Stream Table Observation

MS-ESS2-2 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.

Learning Target

Understand how the forces of weathering and erosion have changed Earth's surface over time.

Success Criteria

Students can differentiate between weathering, erosion, and deposition.
Students can make observations and infer reasons for the observations.
Students can state a claim and support it with evidence and reasoning.

Lego Race

At the beginning of each row students will be given a stack of lego bricks that are connected.
When the teacher says "Go" the first student will remove a brick and then pass it to the next student.
The first student will proceed to remove the next brick while the next student will pass it down the row.
The last student will put all of the bricks together (in any order) as they get them.
The team that finishes first are the winners!

Questions to Ponder

How was the Lego Race game like the forces of weathering and erosion and the process of deposition?
Would you include any other forces or processes in the game?

Stream Table Observation

Your team will observe the stream table as water is running through it for a five minute period.
The team will collect data about the occurrences of weathering, erosion, and deposition during the 5 minute period.

Before the observation you must do a little preparation

As a team...

Determine your roles:
- facilitator - makes sure that the team is on task, settles disputes
- recorder - collects data and makes sure that rest of the team has complete data as well
- materials manager - collects and returns materials for the team
- time-keeper - keeps track of the time during the observation period
Plan how you will collect the data.
Make observations and collect data.
Analyze the data.

Interpreting the Data

Now that you have your data, discuss the following:

How would you describe the weathering, erosion, and deposition that you observed during the 5 minute period?
Describe how time was a factor during the observation (besides the fact that we observed it for 5 minutes.)

As a class...

Compare your data and analysis with the rest of the class:
1. meet with two other people from other teams and discuss your team's data and analysis. How is your data similar and different?

CER

Use your data to construct a response to the following question:
- - How did the stream table demonstrate the forces of weathering and erosion as well as deposition?
You may use your data and previous notes to answer the question.

Earth's Changing Surface

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