cases (like after heavy rain) or slowly over many years. 

Step Four: 

Activity 3: Drawing and Reflection (10 minutes): 

  1. Have students draw a scene depicting how erosion can lead to the formation of a sinkhole. (optional) Encourage them to include labels and explanations based on what they have learned about erosion types and sinkhole formation. 

  1. Ask students to reflect on what they have learned about erosion and sinkholes. Prompt them to discuss examples of quick and slow erosion they have seen or heard about. 

Step Five 

Conclusion (5 minutes): 

  1. Review key concepts about erosion and sinkholes with the students. Emphasize that understanding these processes will help them understand what they might see during their field trip to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. 

  1. Remind students to be observant during their trip and to ask questions about any erosion or sinkhole features they encounter. 

Vocabulary

Erosion: Erosion is when wind, water, or ice wear away rocks and soil over time. It's like how waves at the beach can slowly make cliffs smaller. 

Sinkhole: A sinkhole is a hole that forms in the ground when rock underground is slowly worn away by water. Sometimes, the ground above it can suddenly fall in, making a hole. 

Geological Processes: These are natural actions that change the Earth's surface over time. They can include erosion by water, wind, or ice, and the slow movement of Earth's plates. 

Sediment: Sediment is tiny bits of rocks, sand, and dirt that are carried by water, wind, or ice. They settle down and can build up in layers over time, like sand at the bottom of a river. 

Surface Features: These are the different shapes and forms on the Earth's surface, like mountains, valleys, rivers, and plains. They are created by geological processes and can change over a long time

Assessment Materials

Discussion

Students' participation in discussions and their ability to connect different types of erosion to the formation of sinkholes, drawings and reflections.will be used to determine their understanding of the objective and determine if it is met. 

Supports for Struggling Learners

-Use visual aids such as diagrams, pictures, or videos to illustrate the concepts of erosion and sinkholes. Demonstrations, like pouring water over sand to show erosion, can make abstract concepts more tangible and easier to understand. 

-Break down the objective and essential question into simpler language that the learner can grasp more easily.  

-Provide hands-on activities where the learner can actively engage with the concepts. 

Enrichment Activities

-Provide opportunities for the student to conduct more in-depth research on specific aspects of erosion or sinkholes.  

-Ask the student to write a detailed reflection or report after the field trip to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. They can focus on observing and analyzing geological features like sinkholes, and relate their findings to what they learned in class. 

Related Lessons or Education Materials

This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.

Contact Information

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Last updated: July 19, 2024