Rock and Soil Formation
Students should be able to compare and contrast the formation of rock types (igneous,
metamorphic, and sedimentary) and demonstrate their similarities and differences using the rock cycle model.
Students should be able to explain how physical and chemical weathering lead to
erosion and the formation of soils and sediments.
Students should be able to explain how waves, wind, water, ice and gravity cause weathering.
Agents of erosion are wind, water, ice, and gravity.
Glacier movement shapes and reshape the land surface of the Earth by moving (eroding) rock in some areas and depositing sediments in other areas.
Students should know that soils consist of weathered rocksand minerals, water, air, and decomposed organic materials from dead plants, animals, and bacteria.
Soils are often found in layers
with each having a different chemical composition and texture.
Students should be able to compare and contrast different soil samples based on
particle size, parent rock, minerals, organic matter, and color.
Students should understand how humans positively affect soil by adding fertilizers, planting trees, soil conservation: cover crops, terracing, and contour plowing, protect land-parks, and plant trees for barriers to protect soil from creeping.
Humans negatively affect soil by polluting, oil spills, deforestation, clear cutting, planting continuous crops, buildings, roads and adding plastics.
