Sixth graders learn how Earth’s surface is constantly reshaped — weathering breaks rock down, erosion carries it away, and deposition drops it in new places — slowly carving canyons and building beaches over time.
Students will be able to…
The Grand Canyon was carved by a river; smooth pebbles were once jagged rocks. What slow but relentless forces break down and move Earth’s surface?
Project this and tap each idea. Have students learn how weathering, erosion, and deposition reshape Earth’s surface!
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
A river carved the Grand Canyon; rough rocks became smooth pebbles — how?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Middle School Earth & Space Science).
Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials.
Construct an explanation for how geoscience processes change Earth’s surface.
Model the cycling of water driving surface processes.
Developing and using models.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students use a stream table (or a tray of sand and water) to model how flowing water erodes and deposits sediment, forming channels and deltas. A printable weathering-and-erosion sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.