Classwork #1
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Wind is moving air. You can’t see it, but you can tell
it’s there. Look at the pictures. Draw how each
object would look if the wind was blowing.
a flag
a kite
a pile of leaves
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Wind, Water & Land
Complete the diagram to show how wind is created.
Write the steps in the correct order on the line:
a. Cooler air that is nearby moves in to take the
place of warmer air.
b. Sun warms the land.
c. Land warms the air which rises.
1._________________________________
2._____________________________
3.______________________________
WOW FACT: The fastest wind speed ever recorded
on Earth is 253mph. This is nothing compared to the
winds on Neptune. Wind whips around at speeds of
more than 1,200 mph! That is as fast as a fighter jet!
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Homework #1
2nd Grade PSI
Name: __________________________
Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.
air
sun
wind
cool
up
Wind is moving ___________. It is caused by the
________ heating up the Earth’s surface. The heat
bounces up and heats the air above the surface. As
the air warms, it moves __________. Cooler air
moves in to take its place. ________ air is heavier
because it has more molecules. Cool, heavier air
moves down and pushes the warm air up. This
causes wind.
Read the passage below and then answer the
questions in complete sentences.
Helpful Wind/Harmful Wind
People have used the power of wind for
thousands of years. Windmills were used to grind
grain, pump water and cut wood. Sailors relied on
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wind to move boats across the ocean. Today, wind
turbines make electricity without polluting the air and
water.
Wind brings changes in weather. Sometimes,
the wind can play a big part in harsh weather.
Storms like hurricanes and thunderstorms can have
winds that cause a lot of damage. Storm winds can
blow very fast, more than 100 miles per hour. At this
speed, winds can knock down trees, rip apart
homes, and throw objects around.
1. List three ways people use winds:
________________, __________________,
____________________
2. Explain how wind impacts weather.
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Wind, Water & Land
3. Why is energy from wind helpful to the Earth?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
4. Tell about a time when wind was helpful or
harmful to you.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Classwork #2
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Wind is a powerful force that constantly changes
the Earth’s surface. Erosion is the process of
moving the pieces of rocks to a new place. Wind
pushes against rock and tears away small pieces.
Wind can carry away small rocks and soil. Wind can
blow sand into towering sand dunes, a hill made of
sand. Some sand dunes can be more than 1,300
feet high!
Severe storms often involve wind. A tornado is a
spinning air mass that can produce winds up to 300
miles per hour. They often form during
thunderstorms. A hurricane is a huge storm that
forms over warm ocean water. They can create
winds up to 200 miles per hour.
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2nd Grade PSI
Wind, Water & Land
1. Explain how severe storms like tornados and
hurricanes can change the Earth’s surface
through erosion. Give an example.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Wind, Water & Land
Homework #2
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Dust Bowl
Wind causes erosion by picking up loose sand
and carrying it away to new locations. During the
1930’s wind erosion caused the Dust Bowl. It
occurred in the Midwest states of Kansas, Texas,
Colorado and New Mexico. More than 850 million
tons of topsoil blew away. It is one of the worst
environmental disasters in the world.
Drought and farming caused the disaster.
Farmers removed most of the prairie grasses so
they could grow wheat. There was little rain during
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this time. The soil was very dry. With no grass to
hold the dry dirt in place, strong winds picked it up
and created huge dust storms. These dust storms
were called Black Blizzards.
Black Blizzards caused dust to fill the air and
cover everything. Cattle and sheep choked to death.
People had dirt in their clothes, hair, and teeth. They
had to wear dust masks. Breathing the dust caused
a serious illness that killed thousands of people. The
dirt covered homes and caused them to fall down.
The worst dust storm was on April 14, 1935. It
was called Black Sunday. The dust blocked out the
sun and nearly 300,000 tons of topsoil was moved
by the wind. The wind blew the dirt as far as New
York City! The dirt buried homes and barns.
The Dust Bowl taught farmers new farming
methods and the importance of taking care of the
land.
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1. What were two causes of the Dust Bowl?
_________________ and _________________
2. Where and when did the Dust Bowl happen?
______________________________________
______________________________________
3. Tell 3 effects of Black Blizzards.
______________________________________
______________________________________
4. How topsoil did wind erosion move during the
Dust Bowl?
______________________________________
5. Write the sentence that shows how powerful the
storm on Black Sunday was?
______________________________________
6. What lessons did the Dust Bowl teach farmers?
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Classwork #3
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Wind erosion can blow away valuable topsoil.
Without topsoil, farmers can’t grow crops. Wind
erosion can also bury plants. It is important to
prevent wind erosion. Planting new plants prevents
erosion because the roots lock in the soil.
Windbreaks can also be made or planted to protect
the soil.
1. Why is it important to prevent wind erosion?
______________________________________
______________________________________
2. What are two ways to prevent wind erosion?
______________________________________
______________________________________
Beach erosion is when the sand or dunes are
washed away. It is caused by wind, waves, and
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storms. Your old Christmas tree can be used to
prevent beach erosion. The pine needles trap sand.
Eventually the trees are covered up and used to
plant sea grass.
3. What causes beach erosion?
______________________________________
______________________________________
4. How can Christmas trees prevent beach
erosion?
______________________________________
______________________________________
5. Explain one way the Dust Bowl could have been
avoided. (Think about what the farmers’ could
have done.)
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Homework #3
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
A windbreak is a barrier that helps prevent erosion.
It stops wind from blowing across land and carrying
away soil. This picture shows a sand dune. The
grasses on the sand dune act as a windbreak and
trap the sand.
This image shows the effects of wind and water
erosion after Hurricane Sandy. Some beaches were
10 feet lower and the sand from dunes was moved
118 feet inland. On the lines, write a caption for this
photo. Use specific vocabulary.
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Classwork #4
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Water erosion creates different types of landforms.
Write the letter that matches the definition of each
landform on the line.
1. ____delta
A. an area of low land
surrounded by hills or
mountains
2. ____waterfall
B. small piece of land formed
when rivers leave rocks and
sand on way to lakes and
oceans
3. ____valley
C. a cascade of water over a
cliff
4. ____canyon
D. a deep valley with high sides,
often with a river flowing
through it.
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Number the sentences 1-4 to show the correct
sequence of how a canyon is formed.
______ After a long time, a deep canyon is formed.
______ The streams become rivers and carry away
bits of dirt and sand.
______ As the rain runs over the ground, it forms
small streams.
______ At first, the rain begins to fall.
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Homework #4
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Complete the sentences using words from the box
below.
delta
erosion
canyon
waterfall
valley
water
1
_____________ is the movement of soil from one
1place to another. It is almost always caused by wind
and ________. Water erosion creates different
landforms. A__________ is a small piece of land
formed when rivers move large amounts of soil. A
__________ is a low land surrounded by hills or
mountains. The Grand __________ was formed
over millions of years by the Colorado River. A
__________ is also called a cascade. It is a body of
water’s fall over a rocky ledge. Water erosion even
creates caves.
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Classwork #5
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
The Earth’s surface is constantly changing.
Sometimes the changes are slow and sometimes
the changes are rapid. Erosion is an example of
slow changes. Earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides
and even volcanoes cause rapid changes.
Look at the pictures below. Decide whether they
show slow or rapid changes. Cut them out sort them.
volcano
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Tsunami
2nd Grade PSI
wind erosion
Wind, Water & Land
Earthquake
Glaciers
landslide
water erosion
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Wind, Water & Land
Slow Changes
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Rapid Changes
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Wind, Water & Land
Homework #5
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Match each description with the term from the word
bank. If it is an event that occurs suddenly, put a star
next to the number.
flood
hurricane
wind erosion
water erosion
waves
1. _______________ Wind and waves from these
tropical storms cause coastal damage.
2. _______________ The Colorado River created
the Grand Canyon due to this.
3. _______________ After a heavy rainfall, this
type of event can damage surrounding areas.
4. _______________ The ocean constantly
changes the shape of the beach because of this.
5. _______________ Rock landforms in the desert
are formed because of this.
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Classwork #6
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Coastal erosion is the wearing away of beaches and
coastal land. It is mainly caused by waves. Storms
can also cause costal erosion. Look at the images
taken by Patrick Barnard of San Francisco’s Ocean
Beach.
Think of a technique that could have slowed the
erosion of the beach. Explain how the technique
works.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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Homework #6
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Use the words in the box to complete the riddles
about reducing coastal erosion.
terracing
seawall
jetty
breakwater
1. I am a wall built in the same direction as the
ocean to reduce water erosion by waves and
currents. I am a ___________________
2. I am a wall built along the coast to protect the
area from erosion by strong waves and storms.
I am a _______________________
3. I am a technique used by farmers to reduce
water erosion. I am ___________________
4. I am a wall that goes into the ocean. I am a
_________________
5. Explain why it is important for people to change
their behavior to prevent coastal erosion.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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Wind, Water & Land
Classwork #7
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Draw a line to match from each animal to a landform
that would be a good home for it.
fawn
canyon
crab
valley
bat
dune
delta
bighorn sheep
cave
rattlesnake
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Select one of the animals from above. Write a
paragraph about the animal and what it needs to
survive. Explain why the landform would be a good
home for the animal.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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Homework #7
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Cool Caves
A cave is a hole in the Earth formed by millions
of years of erosion.
Most caves form when water flows through
cracks in underground rocks. This causes the rock to
dissolve. When more water washes away the rock, a
hole is left. This is now a cave! Caves can also be
formed by ocean waves and lava from volcanoes.
Caves are cold, dark and wet. However, many
animals still make their homes inside of them. Bats
live at the opening of caves. They hibernate in them
during winter. Bears sometimes hibernate in caves,
too. Crickets, centipedes, earthworms, and spiders
live in caves. There are some animals that only live
in caves. These animals are able to survive in total
darkness. Many are blind or have no eyes at all.
Salamanders, shrimp and cavefish are adapted to
life in caves and could not survive anywhere else.
People like to explore caves to learn about the
Earth and to challenge themselves. This is called
spelunking. Spelunkers need helmets, flashlights,
warm clothing and ropes to safely explore caves.
Caves are exciting, but can also be dangerous. It is
easy to fall or get lost in caves. Guided tours are
ways to keep the cave and the explorers safe.
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Use Cool Caves to answer the questions.
1. Write the letter that matches the bold word from
the passage to the definition. Reread the
passage for context clues to help you.
____cave
____hibernate
____adapted
____spelunking
a. spend the winter asleep
b. exploration of a cave
c. a large hole in the Earth
d. adjust to new conditions
2. List three ways caves can form.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
3. Why do people like to explore caves? Circle the
answer.
a. For a challenge.
b. To learn about the Earth.
c. Both a and b.
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4. Name three animals that can only survive in a
cave.
_____________________
____________________
____________________
5. Would you want to explore a cave? Explain your
answer.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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