erosion and deposition experiments

7 Ideas to Teach Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition

Teaching about weathering, erosion, and deposition? This post is packed with ideas for teaching your students about slow changes to Earth’s surface.  Have fun learning how landforms can be created due to slow changes to Earth’s surface!

As we like to say while doing silly hand motions:

Weathering breaks it!

Erosion takes it!

Deposition lays it down!

What are weathering, erosion, and deposition?

Weathering is the process by which rocks and other materials on the Earth’s surface are broken down and changed over time. 

Erosion is the process by which weathering materials (sediments) are moved from one place to another. Erosion can be caused by wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Deposition is the process by which eroded materials are deposited or laid down in a new location. 

Weathering, erosion, and deposition are important processes that shape the Earth’s surface and create landforms , such as mountains, valleys, and cliffs.

Here are some of my favorite activities for slow changes to Earth’s surface .

1. 🌳 Go outside

Walk around the school as a class or ask students to look around at home or in their neighborhoods for signs of erosion.  Have sediments been dropped off in a new place due to heavy rainfall?  Do rocks appear broken down due to ice?  

An easy way to guide this exploration is with a printable Scavenger Hunt .

This was a HUGE success ! Through discussion we addressed misconceptions and practiced using academic vocabulary. We found REAL examples of Earth’s changes right at school. 

Free Download : The Science Penguin Free Resource Library

2. 💬 Start sorting

Sort, sort again, and then sort some more. We sort Earth’s changes in 2 different ways:

• If a change generally occurs due to wind, water, or ice
• Whether a change is considered weathering, erosion, or deposition

While teaching, I’ve mainly focused on the agent of change and THEN discuss whether it’s weathering, erosion, or deposition.

The first image shows 6 different change cards to categorize as occurring due to wind, water, or ice, then students completed their own student page.

The second image shows 27 sorting cards from my Science Sorting Relay product line. These are so fun and can be used in multiple ways to help students cement new learning.

Shop TpT : Wind, Water, or Ice Sort  

3. 🌄 Explore models in stations

Salt lick canyon.

This is a time-lapse video over a couple of hours of my salt lick and water drip setup.

You can set up a cool demo over a few hours using a salt lick and something that will allow water to drip. I used a water cooler that was just slightly open allowing a slow drip. I’ve heard of some teachers using an IV!

There are more directions and 5 more station activities in my Slow Changes Observation Stations product. Students, teachers, and observing administrators love it!

“What a great product. I teach the entire grade level and this resource worked well for ALL my learners . The observation stations are easy to set up & independent for the kiddos to perform by themselves.” – Christina S.

Shop TpT : Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface Observation Stations

4. 📓 Study weathering, erosion, deposition vocabulary

Study vocabulary with 9 different fold-ups offered in the All in One Science Notebook. Over 18,000 teachers are using this notebook to help guide their explicit instruction of new slow changes vocabulary. They ALL have photo examples to make prep easy for you! This is a great alternative to worksheets !

Fold-up Topics:

• Agents of Weathering
• Agents of Erosion
• Agents of Deposition
• WED Process
• Chemical & Mechanical Weathering
• Ice-Wedging
• Constructive and Destructive Forces

Shop TpT : Slow Changes Notebook

5. 🌎 Explore real examples

Watch video examples:

Slow Changes Due to Wind and Water Video : Shows The Wave, rock pillars, Grand Canyon, and sea stacks

How Do Glaciers Move? :A time-lapse camera shows the movement of a glacier and how it carves away rock.

Use Google Earth:

After learning about different types of landforms, have teams research and model the landforms of a particular location.  Experiencing Landforms  on TpT includes landforms posters, information for students, fold-ups, and a landforms model project using Google Earth.

6. ❓ Test prep with landforms task cards

Test prep. No one gets excited for it, but it CAN be manageable and enjoyable… especially with task cards.

This set of rigorous multiple-choice task cards will help prepare students for their state testing AND you can use them to play games. Here are 4 easy ideas:

• Use them for your favorite game app!
• Hang them up around the room for students to visit at their own pace with a partner.
• Divide your class into teams, project a question and let them discuss, then randomly call on one student from each team to give the answer and an explanation.
• Print off a copy of the task cards for each team so they can practice marking them up!
• Use the included digital version already set up in Google Forms.

Shop TpT : Landforms Task Cards

7. 💬 Review with erosion stations

Stations give students opportunities for exploration, analysis, and review. I use 9 station activities that students can complete at their own pace. Assign the same stations to all students, assign different stations for different groups, or allow students to choose!

