2nd Grade Science Lesson

The Washed-Away Path: How Wind and Water Shape Our Land

Shared by A STEM Educator

2nd GradeNGSS Phenomenon-BasedNGSS 2-ESS2-1, NGSS 2-ESS1-150 min

Learning Objective

Students will be able to explain how wind and water change the shape of land over time (fast and slow changes), provide evidence from investigations, and design a solution to slow erosion on the school playground path (NGSS 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS1-1).

Lesson Overview

Students investigate how a heavy rainstorm washed away the school playground dirt path, creating mini-canyons, and explore how wind and water cause fast and slow changes to Earth's surface. Students then engineer a solution to protect the path from future erosion.

Materials

Aluminum foil trays or plastic bins (1 per group)
Sand or loose soil (enough to fill each tray ~2 inches deep)
Watering cans or spray bottles filled with water
Small electric fan or hand fans (1 per group)
Craft sticks, small rocks, dried grass/straw, clay, fabric scraps (engineering materials)
Rulers (1 per student)
Pencils and crayons
Student investigation handouts
Chart paper and markers for class data
Photos of the school playground path after the rainstorm (printed or projected)
Sticky notes (2 colors per student)

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

OBSERVE THE MODEL BEFORE: Fill your tray with soil and pat it into a gentle slope (one end higher). Sketch what the soil looks like from the side. Label: 'high end' and 'low end.' Measure the height of the high end with a ruler and record it.

[ Interactive graph / diagram — available in the full lesson ]

2Task 2

PREDICT AND OBSERVE — WATER: Before adding water, write your prediction: 'I think water will change the soil by ___.' Then slowly pour one full watering can of water at the HIGH end of your slope. Observe what happens. Sketch the soil AFTER. Circle the biggest change you see.

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