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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.K-2-ETS1-3England: KS2 Y3 RocksEngland: KS1 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land.

  • 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: Earth changes: fast or slow?

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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Earth changes: fast or slow?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a fast change or a slow change: a flood covering fields? (fast (minutes to days) / slow (many years)) → fast (minutes to days)Prompt: Could you watch it happen in one day?
  2. Three of these are slow changes. Which one is NOT? (a river carving a canyon / a volcano erupting / waves slowly shaping a cliff / a cave forming in limestone) → a volcano eruptingPrompt: How long does each change take?
  3. A sharp, jagged mountain range and an old, rounded mountain range are both made of hard rock. Which has probably been wearing down for longer? (the rounded mountains / the sharp, jagged mountains / mountains never wear down / both wore down in one day) → the rounded mountainsPrompt: Wind, rain and ice smooth rock very slowly.

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Does this slow erosion or make it worse: walking new paths through dunes?
  • Step 1: These leave soil bare or speed up wind and water.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: makes erosion worse
  • Answer: makes erosion worse
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Does this slow erosion or make it worse: sand fences on a dune? (slows erosion / makes erosion worse) → slows erosionPrompt: Do plant roots or barriers hold the ground, or is the ground left bare?
  2. Engineers test two designs to stop a hill washing away. How should they decide which is better? (Pick the one with the nicest colour. / Test only one of them. / Ask which one is cheapest and never test. / Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost.) → Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost.Prompt: How do scientists compare ideas fairly?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Engineers test two designs to stop a hill washing away. How should they decide which is better? (Ask which one is cheapest and never test. / Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost. / Pick the one with the nicest colour. / Test only one of them.) → Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost.Prompt: How do scientists compare ideas fairly?
  2. Does this slow erosion or make it worse: letting animals eat every plant on a slope? (slows erosion / makes erosion worse) → makes erosion worsePrompt: Do plant roots or barriers hold the ground, or is the ground left bare?

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: Earth changes: fast or slow?.
  • 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-2.

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

eurekami

Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    The bare tray lost 376 g of soil and the grassy tray lost 116 g. What is the best explanation?

    Soil washed off the tray (g)0100200300400376bare soil116soil with grass
    • A. Grass makes soil heavier than rocks.
    • B. Water does not move soil.
    • C. The grassy tray was watered less.
    • D. Plant roots hold soil in place.

  2. Question 2

    Does this slow erosion or make it worse: planting grass on a slope?

    • A. slows erosion
    • B. makes erosion worse

  3. Question 3

    Why do farmers plant rows of trees along the edges of windy fields?

    • A. The trees slow the wind so it blows away less soil.
    • B. The trees make the wind stronger.
    • C. The trees eat the soil.
    • D. To keep birds away from the field.

  4. Question 4

    The bare tray lost 477 g of soil and the grassy tray lost 45 g. What is the best explanation?

    Soil washed off the tray (g)0100200300400500477bare soil45soil with grass
    • A. The grassy tray was watered less.
    • B. Grass makes soil heavier than rocks.
    • C. Plant roots hold soil in place.
    • D. Water does not move soil.

  5. Question 5

    Waves are washing away a beach near some houses. Which plan would help most?

    • A. build a sea wall or rock barrier
    • B. remove the plants on the dunes
    • C. dig the sand away faster
    • D. paint the houses

  6. Question 6

    Two sloping trays of soil were watered with the same watering can. One tray had grass growing in it. How many more grams of soil washed off the bare tray?

    Soil washed off the tray (g)0100200300400500600528bare soil148soil with grass

    Answerg

  7. Question 7

    Does this slow erosion or make it worse: walking new paths through dunes?

    • A. slows erosion
    • B. makes erosion worse

  8. Question 8

    Engineers test two designs to stop a hill washing away. How should they decide which is better?

    • A. Pick the one with the nicest colour.
    • B. Test only one of them.
    • C. Ask which one is cheapest and never test.
    • D. Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost.

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Answer key: Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land

  1. 1. D. Plant roots hold soil in place.

  2. 2. A. slows erosion

  3. 3. A. The trees slow the wind so it blows away less soil.

  4. 4. C. Plant roots hold soil in place.

  5. 5. A. build a sea wall or rock barrier

  6. 6. 380 g

  7. 7. B. makes erosion worse

  8. 8. D. Test both in the same way and measure how much soil is lost.