On TpT : Erosion Stations

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Teaching Resources

Check out our top teaching resources on TPT .

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4 thoughts on “7 ideas to teach weathering, erosion, and deposition”.

This is great! Studying to become a teacher and trying to soak up ideas. Thank you!

You are amazing! Thank you so much for your post. My standards have changed and I am now teaching erosion and weathering. I have not taught these concepts in detail for 20 years. Thank you for your help.

Dear Ari I love your idea of setting learning stations. But my dear I have ELL students. They are non native speakers, where even families can’t help me. Please advise me, how I can use learning stations .

Hi! I’d love to hear more about your erosion experiment! (and also what fonts you use!) Thanks!

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Hi, I'm Ari!

As a new teacher, I struggled to plan engaging, rigorous science lessons. Throughout my time teaching upper elementary and in my graduate studies, I discovered what worked well and developed science curriculum for busy teachers.  Now, teachers across the country use Science Penguin activities every single day in their classrooms!

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20 Weathering and Erosion Activities for Kids

February 10, 2023 //  by  Randi Smith

If you’re coming up to your next Earth Science unit and struggling to find resources, we’ve got a treat for you! Teaching concepts like weathering and erosion in the classroom can be challenging as geological processes are topics that cannot be understood simply by reading. Erosion and weathering are perfect topics for engaging your students in hands-on learning. To help you start your planning, we’ve gathered 20 of the best weathering and erosion activities you can try in your classroom!

1. Weathering and Erosion Vocabulary Cards

Beginning a new unit is the perfect time to pre-teach new vocabulary. Word walls are great tools for building vocabulary. A weathering and erosion word wall is a great way to encourage the use of academic vocabulary.

Learn More: Teach Starter

2. Physical Weathering Lab

This weathering station activity demonstrates physical weathering by having students observe how “rocks” (sugar cubes) become weathered by water and the shifting of other rocks (fish tank gravel). All you need is sugar cubes and a cup or bowl with rocks.

Learn More: The First Grade Roundup

3. Erosion in Action with Video Labs

Sometimes, materials and lab space are unavailable, so watching digital versions of demonstrations is a good option. This video shows how runoff and deposition change the area around water sources. It’s the perfect resource for demonstrating the effects of erosion.

Learn More: The Good and the Beautiful Homeschool Science

4. Draw a Diagram of an Erosion Mountain

This activity is a hit with students who are visual learners or budding artists. A great way for students to summarize their learning is to have them draw and label mountainous landforms, along with different examples of erosion. 

Learn More: Young Naturalist’s Club

5. Create an Agents of Erosion Comic Book

Engage your writers and artists with a fun combination of science, writing, and art. This fun storyboard comic strip was created using Storyboard That! We love the idea of turning geologic processes into stories.

Learn More: Storyboard That!

6. Cookie Rocks- A Yummy Earth Science Station

This tasty science activity helps students see the effects of different kinds of erosion. Students discover how wind erosion, water, ice, and other destructive forces change landforms using a cookie as a natural landform. This would be a sweet way for students to see how the rate.

Source: E is for Explore

7. How is Soil Made? 

Looking for lesson plans? Slide decks like these hold loads of information, digital science activities, and opportunities for discussion, so students learn how all of the soil on Earth is created from weathering!

8. Take a Crash Course on Erosion Vs Weathering

This fun Crash Course video teaches students the differences between erosion and weathering. This video compares erosion vs weathering and shows real-world examples of erosion by water and other elements.

Learn More: Crash Course Kids

9. Deposition for Kids Lesson Lab

This experiment of erosion and deposition activity has students use simple materials such as soil, paint trays, and water to identify how the slope of land affects the erosion rate. Students experimented and observed how erosion differed when they changed the angle of their trays. 

Learn More: Westdale Heights

10. Try a “Sweet” Rock Cycle Lab Activity

While going through weathering and erosion, your students have learned that all that weathered material moves into the rock cycle. This lab activity helps students understand the rock cycle by likening three sweet treats to rock types.

Learn More: Our Journey Westward

11. Starburst Rock Cycle Activity

Here’s another fun activity to help your students understand how erosion and weathering feed into the rock cycle. Students use starburst candy, heat, and pressure to form three rock types. Look at that example of sedimentary rock formation! Those are some fun rock layers.

Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands

12. Beach Erosion- Landform Model

A tray of sand, water, and some pebbles is all you need to build a working model of coastal erosion. With this experiment, students can see exactly how the smallest movements of water cause significant erosion.

