Introduction to Weathering
Standard Alignment
NGSS: MS-ESS2-1
Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and
the flow of energy that drives this process.
Target Grade Level
6-8 grades
Time Needed
50 – 60 minute class period
Student Learning Target
I can explain how a rock turns into sand by writing a summary of
weathering.
Key Vocabulary Terms
Weathering
Sediment
Chemical Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
Needed Materials
 Big rock for each learning group (pick up from your yard,
nearby park, etc.)
 Sand, divided into cups, one for each learning group
 Weathering reading piece, adapted from
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0060weathering.php and
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_weathering.html)
 Printed note sheet if science notebooks are not used in your
class. You may print the “Weathering” reading piece on the
back of the note sheet to conserve paper.
 Accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Notes
I use simple anchor charts for vocabulary in my science
classroom. For a simple explanation of Anchor charts
I also use science notebooks in my classroom. For everyday there
is a Left and Right hand page. On the Left side my students do
their catalyst first thing when they come in (Bell Work). All class
work we do then is entered on the Right hand side. At the end of
class my student complete their closure question or activity under
their catalyst. Basic layout below:
Date
Activity Name
#
Catalyst……..
Closure………
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
All class notes are here.
We often tape in
readings or handouts as
well.
Page |1
Provide a sentence stem, “Sand comes
from….” or “Sand is formed when…” Ask
students to share ideas out loud.
Student share ideas using complete
sentences.
Place a giant Rock and a cup of sand on
each table. Ask Students to think of as many
ways as possible to turn the rock into that pile
of sand.
Students work together as a learning group
to discuss all the ways they could turn the
rock into a pile of sand. They record their
ideas in their own science notebooks.
Ask each group to share at least one idea
they had and record on the board.
Learning groups share at least one idea.
Introduce Key Vocabulary words with
vocabulary anchor charts:
- Weathering
- Sediment
- Mechanical Weathering
- Chemical Weathering
Students record 3 new vocabulary words in
their Science notebooks along with drawing
a quick picture to match and a quick
sentence in their own words to remind them
of the definition.
8 MINUTES
STUDENTS DO
Students respond to question in their science
notebook.
10 MINUTES
EXPOLORE
ENGAGE
TEACHER DOES
Daily Catalyst (Bell work):
Where does sand come from?
Hand out “Weathering” reading piece. Read
one time through out loud for students as a
class so they can hear unfamiliar words
pronounced correctly. Have students read a
second time and annotate on their own as
they read.
Students listen first, then read and annotate.
Review main ideas, words they didn’t
understand, any text connections they
made, notes from their annotation, etc.
Students share main ideas, words they didn’t
understand and any text connections they
made.
20 MINUTES
EXPLAIN
“Let’s read a little bit more about how a rock
turns into pieces of sediment we know as
sand.”
You may ask students for situations not
related to rocks that represent weathering
(breaking something larger into smaller
pieces)? e.g. sanding a piece of wood,
grating cheese etc.
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
Students discuss other examples with their
learning group and each group adds one
example to the board.
8 MIN.
EXTEND
Emphasize that weathering is “breaking rocks
into smaller pieces called sediment” and
that “there are 2 types of weathering;
Mechanical – using physical forces to break
apart, and Chemical- using chemical
reactions to break the rock apart.”
Page |2
Students answer the question in their science
notebook.
Ask students to share their answer. This time
you are checking to see if they use the new
vocabulary words weathering, sediment,
mechanical weathering and chemical
weathering.
Students share answers out loud.
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
10 MINUTES
EVALUATE
Closure: Put up the same question from the
catalyst- “Where does sand come from?”
Page |3
Where does sand come from?
Group Brainstorm
Vocabulary
Where do you see weathering?
Summary- Where does sand come from?
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
Page |4
Weathering
Weathering
Weathering takes place as rocks are
broken down into progressively smaller
pieces. These pieces do not move to a
new location, they simply break down,
but remain next to one another. A large
chunk of bedrock many hundreds of feet
long is broken down into smaller and
smaller pieces, until finally there are many
tens of thousands of small rocks. Often
rocks are broken down so much that they
become dirt. These smaller pieces of rock
are known as sediment. Weathering is
most common at the surface where
exposed bedrock meets the atmosphere.
There are two types of weathering;
mechanical weathering and chemical
weathering.
Weathering takes place as rocks are
broken down into progressively smaller
pieces. These pieces do not move to a
new location, they simply break down,
but remain next to one another. A large
chunk of bedrock many hundreds of feet
long is broken down into smaller and
smaller pieces, until finally there are many
tens of thousands of small rocks. Often
rocks are broken down so much that they
become dirt. These smaller pieces of rock
are known as sediment. Weathering is
most common at the surface where
exposed bedrock meets the atmosphere.
There are two types of weathering;
mechanical weathering and chemical
weathering.
Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering takes place in
almost all types of rocks. Chemical
reactions break down the bonds holding
the rocks together, causing them to fall
apart, and forming smaller and smaller
pieces. Chemical weathering is much
more common in locations where there is
a lot of water. This is because water is
important to many of the chemical
reactions that can take place. Warmer
temperatures also promote chemical
weathering. The most common types of
chemical weathering are oxidation,
hydrolysis and oxidation (air reacting with
metals) and acid rain.
Chemical weathering takes place in
almost all types of rocks. Chemical
reactions break down the bonds holding
the rocks together, causing them to fall
apart, and forming smaller and smaller
pieces. Chemical weathering is much
more common in locations where there is
a lot of water. This is because water is
important to many of the chemical
reactions that can take place. Warmer
temperatures also promote chemical
weathering. The most common types of
chemical weathering are oxidation,
hydrolysis and oxidation (air reacting with
metals) and acid rain.
Mechanical weathering takes place
when rocks are broken down without any
change in the chemical nature of the
rocks. The rocks are essentially torn apart
by physical force, rather than by
chemical breakdown. The forces that
break rocks down physically are often
due to abrasions, ice wedging and
exfoliation.
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
Mechanical weathering takes place
when rocks are broken down without any
change in the chemical nature of the
rocks. The rocks are essentially torn apart
by physical force, rather than by
chemical breakdown. The forces that
break rocks down physically are often
due to abrasions, ice wedging and
exfoliation.
Page |5
Weathering
Weathering takes place as rocks are broken down into progressively
smaller pieces. These pieces do not move to a new location, they simply
break down, but remain next to one another. A large chunk of bedrock
many hundreds of feet long is broken down into smaller and smaller
pieces, until finally there are many tens of thousands of small rocks. Often
rocks are broken down so much that they become dirt. These smaller
pieces of rock are known as sediment. Weathering is most common at the
surface where exposed bedrock meets the atmosphere. There are two
types of weathering; mechanical weathering and chemical weathering.
Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering takes place when rocks are broken down without
any change in the chemical nature of the rocks. The rocks are essentially
torn apart by physical force, rather than by chemical breakdown. The
forces that break rocks down physically are often due to abrasions, ice
wedging and exfoliation.
Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering takes place in almost all types of rocks. Chemical
reactions break down the bonds holding the rocks together, causing
them to fall apart, and forming smaller and smaller pieces. Chemical
weathering is much more common in locations where there is a lot of
water. This is because water is important to many of the chemical
reactions that can take place. Warmer temperatures also promote
chemical weathering. The most common types of chemical weathering
are oxidation, hydrolysis and oxidation (air reacting with metals) and acid
rain.
© 2015 Abbie Smith, All Rights Reserved.
Introduction to Weathering
Page |6