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 now recommend you make up a FactSheet with cut-and-paste answers based on your text book.
You could also do a PowerPoint with a FollowSheet, Cut-and-Paste, 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.
Cut
& Paste
Weathering Vocab
Magic
trick, almost! Students remember vocabulary better when they cut &
paste, instead of copy definitions! Cut & Paste Vocab works
especially well for special ed students. Click here.
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.
Teaching the
Metric System