13. Try a Chemical Weathering Experiment

This experiment has students discovering how chemical weathering can affect copper using pennies and vinegar. Like the Statue of Liberty, copper pennies turn green when exposed to harsh elements.

Learn More: STEAMsational

14. Virtual Field Trip 

Field trips are favorites for regular and homeschooled students. See the effects of erosion and weathering in the real world by taking a virtual field trip (or a real one) to a cave system. Students can see the true effects of erosion on the landscape by seeing the landforms carved by elements. 

Learn More: National Parks Service

15. Teach Students About Weathering with Salt Blocks

While this video demonstrates the effects of chemical weathering on a large scale, a similar experiment could easily be implemented in the classroom with a smaller salt block. Here, students observed how a water drip caused erosion in a salt block over a day. What a great simulation of weathering!

Learn More: Cobrrdrr

16. Glacial Erosion Classroom Presentation

A block of ice, a stack of books, and a tray of sand are all you need to build a glacial erosion model to observe changes to the landscape. This experiment is a three-in-one demonstration of erosion, runoff, and deposition. What a great way to capture all of those NGSS science standards.

Learn More: Michigan Science Center

17. Beach Erosion STEM 

This fun STEM activity was built for 4th-grade students. Over a day, students are required to plan, design, build, test, and retest their design for a tool or product that prevents erosion of a sand beach. 

Learn More: Anchoring Down in Second Grade

18. Blend 4th Grade Science and Cursive 

This is an easy way to blend science into other subject areas. Print a set of weathering, erosion, rock cycle, and deposition worksheets to review science concepts and practice cursive writing.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

19. Mechanical Weathering Experiment

Soil, seeds, plaster, and time are all you need to show your students the mechanical weathering process. Seeds are soaked in water, then partially embedded in a thin layer of plaster. Over time, the seeds will sprout, causing the plaster around them to crack. 

Learn More: Science Matters Blog

20. Explore Windbreaks to Combat Wind Erosion

This STEM activity aims to teach students about one way of preventing wind erosion–the windbreak. Using Lego bricks, students build a windbreak to help prevent their soil (tufts of yarn) from blowing away in the wind. 

Learn More: Andrea Knight

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Last updated by Linda Kamp on December 9, 2022 • 7 Comments

10 Hands-On Activities for Teaching Earth Changes & Landforms

Two favorite second grade science topics each year are Earth Changes and Landforms. Always a highlight, students learn about erosion, weathering, deposition and many different landforms. Here are 10 hands-on landforms and earth changes activities for teaching fast and slow earth changes in 2nd grade science.

Landforms Activities

Each of these activities is available in a complete Earth Changes 2nd grade science unit . Some activities are available in digital format .

Describe Earth’s Land

Introduce your students to the different features of the Earth’s land and surface. Describe the different types of landforms on Earth and the variety of ways they are formed. Ask students, “What landforms have you seen in a place you have visited or where you live?”.

Show videos to help introduce different the types of landforms and how they form on Earth.

Landforms, Hey! (3:57)

Exploring Landforms and Bodies of Water (9:18)

Name That Landform

Play a partner game with Play Doh. Have two students play together. Each uses Play Doh to make a landform. They then check of features of their model on their recording page.  Next, students draw a diagram of their landform model.

Lastly, and before showing it to their partner, the each students take turns describing the features of their landform and asks their partner to guess which landform they made based on the features they heard described. This simple activity gives students practice in describing an object and drawing and labeling a diagram.

Salt Dough Landform Islands

In this project, students show the kinds of land and water in a make believe area by making landform islands.  We have used both salt dough and Crayola Air Dry Clay. Students make a model of a special area they design that features several landforms and bodies of water.

I use blue paper plates from the dollar store and Crayola Air Dry Clay from Walmart or any craft store. I recommend doing this project on a Friday and allowing them to dry over the weekend. Students can then paint their islands using Tempra or acrylic paint.

Extend the project and address multiple standards by having students make maps and measure distances between landforms or points on their islands.

Make a Topographical Map

How do engineers map the height of a mountain? In this activity, students use clay to make a 3-D model, then section it to make a topographical map. Making this type of map is a fun way to incorporate not only map skills, but math practices.

Students begin by making a simple model of a mountain out of clay. We used Crayola Air Dry Clay.  Next, they use dental floss to section their model into equal slices. Guide students to understand that a topographic map is another type of model. It is a one-dimensional model that shows heights using numbers and curved lines.

