Processes That Shape the Earth
I Can Study Guide
 I can describe how erosion by wind, water, and ice can reshape the earth.
Important Vocabulary
Glacier, debris, sediments, erosion
Important Information






Glaciers are VERY large and move slowly
Glaciers can flatten the land
Surface beneath a glacier is changed because the glacier is so heavy
Glaciers create, mountains, valleys, peaks, ridges, cliffs, lakes and waterfalls
Glaciers can shape the land by carrying away material in the earth
Glaciers can shape the land by depositing sediments
Textbook Pages
 Section 2 pages A22 – A24
 I can describe how weathering of rock by freezing, thawing, and plant growth
can reshape the earth
Important Vocabulary
Weathering, freezing, expands
Important Information
 Water can freeze and get into cracks in the earth, when water freezes it expands
and can make the cracks larger.
 Plants can grow in between cracks in rocks and the earth, causing the crack to
get larger.
 Water in cracks can freeze, then thaw, refreeze and create larger cracks in our
earth
Textbook Pages
Section 2, A11 and Packet pages 6
 I can describe slow processes (for example, erosion, weathering, mountain building
and deposition) that shape the Earth’s surface.
Important Vocabulary
Slow process, erosion, weathering, deposition
Important Information
 Rivers flowing through the land can carve out valleys in mountains
 Wind blowing sand in the desert can carve our mountains
 Mountains can become rounded over millions of years by wind and water blowing on
them
Textbook Pages
Section 2 pages A20 - 24
 I can describe the rapid processes (for example volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
landslides and floods) that shape the Earth’s surface
Important Vocabulary
Earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods, erosion
Important Information
 Earthquakes, and volcanoes can quickly changes the land by creating cracks in the
earth and covering the surface with lava.
 Landslides can be created by a flood from a storm or hurricane
 Floods are caused by heavy rain, storms or melting snow
Textbook Pages
Section 2, pages A10 - 12
 I can describe how erosion, and deposition create the Earth’s landforms (for example,
dunes, deltas, glacial moraines, canyons, sandbars)
Important Vocabulary
Erosion, deposition, sand dunes
Important Information
 Sand dunes are created when wind or water pushes the sand into a large “hill”
 Oceans and rivers carry sediments and can deposit these sediments to create a delta.
 A fast moving river can carve our valleys.
Textbook Pages
Section 2, pages A10 - 15
 I can describe weathering such as wind, glacial movement, plants growing through
concrete, freezing, thawing, droughts, rust, acid rain, lichens, oxidation.
Important Vocabulary
Weathering, wind, acid rain, rust, oxidation








Important Information
Physical weathering is wind, water, plants growing in cracks of rocks
Chemical weathering is acid rain, rust being created by oxidation
Wind can carry sediments away
Wind will blow loose soil and sand
Wind will blow sand and act like “sandpaper” chipping away at the land
Glaciers will flatten the land and carry sediments away, along with depositing
sediments
Wind will build up the land
Freezing and thawing of water will cause cracks in the earth’s surface.
Textbook Pages
Section 2, pages A20-24
Packet pages1, 2, 3, 6
 I can illustrate methods to control weathering, erosion, and deposition, (for example
types of building materials, breakwalls, barriers, plant, etc.)
Important Vocabulary
Breakwalls, barriers, erosion, weathering
Important Information
 Planting plants on a hill will slow or stop erosion of that hill, roots of the plants will
hold the soil in place.
 Breakwalls near the ocean will stop or slow erosion of the shoreline
Textbook Pages
Section 2, pages A13 – A15
Packet pages 21, 26, 27