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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 glacier carving a valley? (fast (minutes to days) / slow (many years)) → slow (many years)Prompt: Could you watch it happen in one day?
  2. Three of these are fast changes. Which one is NOT? (a volcano erupting / a cave forming in limestone / a landslide after heavy rain / an earthquake cracking a road) → a cave forming in limestonePrompt: 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 sharp, jagged mountains / the rounded 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. Why do farmers plant rows of trees along the edges of windy fields? (The trees slow the wind so it blows away less soil. / The trees make the wind stronger. / The trees eat the soil. / To keep birds away from the field.) → The trees slow the wind so it blows away less soil.Prompt: What happens to wind when it meets a row of trees?

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. Does this slow erosion or make it worse: cutting down all the trees on a hill? (slows erosion / makes erosion worse) → makes erosion worsePrompt: Do plant roots or barriers hold the ground, or is the ground left bare?
  2. Signs on sand dunes ask people to stay on the paths. Why? (The dunes belong to the birds only. / The sand is too hot. / Feet crush dune plants whose roots hold the sand. / Paths are prettier.) → Feet crush dune plants whose roots hold the sand.Prompt: What keeps a dune from blowing away?

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

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Ways to slow wind and water from wearing away land

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    The bare tray lost 525 g of soil and the grassy tray lost 96 g. What is the best explanation?

    Soil washed off the tray (g)0100200300400500600525bare soil96soil with grass
    • A. Grass makes soil heavier than rocks.
    • B. The grassy tray was watered less.
    • C. Plant roots hold soil in place.
    • D. Water does not move soil.

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Does this slow erosion or make it worse: covering bare soil with mulch?

    • A. slows erosion
    • B. makes erosion worse

  4. Question 4

    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)0100200300400500473bare soil79soil with grass

    Answerg

  5. Question 5

    Does this slow erosion or make it worse: cutting down all the trees on a hill?

    • A. slows erosion
    • B. makes erosion worse

  6. Question 6

    The bare tray lost 510 g of soil and the grassy tray lost 89 g. What is the best explanation?

    Soil washed off the tray (g)0100200300400500600510bare soil89soil with grass
    • A. Plant roots hold soil in place.
    • B. Grass makes soil heavier than rocks.
    • C. The grassy tray was watered less.
    • D. Water does not move soil.

  7. Question 7

    Signs on sand dunes ask people to stay on the paths. Why?

    • A. Feet crush dune plants whose roots hold the sand.
    • B. Paths are prettier.
    • C. The sand is too hot.
    • D. The dunes belong to the birds only.

  8. Question 8

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

    • A. slows erosion
    • B. makes erosion worse

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

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

  2. 2. B. The trees slow the wind so it blows away less soil.

  3. 3. A. slows erosion

  4. 4. 394 g

  5. 5. B. makes erosion worse

  6. 6. A. Plant roots hold soil in place.

  7. 7. A. Feet crush dune plants whose roots hold the sand.

  8. 8. A. slows erosion