This video, Understanding Topographical Maps is a good one to demonstrate how to use clay and dental floss to make a topographic map.

Earth Changes Activities

Fast earth changes.

Some changes to the Earth’s surface happen rapidly. Events like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides all happen very quickly with a series of events preceding them. But what causes land to change quickly?

These videos explain the science behind rapid and sudden changes to the Earth’s land and surface.

• Floods (3:48)
• Landslides (3:18)
• Earthquakes (3:46)
• Tsunamis (3:37)

Engineer a Solution to Prevent Landslides

Another fun earth changes activity to do is to simulate a landslide. Show the above landslide video to students and discuss the causes of a landslide and how people can help to prevent them. Challenge students to simulate a landslide then design a solution to help prevent a landslide and protect a community.

We used crumpled newspaper covered in potting soil to create a slope. We simulated a landslide of the slope with no vegetation by pouring water on the hill to represent a heavy rain storm.. Next, students did the simulation again with vegetation (aquarium plants) strategically placed to help hold the soil in place.

Students observe and record the amount of water they use before their slope begins to slide each time. They also measured and compared the distance their houses slid down the slope with and without surrounding vegetation.

Slow Earth Changes

Save a lighthouse from water erosion.

Save the Lighthouse! is a fun teaching lab to simulate the erosion of a coastline. Students first simulate ocean waves eroding a coastline.

They then use craft sticks, craft foam, rocks, screen and whatever materials they decide upon, to design ways to prevent the erosion to save the lighthouse.

Design a Windbreak to Prevent Wind Erosion

Another type of erosion we learn about in 2nd grade is wind erosion. Students learn the damaging effect that wind can have on crop fields.

After learning about ways farmers use trees and shrubs to build windbreaks to protect their fields, students are tasked with designing their own. When designing their windbreaks, students first need to consider wind direction. They should also consider if there are existing structures nearby that might also serve to block wind.

Students design a simple windbreak using paper trees, cotton balls, and a straw to simulate wind blowing soil and how the windbreak stops wind erosion and damage to a crop field. Under the “crop field” is a lab sheet booklet for students to draw a diagram of their design and explain the things they took into consideration that informed their designs.

Solve Science Word Problems

So many of these activities lend themselves well to applying math skills. Adding, subtracting, measuring, and comparing lengths are easily included when students are making maps, building models, and conducting investigations.

Solving word problems that use science content gives students not only math and reading practice, but also an opportunity to apply what they have learned about landforms and earth changes.

Sequence Events that Lead to Earth Changes

Identifying the causes and effects of earth changes helps students to better understand Earth’s processes. This science center tasks students with sequencing the events/causes that lead up to a significant change to the earth’s land.

Shop Landforms & Earth Changes Activities

Preview these science units:

• Landforms & Earth Changes
• Digital Landforms & Earth Changes Activities
• Landforms & Earth Changes BUNDLE

I hope you have found ideas you can use as you plan your own landforms and earth changes activities and lessons. Be sure to pin this post for later so you have it when you plan!

For more second grade science activities, visit these posts:

Properties of Matter Activities

Habitats & Ecosystems Activities

Plant Life Cycle Activities

Happy teaching!

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Reader Interactions

November 5 at 12:31 pm

Hello, I am interested in the handout you show pictured above, “Name that Landform”. Can you please direct me to where I could find that? Thanks!

November 22 at 6:32 am

Hi Sharon, Thanks for reaching out! The “Name that Landform” lab is part of this 2nd grade science unit: https://aroundthekampfire.com/product/landforms-fast-slow-earth-changes-second-grade-science-unit-ngss

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Hello Friends

I’m Linda Kamp, a 20 year primary grade teacher with a passion for creating educational materials that excite students and make learning fun! I'm so glad you're here!

Stream Table Erosion Lab

I love teaching weathering and erosion! One of the best ways to learn about weathering and erosion is to SEE it in action. There are a few ways to do this:

• Have students go on a hunt outside and look for evidence of weathering or erosion. Have them take a picture, predict what caused the weathering or erosion, and upload to your LMS. (This is a great homework assignment if you don’t want to do it around campus).
• Have them explore cool landforms around the world that have been formed by weathering or erosion on Google maps. (If you want a premade lesson on this, check out this interactive diagram on TpT or on my website ).
• Have them play with stream tables!

Large stream tables are expensive, and a pain to store from year to year. You can easily make your own (for a lot less money!) by using small paint roller pans. I’ve done this lab multiple times over the years and worked out the kinks for you. Here are my best tips!

