Expressions and Equations · Weeks 28-36

Box Plots

Students will create and interpret box plots to summarize and compare data distributions.

About This Topic

Weathering and Erosion are the processes that wear down Earth's surface and reshape the landscape. Students learn to distinguish between weathering (the breaking down of rock) and erosion (the movement of that broken material). This topic aligns with MS-ESS2-1 and MS-ESS2-2, focusing on the cycling of Earth's materials.

Students explore physical weathering, like ice wedging, and chemical weathering, like acid rain. They also investigate the 'agents' of erosion, water, wind, ice, and gravity, and how they transport sediment to new locations. This unit helps students understand how features like the Grand Canyon or local riverbanks were formed over millions of years.

This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of erosion using stream tables or participate in collaborative investigations that test how different variables affect the rate of change.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Stream Table Trials

Students use trays of sand and water to simulate a river. They change the 'slope' of the tray or the 'speed' of the water to see how it affects the amount of sand eroded and where it is deposited.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Weathering vs. Erosion

The teacher shows a series of photos (a cracked sidewalk, a muddy river, a sand dune). Students must decide with a partner if the photo shows weathering, erosion, or both, and explain their reasoning.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Stations Rotation: Chemical vs. Physical

Stations include 'shaking sugar cubes' (physical) and 'vinegar on chalk' (chemical). Students observe the changes and discuss which real-world processes these activities represent.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often use the terms 'weathering' and 'erosion' interchangeably.

What to Teach Instead

Use a simple analogy: Weathering *breaks* it, Erosion *takes* it. Peer-led sorting activities with photos of geological features can help students practice identifying the specific process at work.

Common Misconception

Many believe that erosion only happens during big storms or floods.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that while big events cause a lot of change, erosion is a constant, slow process. Discussing how a small local stream changes over several years can help students see the cumulative effect of daily erosion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Weathering is the process of breaking rocks into smaller pieces (sediment). Erosion is the process of moving that sediment from one place to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

How do plants prevent erosion?

Plant roots act like a net that holds the soil together. The leaves also help by breaking the fall of raindrops, preventing them from hitting the soil with full force and washing it away.

How can active learning help students understand erosion?

Active learning, like using stream tables, allows students to see the 'cause and effect' of erosion in a compressed timeframe. By changing variables like water flow or vegetation (using moss or sponges), they can immediately see how the landscape responds. This hands-on experimentation makes the abstract concept of 'geological change' visible and measurable.

What is deposition?

Deposition is the final step in the process. It's when the wind or water slows down enough that it can no longer carry the sediment, so it drops it (deposits it) in a new location, like a river delta or a sand dune.

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