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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Weathering, erosion or deposition?

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.4-ESS2-1England: KS2 Y3 RocksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere (rock cycle)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Weathering, erosion or deposition?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Weathering and erosion

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Weathering and erosion). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which type of weathering is this: iron in rock rusting? (physical weathering / chemical weathering / biological weathering) → chemical weatheringPrompt: Is it caused by temperature and ice, by a chemical reaction, or by living things?
  2. What is the difference between weathering and erosion? (Weathering moves rocks to the sea / They are exactly the same / Weathering breaks rock down; erosion carries the pieces away / Erosion only happens in deserts) → Weathering breaks rock down; erosion carries the pieces awayPrompt: One breaks, the other moves.
  3. Which type of weathering is this: rabbits burrowing into soft rock? (physical weathering / chemical weathering / biological weathering) → biological weatheringPrompt: Is it caused by temperature and ice, by a chemical reaction, or by living things?

Hook · 3 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Weathering, erosion or deposition?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which process is this: tree roots growing into a rock?
  • Step 1: Weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces where it is.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: weathering (rock breaks down in place)
  • Answer: weathering (rock breaks down in place)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which process is this: wind blowing soil off a dry field? (weathering (rock breaks down in place) / erosion (pieces are carried away) / deposition (pieces are dropped)) → erosion (pieces are carried away)Prompt: Breaking, moving or dropping?
  2. Three of these are examples of weathering. Which one is NOT? (a boulder cracking after many hot days and cold nights / acid rain dissolving a limestone statue / water freezing in a crack and splitting a rock / waves dragging pebbles off a beach) → waves dragging pebbles off a beachPrompt: Is the rock being broken, carried, or dropped?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which order shows how a beach can form from a cliff? (deposition → erosion → weathering / deposition → weathering → erosion / weathering → erosion → deposition / erosion → deposition → weathering) → weathering → erosion → depositionPrompt: First the rock must break, then move, then settle.
  2. Which process is this: a river dropping mud at its mouth to make a delta? (weathering (rock breaks down in place) / erosion (pieces are carried away) / deposition (pieces are dropped)) → deposition (pieces are dropped)Prompt: Breaking, moving or dropping?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Weathering and erosion.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Weathering, erosion or deposition?

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Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which process is this: a boulder cracking after many hot days and cold nights?

    • A. weathering (rock breaks down in place)
    • B. erosion (pieces are carried away)
    • C. deposition (pieces are dropped)

  2. Question 2

    Lichen and moss growing on a gravestone slowly roughen its surface. Which process is this?

    • A. deposition
    • B. weathering
    • C. melting
    • D. erosion

  3. Question 3

    Three of these are examples of deposition. Which one is NOT?

    • A. a river dropping mud at its mouth to make a delta
    • B. sand piling up into a dune
    • C. pebbles settling at the bottom of a lake
    • D. a river carrying sand downstream

  4. Question 4

    Which process is this: tree roots growing into a rock?

    • A. weathering (rock breaks down in place)
    • B. erosion (pieces are carried away)
    • C. deposition (pieces are dropped)

  5. Question 5

    A river is fast in the mountains and slow near the sea. Where will it drop most of its mud?

    • A. it never drops mud
    • B. near the sea, where it slows down
    • C. in the clouds
    • D. in the mountains, where it is fast

  6. Question 6

    Three of these are examples of weathering. Which one is NOT?

    • A. acid rain dissolving a limestone statue
    • B. a river carrying sand downstream
    • C. tree roots growing into a rock
    • D. water freezing in a crack and splitting a rock

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Answer key: Weathering, erosion or deposition?

  1. 1. A. weathering (rock breaks down in place)

  2. 2. B. weathering

  3. 3. D. a river carrying sand downstream

  4. 4. A. weathering (rock breaks down in place)

  5. 5. B. near the sea, where it slows down

  6. 6. B. a river carrying sand downstream