How to build your own stream table

(If you are more of a video kinda person and would like to SEE this lab instead of read about it, check out this youtube tutorial instead).

First, you’re going to need to head to Lowes or Home Depot. You have a few options when purchasing paint roller pans: there are metal and plastic. You’re going to want to purchase plastic paint roller pans that stand up at an angle themselves, not the really flexible insert pans. You can see in the picture below, the bottom has raised ridges that help it sit at an angle. They cost roughly $2 each, so I spent $16 on 8 of them (don’t worry, they will last you multiple years).

Next, you need to drill holes along the bottom of the tray for drainage. I drilled 5 per tray, and that was more than adequate. If you don’t want lakes to form at the bottom of the tray, drill the holes towards the bottom. If you are fine with water pooling, drill them about halfway up the pan.

The last step is to fill them with sand. If you have sand around your campus or neighborhood you can use for free, have at it! You can also purchase sand at Home Depot for about $5 a bag. One bag was enough for me to fill all 8 trays.

The day before the lab, you will need to also prep 2 more things:

• Get one plastic cup per group. Drill or poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. Students will be filling these with water and allowing the water to drain out onto their mini stream table.
• Get an ice cube tray or two, fill the bottom with some small gravel, and top off with water. Freeze overnight. These will be used to represent glaciers.

Stream table experiment TIPS

These stream tables are obviously much shorter than the typical ones you can order from science suppliers. That limits the amount of erosion that can take place. Here are some tips to help them work the best:

• Start with wet sand, and pack it down tight . If the sand is dry, it will all run down without creating a clear channel. It also helps to form a small, narrow channel with your hand before running any water down. Since the tables are so short, this helps the stream form faster.
• I’ve done this lab both indoors (when I had a lab space with lots of sinks and rubber hoses) and outside (when I had no sinks). I definitely recommend doing this outdoors to avoid messes and sand going down your drains. You will need a couple 5 gallon buckets- just fill them up and place outside. Multiple groups can share water from 1 bucket.
• Alright, lets talk water. If you simply pour water from a cup or beaker, the water tends to spread out too fast and channels don’t form. Solution: poke a hole in the bottom of a plastic cup . Have students cover the hole with their finger while they fill the cup, and then uncover the hole once they are ready for water to flow down the pan. A smaller, more direct water source helps the channel form more easily.
• Between trials, students need to dump out any excess water, flatten out the dirt, and re-form that shallow channel.
• In the past I’ve tried to have students blow through straws and see wind erosion, but it doesn’t work well with wet sand. If you would like to try this, I would have one tray that has very dry sand, and have groups rotate over to it.

Stream Table Variables

What can you have students test? What variables impact the rate of erosion?

• You can change the slope of the pan by holding it up at a steeper angle.
• You can have students change the water discharge by providing a second cup with a larger hole.
• You can have students place rocks or small plants down into the sand and see what impact it has on erosion. Does the water go around the rocks? Over the rocks?
• Have students gently push an ice cube glacier down the table. Does any sand below the glacier erode? What happens to the bottom of the ice cube by the time it reaches the bottom of the tray?
• Have students start their channel with meanders instead of a straight channel. Do meanders make the river erode faster or slower? On what part of the curve is erosion taking place?

While overall this is a very qualitative lab and there isn’t much data to record, it is fun for students to get outside and visualize stream formation. You can find a lab write-up on TpT or on my website .

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Erosion vs Weathering ~ Awesome Science STEM Activities

Anytime Crafts & Activities , Books , Crafts & Activities , Homeschool , Printables , Science , Science Printables , Subjects

One of our top blog posts is about erosion vs weathering. We explain what erosion and weathering are, show pictures of both and I also offer a set of printables to reinforce the learning of the difference between erosion and weathering. Visit our What is the Difference between Weathering and Erosion or Kids?  post after you read this one!

Erosion is mass wasting of a rock structure. Pieces of dirt and rock are worn away or broken off by different processes. Mountains are eroded by water, wind or ice picking up and carrying away pieces of them so they become leveled or, at best, shorter than before.

Weathering is the process where rocks dissolve rock pieces where structures of mountains may stay up, but they look eaten away. Soil and rock that is loose will fall off and leave the stronger, harder rock standing as always. See images below. 

Reminder! Don’t forget to check out our awesome hub for all kinds of erosion, weathering and deposition printables and activities!

Discover the fascinating world of erosion vs weathering with these awesome science STEM activities! Delve into the forces that shape our planet through hands-on experiments and engaging projects. Unleash your inner scientist and watch as rocks transform before your eyes.

