Teaching Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition

March 6, 2012:
CONGRATULATIONS TO Julie W. from North Carolina! She has won the drawing for the one million visitors to the site drawing! She chose the Teaching Weather Packet, which has already been sent to her email box! I used the random number generator at random.org to choose the winner.

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Teaching
Weathering,
Erosion, and
Deposition

Marcia's
Science Teaching Ideas

Photo: The Crayon Lab: the depositing of layers of rock fragments. The entire lab is available in the Teaching Weathering Packet. Available here.

You are welcome to use these ideas in your classroom, within your science department, within your school district, or to distribute to any teacher who may find these lessons useful. I only ask that:
1. You cannot sell these lessons or make a profit on them in any way.
2. You cite the lessons original source, and do not white-out the copyright footer on the pdf files
3. Do not copy and paste lessons onto your website. A link to the original is to be used.
4. Do not claim these lessons as your own work.
NOTE: This disclaimer is modeled after a couple of my favorite websites: The Science Spot and Middle School Science. Thanks, teachers!

Click here for Marcia's Science Teaching Ideas Store!

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Study Guide

I used to use a Study Guide to quickly introduce the important concepts. Then I discovered that a Cut-and-Paste FactSheet would work better. Quick FactSheets involve the whole body when students are required to cut out and place each "fact" in the correct place on the page. They interact to see if they have it right before they paste. I love seeing BUSY BEHAVIOR that is ON TASK! So I recommend you make up a FactSheet with cut-and-paste answers based on your text book. You could also do a PowerPoint with a Cut-and-Paste FollowSheet, or Fill-in-the-Blank, as a way to introduce facts. After the introduction, I spend time doing other active things, like Weathering Walks and Games and Labs. In my opinion, students retain the important concepts better if you do active learning activities to reinforce the basic concepts.

Note from a teacher: I used your "weathering" cut and paste vocab in class today with a game afterwards. Your teaching stuff is awesome!

Cut & Paste Weathering Vocab

Magic trick, almost! Students remember vocabulary better when they cut & paste--instead of copy--itions! Cut & Paste Vocab works especially well for special ed students. Click here.

Love the cut/paste vocabulary . . . worked like a charm for my ESE population! --FL teacher

Types of Weathering Worksheets

Reinforces the most common Weathering terms. Click here for Types of Weathering A. Click here for Types of Weathering B. I often use Types of Weathering A as a FollowSheet for the Types of Weathering PowerPoint.

Weathering PowerPoint

Fun to hook up to your big screen T.V. or SmartBoard to show your students. Email me for this PowerPoint. Could use Types of Weathering A as a FollowSheet and Types of Weathering B as homework.

Weathering Walk

Take a Walking Tour around your school campus to observe different types of weathering. Provide students with a worksheet to record their observations. Discuss when you return. Prizes for the most observations??!!

Types of Weathering Game

Each team holds two cards: Mechanical and Chemical. Teacher reads a description of a type of weathering, such as: formation of potholes in winter. (Mechanical) On a signal from the teacher, team leaders hold up the correct card. Could also offer BONUS point to teams who know the exact type, such as Frost Action (Frost Wedging.) Great fun, especially if you have several smaller teams and keep the action moving quickly.

W.E.D. Game

Similar to Types of Weathering Game mentioned above, except the teacher reads headlines from recent newspapers, such as "Landslide destroys village in South America," or "100 feared dead in Russian avalanche." Team leaders hold up correct card identifying either: Weathering, Erosion, or Deposition.

The Importance of Soil Demonstration

An old USDA demonstration that works nicely: (1) Cut a large apple into four equal parts. "Three parts represent the oceans of the world. The fourth part represents the land area of the world." (2) Cut the land section in half lengthwise. "One section represents land such as deserts, swamps, antarctic, arctic, and mountain regions. The other 1/8 represents land where man can live but may NOT grow food." (3) Slice this 1/8 section crosswise into four equal parts. "Three of these 1/32 sections represent the areas of the world which are too rocky, too wet, too hot, or where soils are too poor for food production, as well as areas developed by man." (4) Carefully peel the last 1/32 section. "This one small bit of peeling represents the soil of our earth on which mankind depends for food production."

Soil Profile Worksheet

The typical worksheet on soil covers the horizons, and what each horizon consists of. It's also a good idea to have students ponder the types of soils in your state.

Created by MJKrech
URL: http://www.mjksciteachingideas.com/ideas.html
Email: mjkrech@yahoo.com