Breaking Down and Moving On: Weathering and Erosion Processes
Shared by A STEM Educator
Students will be able to distinguish between mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, and erosion; explain how water and wind break down and transport Earth materials; and evaluate civil engineering strategies used to prevent property loss from erosion.
Lesson Overview
Students investigate how rocks and soil are broken down (weathering) and moved (erosion) through hands-on sorting, stream table modeling, and real-world connections to civil engineering solutions for beachfront and hillside protection.
Materials
- Photo cards: sharp newly-carved rock face vs. smooth river stone (printed, laminated if possible)
- Picture card sets for sorting activity (mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, erosion)
- Stream table trays or aluminum baking pans (1 per group)
- Sand/soil mix (enough to fill each tray 3–4 cm deep)
- Small rocks (riprap)
- Grass seed mats or strips of sod/moss (optional: dried grass clippings)
- Toothpicks and cardstock for terrace steps
- Watering cans or squeeze bottles
- Rulers
- Plastic cups for measuring runoff
- Paper towels and trays to catch overflow
- Science notebooks or recording sheets
- Markers and sticky notes
- Anchor chart paper
Scaffolded Task Progression
[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]
Write two sentences: (1) Describe one difference you observe between the two rocks. (2) Write your hypothesis — what natural force do you think caused the smooth rock to look that way?
After sorting, answer: What is the biggest difference between weathering (any kind) and erosion? Use the words *break down* and *move* in your answer.
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