With these exciting activities, you’ll be inspired to learn more about the incredible processes that have shaped the Earth we know today. Don’t miss out on this chance to explore and understand the wonders of erosion and weathering. Get ready to be amazed!

Weathering and Erosion Project Ideas

It is important for students to know the difference between erosion and weathering when they are studying Earth Science. To do this, we read some books on both concepts and I made some weathering printables after our Summer trip (where we discussed erosion and weathering at length). In exploring these processes,  materials like poly film  rolls can be used to show how barriers protect soil from eroding, much like natural features do.

But now, we will show you one of the Science STEM activities we did to reiterate our learning. We also studied about some of the  natural wonders  of the world to expound our research on the topic.  So what is the difference between weathering and erosion? Find out here!

I just loved that we used our knowledge on erosion and weathering to come up with a Science experiment. Of course, we read some books, researched online and used the Scientific Method to conduct our experiment.

Children’s Books about Weathering and Erosion

What is the difference between weathering and erosion? Find out with these fantastic books! The erosion pictures for kids to study up-close are amazing in these books! Don’t forget to also compare erosion and deposition for kids to also know about that topic. 

You can discuss these topics and answer the following questions:

• What is erosion?
• What causes erosion?
• How to stop erosion
• What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
• What is the definition of weathering?
• What causes weathering?
• How to prevent weathering?

Erosion vs Weathering Science STEM Activities

Let’s prep for this awesome STEM experiment! You will need:

• colorless gelatin
• 2 small bowls (that hold about 1 cup of liquid and that if turned upside down, they resemble a small mountain, enough to cover one of the bowls and enough dirt or to cover 3/4 of the other bowl)
• small rocks and sediments (rocks broken down into smaller pieces)
• dirt with small pieces of rock or tiny gravel

Take 2 cups of water and boil slightly. Turn heat off and add 1/2 cup of gelatin. Use a whisk to mix well. Let it rest and cool a little.

Meanwhile, place rocks in a bowl until they go to the top, but don’t go past the brim. In the other bowl, put enough dirt, soil or sand to cover about 3/4 of the bowl.

Slowly, pour the gelatin into each bowl until the bowls are completely filled.

Don’t mess with the bowl with rocks in it. Use a knife to gently mix the gelatin into the soil (sand) until mixed well. Place in refrigerator and let it solidify for a few hours or overnight.

Scientific Method Printable

There are many easy experiments using scientific method and this is definitely one of them. What are the steps of the scientific method? You can use the technology part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) acronym to do your research or you can go print this Science experiment printable !

It will make your life so much easier. So, grab the printable or make your own list of the steps in the Scientific Method and then write down “The Difference between weathering and erosion” as the title on your sheet. Once the “mountains” are solid, it is time to use a knife to go around the inside of the bowls to loosen them.

Flip the bowls over and set them on a plate. Then place the plate on a cookie sheet or a tray with an edge. The sand/soil mountain will be our erosion model and the rock mountain will represent our weathering model. Explain to kids how water, ice, the elements like wind and such change the surface of mountains and land overtime.

Weathering and Erosion Activities for Kids

For this, it is best to work in the kitchen. Boil some water on the stove. Meanwhile, in their sheets, they write down their hypothesis on how erosion differs from weathering and what they think will happen when we pour hot water over each.

Once their hypothesis is written, they will draw what each mountain looks like now. Let them feel them and touch them to analyze them well. They can clearly see that they’re solid, they have a definite shape and they look different. We use the Math part of STEM to measure the height of each mountain (both measure the same).

Erosion is Different from Weathering

Now, the adult slowly pours hot water on the erosion mountain as the kids observe what is happening. We use the Math in STEM to count 10 seconds. The erosion mountain began disintegrating and falling apart. We noted that on our notebooking pages.

Then we did the same to the weathering mountain. The gelatin (which represents the softer elements in the composition of a mountain) disintegrated, but the rocks stayed stacked up. There were new gaps between the rocks, but the height stayed the same. We recorded that in our notes.

It is crucial for university students to deepen their understanding of concepts like erosion and weathering in Earth Science. As they delve into more complex topics, having a solid grasp of these fundamental concepts becomes essential. After all, these concepts serve as building blocks for more advanced studies in geology and environmental science.

