Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2015- Chemical Weathering
I. We will watch the video segment “A Look at Sinkholes: Florida’s most common
Natural Disasters”, and we will answer the following questions. Some of these
questions, I do not expect you to know the answer to.
1. What are sinkholes?
2. Explain how chemical weathering is involved in the formation of sinkholes.
3. Which processes shown in the video are physical processes and which are
chemical? Are there substances that are not chemicals?
4. What is the difference between chemical change and physical change?
II. Based on your previous knowledge, what is the difference between acid rain and
normal rain?
We will not watch the video segment “Problems associated with our dependence on
Fossil Fuels” and use the video to revise your answer.
III. We will now read the passage “Earth’s Cellar”.
Answer the following question
Write down your initial thoughts about the powerful effect that groundwater
can have in chemically weathering carbonate rocks.
*What quote/reference from the text was helpful to you in understanding the effect of
groundwater?
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
Fill out the following table using the passage “Earth’s Cellar” and OTHER online
resources.
Causes of Cave Formation
Similarities between cave
formation and sinkhole
formation
Causes of sinkhole
formation
Differences between cave
formation and sinkhole
formation.
Which processes are physical?
Which processes are chemical?
TUESDAY, FEB. 10, 2015- Chemical Weathering
I.
We will watch two videos “Forces that Shape the Earth: Mechanical
Weathering (from 0:58-end). and “Chemical Weathering” .
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
What is the processes of
weathering?
Describe what is happening to rocks when they undergo chemical
weathering.
THE MAJOR TYPES OF CHEMIMCAL WEATHERING
PROCESSES ARE:
DISSOLUTION
EXAMPLE:
HYDROLOSIS
EXAMPLE:
HYDRATION
EXAMPLE:
OXIDATION
EXAMPLE:
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
II.
We will then watch the video segment “Water and Weathering”.
Explain the process of erosion and suggest ways that chemical and
mechanical weathering enhance erosion.
We will then watch the video segment “Weathering” (1:28-end).
Using both video segments and other online resources, work with a partner to write a
brief summary (4-5 sentences) on HOW THE PROCESSES OF CHEMICAL
WEATEHRING AND MECHANICAL WEATHERING CAN EACH ACT TO ENHANCE THE
EFFECTS OF THE OTHER.
We will now watch the video segment “Seashells, Stalagmites, and Other Carbon
Compounds”
*Where do dissolved minerals go?
Vocabulary: Use Discovery Education’s Interactive Glossary to define the following key vocab words.
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
Carbon Cycle

Chemical Reaction

Corrosive

Erosion

Physical Change

Weathering (physical)
Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11, 2015- Mechanical Weathering
 Brain storm
What are the different ways that rock on Earth’s surface can change?
We will then watch the video segment “Physical Weathering (WEATHERINGROCKS)”.
-Write down the definition of erosion that is given in the video.
Use the video and other online resources to fill out the following chart.
EROSION
CHEMICAL
MECHANICAL
WEATHERING
WEATHERING
We will now watch the video segment “Weathering”, (water stream).
**Hypothesize how Earth’s surface might look if mechanical weathering did not
occur.**
*We will now watch the first 58seconds of the video “Weathering” (mountain), and
you will use the video to fill out the “AGENTS” column of your table.
Agents are the different causes of mechanical weathering.
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
AGENTS
PROCESSES
HOW EARTH’S SURFACE CHANGES
** We will now watch the video segment “Water and Weathering”
-Take notes on the concepts of ice wedging and abrasion.




Answer the following question:
* How do weathering and erosion work together to reshape the landscape?
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2015- Mechanical Weathering
Answer the following question:
* What is abrasion?
* Hypothesize about the different ways that abrasion can occur.
We will now watch the video segment “Erosion by Glaciers”, correct your
hypothesize based on the video.
**We will then watch the video segment “Forces that shape the Earth: Wind”.
 Describe two ways that wind contributes to mechanical weathering.
****** MINI RESEARCH PROJECT****
Research a landform that has been created by mechanical weathering, chemical
weathering, or erosion (DO NOT PICK THE GRAND CANYON, pick something else,
there are MANY).
Write a brief summary and description of the landform (in paragraph form)
answering the following questions
 What does the landform look like?
 Where in the world is it located?
 What agent built it? (examples- ice, water, wind, ocean waves, plant
roots)
 What process formed it, and how long did it take? (ex: abrasion, 10
million years)
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Unit: Weathering and Erosion
Concepts: Chemical Weathering & Mechanical Weathering
Class work for the week of February 9- February 12
7th Grade Science- Berumen EMAIL: marcelab@students.susd12.org
Assigned to you on Discovery Education (assignments) is an exploration
called “Forces that shape the Earth”
-Complete the exploration and use it to fill out the following table.
PROCESSES OF MECAHNICAL WEATHERING
LANDFORM
(picture)
1. Fractures in Rocks
2. Sand Dune
3. Grooves/ Gouges
4. Natural Bridge/ Sea
Arches
5. Widening cracks in
rocks
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AGENT
(causes)
PROCESS
(how?)
______ seeps into rock.
_________ drops and _________
freezes creating ______ that
causes rock to expand.
Shaped by ________.
_______ keep some sand in
place.
Wind __________ can also
remove soil from fields.
As ____ flows over rock, it
breaks it down. The
smaller rocks scrape
________ in rock formation.
__________ can cut huge
__________ into Earth’s crust.
_______and ________ action
wear away rock. ___________
breaks through creating a
passage/bridge.
As plant grows, __________
grow into crack. Tree gets
larger, and so do the
__________. Roots spread and
the _________ in the rocks
grow until they form larger
and later fissures.