Weathering and Erosion - Lesson and Experiment
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Objectives:
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The students will learn about weathering and erosion.
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The students will be able to explain how weathering and erosion change the Earth’s landscape.
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The students will be able to explain the difference between weathering and erosion.
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The students will conduct an experiment about the effects of chemical weathering.
Questions that encompasses the objective:
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Think about Earth’s landscape (specifically rock formations). How do you think these landscapes/ rock formations were created?
Prepare the Learner: Activating Prior Knowledge.
How will students prior knowledge be activated?
Warm up by asking students:
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What do you know about weathering and erosion?
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Have students look at above photo. How do you think these landscapes/ rock formations were created?
Common Core State Standards:
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1 B
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2 B
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1
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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4
Materials and Free Resources to Download for this Lesson:
**All definitions come from the New Oxford American Dictionary**
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“Rocks & Minerals” Science Journals (Teacher Copy & Student Copy)
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Highlighters (one per student)
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Pages 16-21
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“Effects of Chemical Weathering” experiment materials:
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“Rocks & Minerals” Science Journals (pages 18-21)
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8 clear plastic cups
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Labels (for each cup)
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Permanent marker
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2 pieces of limestone
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2 pieces of calcite
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2 pieces of chalk
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2 pieces of quartz
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Lemon juice
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Vinegar
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Tablespoon
Input:
What is the most important content in this lesson?
To reach this lesson’s objective, students need to understand:
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The terms “weathering” and “erosion”.
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How weathering and erosion play a role in changing Earth’s landscape.
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The difference between physical weathering and chemical weathering.
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The term “denudation.”
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How rocks with calcium carbonate dissolve when exposed to acid.
How will the learning of this content be facilitated?
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The teacher will begin class by showing the students the PowerPoint “Landforms of Weathering & Erosion”. The PowerPoint consists of 12 slides that shows the names and different pictures of landforms caused by weathering and erosion. The teacher should review each slide/ landform. The teacher should talk about if the landform is common to the students’ local area. The entire presentation should take about 10 minutes.
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Next, the teacher will begin presenting the information on Weathering and Erosion. If it is possible, project each page of the teacher’s copy of the “Rocks & Minerals” Science Journal worksheet onto the board using a projector or put into a PowerPoint document and project. The teacher’s copy of the journal has certain words/phrases that are bolded red and highlighted. It is important the teacher explain to the students those words/phrases are to be highlighted in their (students) journal. For this lesson, the teacher should review these pages:
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16: Weathering & Erosion
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17: Physical Weathering vs. Chemical Weathering (In-Class Activity)
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After the information has been presented, the “Effects of Chemical Weathering” experiment will be conducted. The students should turn to page 18 for the experiment. The students will complete pages 18-21.
**See pages 4 and 5 in the “Rocks & Minerals Experiment Booklet” for the experiment outline**
Closure - Discussing the Results:
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Instruct the students to get back into their science groups.
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Instruct the students to fill out pages 19-21 in their science journal.
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Allow the students to work together for about 15 minutes.
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Reconvene and discuss their observations.
Time/Application
3-5 minutes
Guided Introduction
Review the class/ agenda with the students:
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Introductory Activity: “Landforms of Weathering & Erosion”
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Discussion: “Weathering & Erosion”
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Experiment: “Effects of Chemical Weathering”
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Discussion of Experiment
10 minutes
Introductory Activity: “Landforms of Weathering & Erosion”
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Review each slide/picture; discuss any familiar landscapes.
10 Minutes
Discussion: Weathering & Erosion
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Instruct the students to open to page 16 in their science journals.
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Project each page of the science journal onto the board either through a projector or PowerPoint presentation.
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The teacher copy has bolded red and highlighted words. The students will highlight those words in their science journal.
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Begin presenting the information. The pages that will be presented include: pages 16-17.
25 Minutes
Experiment: “Effects of Chemical Weathering”
**See pages 4 and 5 in the “Rocks & Minerals Experiment Booklet” for the experiment outline. The students will be working on pages 18-21**
Closure/Assessment
10 minutes
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Discussing the Results:
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Instruct the students to get back into their science groups.
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Instruct the students to fill out pages 19-21 in their science journal.
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Allow the students to work together for about 15 minutes.
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Reconvene and discuss their observations.
Individualized Instruction/Scaffolding
English Language Learners will be supported in this lesson through data-based heterogeneous grouping, verbal and written repetition of new vocabulary words, and multiple representation of vocabulary words through printed images and video.
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