Weathering vs. Erosion

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 demonstrate an understanding of the similarities between weathering and erosion
  • students can demonstrate an understanding of the differences between weathering and erosion

Questions to Ponder

  • Why do we identify the differences between weathering and erosion?
  • Do you think it's important to distinguish between the two?

Weathering and Erosion Case Studies

  • Read your assigned case study.
  • Prepare a brief presentation to describe what the case study is about.
  • Be prepared to answer the following questions about your case study.
    1. How does this case study demonstrate Weathering?
    2. How does this case study demonstrate Erosion?
    3. What does this case study tell us about the timescale involved in the changing of rocks?

Back to Teams

  • What have the case studies told you about Weathering and Erosion?
  • Is there any way to prevent the two from happening?

So, what is the big difference between Weathering and Erosion?

The Difference between

Weathering and Erosion

Another look at the Difference between Weathering and Erosion

Deposition

Stream Table Observation

  • Observe the stream table demonstration and collect data.
    1. What did you notice about the way the water runs through the sand?
    2. How does the sediment move?
    3. Does all sediment move the same? Explain.

Two Great Examples of the Effects of Weathering and Erosion

Learning Target

  • Understand how the forces of weathering and erosion combined to create The Delmarva Peninsula and The Grand Canyon.

Success Criteria

  • students can demonstrate an understanding of the similarities between weathering and erosion
  • students can demonstrate an understanding of the differences between weathering and erosion

Questions to Ponder

  • How was the formation of the Delmarva Peninsula and The Grand Canyon Different or similar?
  • How would you use the words Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition when describing the two?

The formation of the Delmarva Peninsula

  • How did the three forces combine to form the Delmarva Peninsula?
Formation of the Delmarva Peninsula

The Grand Canyon

How was the Grand Canyon Formed?

This video explains how the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona, USA was formed and is continuing to change.

"On my summer vacation..."

In August of 2015 I got to travel to Arizona with a group of fellow science teachers to learn all about the Geology of this really interesting part of the world.

Besides a day trip to The Grand Canyon I also visited the Hoover Dam and Meteor Crater.

The Hoover Dam

  • What do you know about the Hoover Dam?
  • Why is it such a famous Dam?
  • What does the Hoover Dam have to do with Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition?