History & Geography · Grade 7

Active learning ideas

Erosion and Deposition by Water, Wind, Ice

Active learning works well for this topic because the geological processes of erosion and deposition are dynamic and visual. Students engage best when they can model these processes and observe their immediate effects, which makes abstract concepts concrete and memorable.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Physical Patterns in a Changing World - Grade 7

• 30–60 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Jigsaw
• 60 min · Small Groups

Model: River Delta Formation

Students build a small-scale model of a river flowing into a larger body of water using sand, gravel, and a water source. They observe and record how sediment is deposited as the water slows down, forming a delta.

Analyze how glaciers have sculpted the Canadian Shield and other regions.

Facilitation Tip

During Station Rotation, set up each station with a clear visual example of erosion or deposition, such as a tray of sand with a fan for wind or a stream table for water, to anchor student observations.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: Wind Erosion Tray

Using a shallow tray filled with sand and small pebbles, students use a hairdryer on a low setting to simulate wind. They observe how different wind speeds and angles affect the movement and deposition of sediment.

Explain the role of rivers and coastlines in shaping Canada's geography.

Facilitation Tip

For Adaptation Design, provide students with images of real plants from each biome so they can reference actual adaptations rather than relying on assumptions.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Concept Mapping
• 50 min · Individual

Concept Mapping: Glacial Landforms in Canada

Students use topographic maps and online resources to identify and label examples of glacial landforms (e.g., cirques, moraines, drumlins) in specific Canadian regions, such as the Canadian Shield or the Rocky Mountains.

Predict the impact of increased wind erosion in arid or deforested areas.

Facilitation Tip

In Think-Pair-Share, assign roles to students to ensure both partners contribute, such as one person identifying the agent and the other explaining the landform’s features.

• Understand
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Fishbowl Discussion
• 30 min · Whole Class

Fishbowl Discussion: Coastal Erosion Case Study

Present students with a case study of coastal erosion in Canada (e.g., Prince Edward Island's red cliffs). Facilitate a whole-class discussion on the causes, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies.

Analyze how glaciers have sculpted the Canadian Shield and other regions.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should avoid over-simplifying these processes by focusing only on catastrophic events like floods or glaciers. Instead, emphasize gradual changes and local examples, such as how winter snowmelt shapes riverbanks in your region. Research shows that hands-on modeling, even with simple materials like ice cubes and sand, helps students grasp the scale and impact of these forces better than diagrams alone.

Successful learning looks like students accurately explaining how water, wind, and ice shape landforms, identifying the agent responsible for specific features, and connecting these processes to ecological consequences such as soil loss or habitat changes.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Station Rotation, watch for students who dismiss the Tundra as lifeless after seeing images of snow and ice.

  During Station Rotation, include a station with a magnifying glass and samples of Tundra plants like Arctic willow or mosses, asking students to sketch and describe one adaptation they observe.

• During Adaptation Design, listen for students who assume forests always regrow identically after disturbance.

  During Adaptation Design, provide before-and-after images of logged areas and introduce terms like 'secondary succession' to guide students in predicting long-term changes in vegetation and soil.

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Methods used in this brief

• Jigsaw
• Simulation Game
• Concept Mapping
• Fishbowl Discussion