It is important for students to continuously seek to enhance their knowledge and not feel hesitant to seek assistance with related questions. Whether it’s clarifying doubts, accessing supplementary materials, finding science homework help , or finding guidance on assignments. Many available platforms can provide additional resources and support to aid in their academic journey

Weathering and Erosion Printables

Continuing with the experiment of erosion vs weathering, we decided to pour hot water over each a second time for 10 second each. Look at the pictures below. The mountains fell apart even more into smaller pieces. We noted all of that in our Science experiment sheets. Then we drew what our mountains look like now.

Let me tell you that our printables in  What is the Difference between Weathering and Erosion? {Free Printables}  were super helpful and I highly recommend you get those, too. If you are interested in getting more Science notebooking pages and notebooking pages on any and every subject and topic you can think of, then GO HERE !

Want the entire set of Erosion, Weathering and Deposition printables for an amazing price? There are 3-part cards, weathering, erosion and deposition worksheets, images and more!

Discover the fascinating world of erosion and weathering with these awesome science and STEM activities! Learn about how these natural processes shape our Earth while having fun and getting hands-on with experiments.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to engage and educate your kids. Get ready to be amazed and inspired by the power of nature. Buy now to embark on this exciting educational journey!

Facts on Weathering, Erosion & Deposition BUNDLE

$ 7.50 $ 4.99

This bundle includes: Erosion and Weathering Printable Set, Erosion and Weathering 3-Part Cards, What is Erosion? Info Cards, What is Weathering? Info Cards, What is Deposition? Info Cards and Erosion, Weathering & Deposition Wheel Craft

Get these free Erosion and Weathering printable sheets to extend your unit! Enter your email below to get them!

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More topics to research:

• chemical weathering, physical weathering, biological weathering, the word “erosion”, types of weathering and smaller particles, wind or water, effects of weathering on rocks and soil, geological processes, weathering processes, how weathering occurs, geological features, mechanical weathering, difference between weathering, acid rain, how plants and animals affect erosion, erosion and deposition for kids, how erosion affects the earth surface, physical weathering, etc.

<<<— Try some free samples of the notebooking pages !

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[…] Activity 2: In the book, our pebble experiences both erosion and weathering. But what’s the difference? Let’s find out with this STEM experiment. […]

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Teaching Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface

Teach slow changes to Earth’s surface – weathering, erosion, and deposition – with hands-on science experiments. With just a few simple materials, your students will experience these changes firsthand.

Ms. Sneed Teaches Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface

Our favorite fourth grade teacher, Ms. Sneed, was ready to launch the next phase of her geology unit . Next, her kids would explore  fast and slow changes . On Monday morning, she set out the materials for the first lab. Then she waited for her students to file in.

What Is Mechanical Weathering?

“Good morning, everyone! This week I’ll teach slow changes to the geosphere . First, we’ll explore weathering, which breaks down rocks.”

Ms. Sneed paused and looked out at her class. “How many of you have visited the beach?” Many kids raised their hands. “Okay, imagine the rocks at the edge of the water. As the waves hit them, they roll around and knock together.”

She picked up a jar. “This jar holds a piece of chalk – which represents a softer rock – and a few actual rocks. You’ll take these steps to conduct the lab:

• After adding the chalk and rocks, pour water into the jar.
• Gently shake the jar 100 times.
• Remove the chalk and draw it on this lab sheet.
• Continue to shake 300 more times. Observe and draw after each 100.”

Ms. Sneed assigned roles and pointed out the materials. With no further ado, her students moved into their science groups and got busy. As they shook the jar, some groups’ chalk broke. Additionally, it became smaller and rounder.

“Just one more thing,” Ms. Sneed said as she distributed a cracker to each group. “Sometimes water seeps into cracks in rocks. Other times, plant roots grow into them. As the water freezes or roots grow, pressure builds inside the rock. To simulate this, I’d like you to stick a pencil into your cracker. Go ahead and apply some pressure.”

Afterward, the class discussed mechanical weathering and defined it:

Mechanical weathering happens when outside forces act on a rock.

What Is Chemical Weathering?

The following day, Ms. Sneed introduced her class to chemical weathering. Instead of working in groups, she set up two demonstrations.

“I’ve poured vinegar, which is a weak acid, into this jar,” she told her students. They watched as she dropped a piece of chalk into the jar. “This chalk is similar to limestone. Let’s see what happens to it.”

The class watched as small bubbles formed. “These bubbles show that a gas is escaping,” their teacher said. “In chemical changes, types of matter combine to make something new. Additionally, in many cases, something is expelled, like this gas.”

“As we discussed before, weathering is a slow change. Therefore, we’ll let this set until tomorrow’s class.”

