Operation: Tectonic Fury
Weathering and Erosion
Weathering and Erosion
Objectives for this Mission
1. Student will explore the processes of weathering and erosion. 2. Students will compare weathering and erosion. Day 1
1. KWL:
Day 2
Part 1 2a. Click here for Videos and follow these steps:
"What is Erosion" Part 2 2b. Compare/ Contrast with your partner.
Day 3
3a. Choose "Stage 1 Weathering" from the Mission 2 Contents and read the Article "What is Weathering?" 3b. Determining Importance
Day 4
4. Compare and Contrast
Day 5
5a. Read the Article "Evidence of Weathering," both sections (mechanical and chemical.) 5b. Connecting
Day 6
6. Thinking Critically. Compare/Contrast, Connecting, Inferring
2. What are some signs of weathering and erosion that you have seen? 3. How might violent volcanic eruptions be a positive event for the earth? 4. How can heating and cooling cause weathering? Day 7
7. Act it Out Activity
Day 8
8. Read the Article "Rates of Weathering."
Day 9
9a. Refer to the Article "Rates of Weathering." 9b. Determining Importance
9c. Your Choice
OR the "Try This" activity in this article.
10. Thinking Critically. Inferring, Synthesizing, Connecting: Log into your Google Docs account. Create a new document. Title your entry "Rates." SHARE it with your teacher. Answer two of the questions by using the words in your answer.
1. Why is it important for scientists to know the rate of weathering? 2. Should people influence whether or not weathering or erosion should occur? Should we encourage or prevent it? 3. What factors contribute to the rate of weathering? and HOW? 4. What is the climate like where you live? What does this tell you about the weathering rates there? 11. Read the article "What is Erosion?"
12. Determining Importance: As you read, complete the graphic organizer called "Taking Notes." 13. Thinking Critically. Connecting, Inferring, Synthesizing: Log into your Google Docs account. Create a new document. Title your entry "Erosion." SHARE it with your teacher. Answer three of the questions by using the words in your answer.
1. How did glaciers create the landforms we see today? 2. Think of the beaches you have seen or been to. What did you notice about the sand at each of these beaches? 3. What areas of the Earth / world are most affected by erosion? WHY? 4. How does sedimentation and deposition change the surface of the earth? 5. A lot of damage can come from erosion. Is it fair to say that erosion is always a bad thing? Support your answer with examples. 14. CLASS: Activity. Use the materials your teacher gives you to create abstract "erosion art." Blow GENTLY through the straw!
15. CLASS: Erosion Modeling Lab
16. Read the article "Mass Movement."
17. CLASS: Activity. Take a field trip outside after a rainstorm. Identify signs of erosion, no matter how small. Talk to a partner about what CAUSED the erosion to occur? How could you prevent the erosion from happening? Should you?
18. Return to the Visual Ranking website.
19. On the left menu, choose Digital Labs. Scroll down and choose Earth's Varied Geology.
20. Read the article "Earth's Varied Geology."
21. CLASS: Complete the chart papers your teacher assigns you. 22. OPTIONAL Click here for Videos and follow these steps:
Celebrate! You have completed a Mission! |
TIP Remember to read ALL the parts on the page, not just the main text. The extra boxes of information and diagrams often have more important information than the text!
TIP Study the pictures. It's often much easier to understand a new word by seeing it, not just reading the definition! Extra Activity: Take digital photos or videos to document evidence of weathering and erosion. Use the information from the Article "Evidence of Weathering" to help you label and record each type of weathering. Turn into your teacher and/or post online.
Extra Activity: Using the materials from #8 Build a Structure, create a building that can better withstand sun, wind and rain. Share your building before you place it outside. Report back to class. Extra Activity: Plan and carry out an experiment that would demonstrate one of the weathering processes. Write your experiment up using the Scientific Method and demonstrate what you did with your classmates. Extra Activity: Take the raindrop example from the "What is Erosion?" article and describe what part of it is weathering and what part is erosion. Turn in your decisions to your teacher. Extra Activity: After exploring your environment outside the school or at home, write a PERSUASIVE essay to convince your principal or parents to help prevent the erosion from occurring there in the future. Remember to include an introduction, conclusion, and at least 3 convincing reasons to make the change. Turn the essay into your teacher. Extra Activity: Research mass movement on the OCEAN floor! Where to the movements occur? When? How did scientists know it was happening? Turn in your research and answers to your teacher. Extra Activity: There are MANY more parts to Mission 2 from Operation Tectonic Fury. What else can you learn on your own? Turn in your work to your teacher. Extra Activity: Take the Quiz for this portion of Operation Tectonic Fury. Extra Activity: Go to Google Blogger and answer Extra Activity: Build a Structure Lab
Other Web Resources
Glaciers retreating Melting Ice - search Earth- features Melting Glaciers - search Earth- features Gifts of the Glaciers All about Glaciers Human Footprint (erosion) - search Bio - visualizations Moving Mountains - search Earth- features Derecho Wind Storm - search Earth- features Erosion activity |