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Rocking the Earth: Weathering & Erosion

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Tracie Flowers

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Rocking the Earth: Lesson Plan

Students will review weathering, erosion, and the rock cycle through interactive activities and group work, reinforcing key Earth science concepts.

This lesson enhances understanding of the natural processes that shape our planet, solidifying foundational concepts in Earth science.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Engaging review worksheet and discussion.

Materials

Review Worksheet on Weathering, Erosion, and the Rock Cycle

Prep

Preparation

5 minutes

  • Review the Rocking the Earth: Lesson Plan for an overview of the session.
  • Familiarize yourself with key terms: weathering, erosion, and the rock cycle.
  • Prepare printed/digital copies of the Review Worksheet on Weathering, Erosion, and the Rock Cycle for students.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Briefly explain the processes of weathering, erosion, and the rock cycle.
  • Use simple examples to illustrate how these processes shape Earth's surface.

Step 2

Worksheet Activity

15 minutes

  • Hand out the Review Worksheet on Weathering, Erosion, and the Rock Cycle.
  • Instruct students to work in small groups to complete the worksheet.
  • Encourage discussion among group members to reinforce concepts.

Step 3

Group Discussion & Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Facilitate a class discussion on the worksheet findings.
  • Recap the key concepts and address any questions from students.
  • Summarize how these processes impact Earth's changing surface.
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Slide Deck

Rocking the Earth: Weathering & Erosion

Welcome 6th Graders!

Today, we're exploring how Earth's surface is shaped through natural processes.

Introduce the lesson with an engaging, colorful title slide. Mention that today they'll review weathering, erosion, and the rock cycle.

Weathering

Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks. It can occur due to:

  • Temperature changes
  • Water and wind
  • Biological factors

Think of how your chalk can crumble when it gets wet.

Discuss the concept of weathering with examples like rocks breaking down due to wind, water, temperature changes, etc. Use clear visuals and simple language.

Erosion

Erosion involves the movement of weathered material:

  • Carried by water, wind, or ice
  • Shapes landscapes by moving sediments

For example, rivers can carve valleys over time.

Explain erosion and differentiate it from weathering. Emphasize that erosion transports the material, often through water or wind.

The Rock Cycle

The rock cycle shows how rocks transform:

  • Weathering → Erosion → Sediment → Compaction
  • Formation of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks

A continuous cycle shaping our planet.

Describe the rock cycle, how sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks transform through various processes. Make sure students see the connection between the processes.

Review Activity

Let's review what we've learned!

  • Work in small groups
  • Complete the Review Worksheet on Weathering, Erosion, and the Rock Cycle (see printed/digital copy)
  • Discuss your findings as a team.

Introduce the review worksheet. Instruct students to work in groups and discuss the key ideas.

Wrap-Up & Discussion

Recap of Today’s Lesson:

  • What is weathering?
  • How does erosion work?
  • How do they fit into the Rock Cycle?

Any questions or thoughts?

Wrap-up slide. Facilitate a class discussion and recap the key concepts. Address any questions.

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Worksheet

Review Worksheet on Weathering, Erosion, and the Rock Cycle

Part 1: Understanding Weathering

  1. Define weathering in your own words. Explain how weathering affects rocks over time.





  2. List three examples of factors that contribute to weathering (e.g., temperature changes, water, wind).





Part 2: Exploring Erosion

  1. What is erosion, and how does it differ from weathering? Write your explanation below.





  2. Draw a simple diagram illustrating how erosion works to change a landscape. Use arrows to show the movement of sediments.





Part 3: The Rock Cycle

  1. Explain the relationship between weathering, erosion, and the rock cycle in one paragraph.





  2. In the rock cycle, sediment is compacted to form sedimentary rock. List two other types of rocks mentioned in the rock cycle and describe how they are formed.





Part 4: Group Discussion Activity

  1. In your small group, discuss the following question: "How do weathering and erosion work together to shape Earth's surface?" After your discussion, write a brief summary of your group's ideas.





Be sure to discuss your responses with your group before writing them down!

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Quiz

Rocking the Earth: Quiz

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