After Ms. Sneed set the jar on the side table, she picked up another jar. As the class watched, she poured a little vinegar into its lid. Then she placed a small bundle of steel wool on top of it. Finally, leaving it upside-down, she screwed the jar onto the lid.

“Let’s let this one set overnight too,” she said.

The next day, the students ran to the jars to see what happened. The chalk, they thought, looked a bit smaller. And the steel wool was beginning to rust.

“Mechanical weathering is caused by a physical change,” Ms. Sneed said. “But chemical weathering happens through a chemical change. Let’s watch a quick video to learn more.”

Afterward, the class debriefed and defined chemical weathering:

Chemical weathering happens when substances combine to form a new substance.

The Difference Between Mechanical and Chemical Weathering

“Let’s do one more experiment,” Ms. Sneed said. She poured some salt into a cup of water and stirred. At first, the water was cloudy, and some salt could be seen at the bottom of the cup. However, as time went on, the water cleared, and no salt crystals could be detected.

“Mechanical or chemical weathering?” Ms. Sneed asked. “Let’s take five minutes to debate this question in our groups.”

Some groups thought the change was physical; others felt it was chemical. In the end, Ms. Sneed explained and illustrated how substances can dissolve to form a solution. “Therefore, this experiment is an example of mechanical weathering. The salt remains salt, and the water remains water.”

Some kids looked skeptical. “Hmm,” said Ms. Sneed, “let’s pour this salt water into a shallow container and see what’s left over after the water evaporates.”

How Does Slope Affect Erosion?

The following day, as the class filed in, they stopped by the side table to look at the materials their teacher had set out. “Today, two lab groups will help me with a demonstration,” Ms. Sneed said. “Our lab will focus on the next slow change: erosion. This happens when rocks move.”

After their teacher gave the directions, the two groups conducted the demonstration.

First, they poured 500 cc of sand onto their erosion tables and smoothed it out. Then one group raised the top end of their table with a book. Finally, both groups poured 500 ml of water into the tops of their erosion tables.

It looked as though more sand had eroded from the tray with the book under it. “To be scientific,” said Ms. Sneed, “we’ll drain off the excess water and let these set overnight. After the remainder of the water evaporates, we’ll measure how much sand has eroded.”

The following day, the two groups measured the sand and wrote their results on the board. Yep. Greater slope caused greater erosion.

How Does Groundcover Affect Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface?

After her students completed their lab sheets from the day before, Ms. Sneed asked two more groups to help with a new demonstration. “Today,” she said, “we’ll compare erosion on two different landscapes: with and without groundcover.”

Similar to the day before, each group added 500 cc of sand to their erosion table . However, one group covered their sand with a sheet of AstroTurf. Again, they poured 500 ml of water onto the tables. The next day, they measured, recorded, and drew conclusions.

How Does Water Volume Affect Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface?

“One more erosion lab,” Ms. Sneed announced the next day. This time, they experimented with a different variable: the volume of water over time. To achieve this, one group made the holes in the egg cartons at the top of their erosion table bigger. Then they completed the demonstration in the same manner as before.

How Do Obstacles Affect Deposition?

On the final day of experimentation, the class explored deposition. “We’ve talked about weathering and erosion,” she said. “But today we’ll take a closer look at the ways eroded earth is deposited. In this lab, one group will place an obstacle at the bottom of the erosion table . Then we’ll all see how this affects the position of the eroded material.”

Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface Worksheets & Sorting Activities

As the unit wound down, Ms. Sneed asked her students to apply what they had learned . “Let’s work in groups for these activities,” she told them. “After you look at a picture of a landscape, your group will discuss whether they see evidence of weathering, erosion, and/or deposition. Of course, I want you to provide evidence as well.”

As her students discussed the photos, Ms. Sneed walked around and listened as her students debated whether the rocks had worn down, moved, or settled in a new place. Yep, they were getting it!

“On Thursday,” Ms. Sneed announced, “you’ll take a test over slow changes to Earth’s surface. I’ve posted a link to a set of slow change videos that you can watch for review. In addition, you’ll find a review sheet on the side table.”

“This unit was fun,” she heard one girl whisper to another.

Enjoy Teaching Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface

Once again, that famous teacher smile appeared on Ms. Sneed’s face. Little did they know that she had more great earth science activities planned for them. First, they would participate in an activity about electricity and the environment . After learning about renewable and nonrenewable resources, they would determine which should be used to generate electricity. Second, they would use information about fossil fuels to design their own energy-efficient automobile . Yes, more good things for teaching slow changes were yet to come.