ESS.4.2.3
Use models to explain changes in Earth's surface over time (to include slow changes of erosion and weathering, and fast changes of earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity).
Embedded Files
District Recommended Resources for 4th Grade Science
Rocks and Minerals
Kit rental options are available. See your administrator.
Appalachian State University - Fossils and Geologic Time
Next Generation Science Standards YouTube Channel
Step 1: Lesson Standards & Learning Goals
Dimension 1:
Science and Engineering Practice: Develop and Use Models: Develop a model using an analogy, example, or abstract representation to describe a scientific principle (NSTA SEP Matrix).
Dimension 2:
Crosscutting Concepts: System and System Models; Stability and Change
Dimension 3:
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
ESS1.C Earth has changed over time. Understanding how landforms develop, are weathered (broken down into smaller pieces), and erode (get transported elsewhere) can help infer the history of the current landscape. Local, regional, and global patterns of rock formations reveal changes over time due to Earth forces, such as earthquakes.
ESS2.A Water, ice, wind, living organisms, and gravity break rocks, soils, and sediments into smaller particles and move them around (A Framework for K-12 Science Education).
Sample Essential Questions
Sample Essential Questions
How do natural disasters (landslide, earthquake, volcano, flooding) affect the Earth's surface?
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
How can we use models to better understand how different processes shape and change the Earth's surface?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
earthquake
erosion
drastic
flood
glacier/ice
landslide
rapidly
slowly
surface
weathering
volcano
Students will be able to...
Students will be able to...
Explain Earth’s surface is made of rock and soil and it changes over time.
Explain how Earth’s surface changes over time due to weathering (wind and water- including ice, and chemicals breaking down rock) and erosion (carrying earth materials from one place to another).
Develop and Use Models- Develop and/or use models to describe and/or predict phenomena (e.g., students observe media to detect patterns in the movement of the natural world).
Explain - Constructing a cause-and-effect model of a system
Students will know...
Students will know...
Earth materials include rocks, minerals, soil and water.
Changes in the Earth’s surface may be slow or rapid, subtle or drastic and include:
Landslides which occur when gravity causes large sections of soil and rock to move suddenly down an incline.
Volcanic eruptions which are openings in the Earth’s crust that release hot gases and magma when they erupt.
Earthquakes which occur when large masses of rock move beneath the surface causing the ground to shake.
Volcanoes and earthquakes are often found along the boundaries between continents and oceans.
Step 2: Assessment
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessments
Writing Prompts
What evidence is there to support the claim that ice causes change? (e.g., repetitive freezing and thawing can cause rocks to crack-weathering; large glaciers can carve out valleys in the landscape over time)
What are changes that happen slowly? (e.g., weathering-such as water dissolving minerals or physically breaking down rocks when water freezes and thaws on and in the cracks of rocks).
What are changes that happen rapidly? (e.g., volcanic eruptions, landslides, earthquakes)
How does/do ______ change the Earth's surface? (e.g., weathering- breaks down earth’s surface; erosion-carries weathered material away).
Mini Projects and Investigations
Real World Phenomena - Describe a place you know that has been affected by erosion or weathering.
Provide students with before and after photos of NC Mountains following Hurricane Helene. (Find photos by searching "nc mountains before and after helene" - PREVIEW before sharing with students as some images and text may be disturbing for younger students.)
How did the Earth's surface change following the storm? (landslides caused sides of mountains to crumble, flooding caused rivers and streams to be rerouted, new "ruts" were formed where erosion took place)
What impact did the flooding have on the NC mountains? flooding caused rivers and streams to be rerouted, new "ruts" were formed where erosion took place, road beds were washed away, buildings were washed away because their foundations were eroded)
What caused the landslides and what was the impact of those on the landscape? landslides caused sides of mountains to crumble, heavy amounts of mud were deposited on roadways, habitat destruction - animals were displaced)
Can You Create Lava? - Mystery Science Investigation
Culminating Activity
Create a model showing the effects of a natural disaster on the the Earth's surface. The model should include evidence of erosion and/or weathering. Include a written description of your model and how it has affected that particular area.
Some real world examples include:
NC Outer Banks -
Shelly Island - forms and disappears
Hurricane Helene Impact
Step 3: Lesson Instructions
Possible Activating Strategies
Possible Activating Strategies
Exploration:
Erosion Simulation with Water
Weathering Experiment with Chalk
Objective: Explore the effects of weathering on different materials.
Materials: Chalk, vinegar, water, containers, magnifying glass.
Procedure: Place pieces of chalk in separate containers and add water to one and vinegar to another. Observe and record how the chalk changes over a week, using a magnifying glass to examine the details.
Additional Literacy Connections
"Erosion: Changing Earth's Surface" by Robin Koontz
Epic:
EBSCO:
Weathering (ebook)
Erosion (ebook)
Video:
Teacher Resources
Teacher Resources
Additional Lessons from DTLS:
1) Volcano Eruption PBL
2) Landslide PBL
3) Soil and Water Conservation Demonstration
4) Beach Erosion PBL
5) Moving Cape Hatteras Lighthouts Study
6) AG in the Classroom Lab
7) Rock Classification Lab
Other Resources
The Grand Canyon National Park
Mystery Science.com - Rocks and Minerals Mini Lessons (sign up for free account)
SERC - Rock Cycle Activities
Wonderopolis Article: How Are Rocks Made?
Videos
4 States of Matter Video (Introduces plasma as a type of matter)
Study Jams - The Rock Cycle
Study Jams Slide Decks:
Khan Academy - The Rock Cycle
Livebinder (Note: This is an old resource and some of the links no longer work. However, there are some good resource links still available through this Livebinder.)
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