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Course: Middle school Earth and space science - NGSS?>?Unit 6
Lesson 2: Unit 4 activitiesActivity: How does weathering affect natural landscapes over time?
Make science come alive in your classroom with this free hands-on activity aligned to middle school NGSS standards.
Activity: How does weathering affect natural landscapes over time?
Imagine you are in the high desert, standing under a sandstone arch. You look up and take note of the arch's rough texture and interesting shape. You can¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°How did this beautiful structure form?¡±
Sandstone arches, along with many other amazing land formations, formed as a result of weathering. In this activity, students will learn about different types of mechanical and chemical weathering. Students will then use this knowledge to construct explanations for how some of Earth¡¯s most fascinating landscapes came to be.
Overview
This activity is designed to be completed in two 45-minute class periods, with additional time required for follow-up creative projects. The activity consists of the following parts:
- Setting the stage¡ªStudents read and demonstrate understanding of mechanical and chemical weathering. (15 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 1)¡ªStudents construct an explanation for how weathering likely led to the formation of an iconic landform. (15 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 2)¡ªStudents create models by drawing their landform at three stages of its development, showing how it likely changed over time. Students then update their models based on research-backed explanations for how each landform formed. (15 minutes)
- Let's get creative!¡ªStudents create a poster about their landform, then share it with their classmates. (45 minutes)
- Keep creating!¡ªStudents can choose from additional project ideas. Each project encourages students to combine scientific knowledge with creativity to produce something new.
Download the worksheets and get started today!
You can print out this activity or upload it to a digital classroom.
- Student activity guide (8 page worksheet)
- Teacher guide (step-by-step instructions)
NGSS performance expectations
MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales.
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how is it possible for water to wear away rock?(7 votes)
it is probably very strong idk(4 votes)
- How long does it take for water to move from places like a dessert all the way to the ocean or other bodies of water?(3 votes)
- Did I ask?
-Pig Day(1 vote)
- how is it possible for water to wear away rock?(2 votes)
Water wears away rock through erosion, a process where natural forces gradually remove rock and soil. Hydraulic action involves the force of moving water dislodging rock particles, especially in fast-flowing rivers. Abrasion occurs as water carries sediment like sand and pebbles, which act like sandpaper as they scrape against rock surfaces. Solution occurs when water dissolves minerals in certain types of rock, weakening them over time. Freeze-thaw action in cold climates causes water to enter cracks in rocks, freeze, expand, and widen the cracks, eventually breaking the rock apart. These processes collectively contribute to the erosion of rock by water over time.(2 votes)
- why dose erosion happen(0 votes)
If you look at the answer I gave above, that should answer your question.(1 vote)
- Why do things weather?(1 vote)
There are many reasons as to why things weather. For example, a rock can weather away due to water and wind slowly breaking off little pieces. Another way is acid rain, which can shape them in unusual ways. I only mentioned a few ways as to why things weather, since there are many more ways.(1 vote)
- does gravity affect weathering
?(2 votes)- yes it does, Gravity then causes the fragment (or fragments) of rock to fall downward When rock falls, it often strikes the ground or other rock with force, due to gravitational acceleration,that can fracture it into even smaller mineral particles.
Plus gravity helps the raindrops to srike harder to the soil, more force= more affect(1 vote)
How does water mechanically weather rocks?(1 vote)- water is a slow and dangerous force. imagine making a heap of sand without using water. Then touch it very lightly for every five seconds. Each time you touch the sand bits of sand keep on falling on the ground. Now think of your finger which is touching the sand as water and think of the sand heap as limestone or any rock. ech time the water hits the limestone or rock bit of the limestone or rock fall of just like when you touch the sand heap bits of sand fall of.(1 vote)
- why does it rain(0 votes)
Water in clouds get to heavy and comes down as rain.(2 votes)
how long does it take for rock to erode(1 vote)
It can take up to 1 million years for rocks to erode.(1 vote)
- Can metal be weathered away?(1 vote)