Lesson Title: Weathering and Erosion World Geography, Module 1, Lesson 7
Summary: World Geography, Module 1, Lesson 7 - Given the physical processes of weathering and erosion, students will
identify different types of landforms affected by the processes of weathering and erosion and will create a visual presentation
with descriptions of each type of physical process and the means by which the process created the landform.
Reporting Category 2, TEKS 3.B: Physical processes shape patterns in the physical environment.
(B) describe the physical processes that affect the environments of regions, including weather, tectonic forces, erosion, and
soil-building processes.
Magnificent Landforms
Landforms are created by physical forces that either build up or wear down the Earth's surface.
Tectonic forces such as volcanoes, folding, and faulting build up the Earth's surface and create landforms, such as mountains
and valleys. See below for examples of these types of landforms.
Now see the photos below to see examples of other types of landforms. As you look at the photographs, think about what
might have caused these types of landforms?
landforms definition:
physical features on the Earth’s surface including plains, plateaus, mountains, hills, and valleys. Each is
distinctive for its shape, form, and the process by which it was formed.
In this lesson, you will examine the forces of weathering and erosion. These two forces wear down the Earth's surface and
make it more level.
Wild About Weathering
Weathering is the breakdown of the Earth's rocks, soils, and minerals over time.
Read the cartoon below to learn more about the physical processes that cause weathering.
By lcoope
Weathering breaks rocks into smaller particles of gravel, sand, and mud called sediment.
Which of the boxes below describe causes of weathering?
Deposition
Precipitation
Temperature
ANSWERS:
DEPOSITION: Try Again. Think about what causes landforms to crack and break.
PRECIPITATION: Correct! Freezing and thawing water can cause rocks to crack and break.
TEMPERATURE: Correct! Changes in temperature can cause rocks to crack and break.
Going, Going, Gone: What Causes Erosion?
Erosion is the movement of surface material from one location to another. Water, wind, and ice cause erosion.
Watch the short video about the process of erosion and then answer the questions below.
Water, Wind, or Ice Questions
(Answer the following questions.)
1. Write a descriptive paragraph that explains how water is a force of erosion.
2. Think about what you learned about wind erosion and then write the name of one place where you think wind
erosion would be severe and explain why you think so.
3. Glaciers are very powerful forces of erosion and can move large amounts of land and soil. Why do you think glaciers
are able to move such large amounts of soil?
Exploration 1: All About Erosion
In this exploration you play a game that will challenge you to identify forces that shape the earth's surface and the relative
speed at which they act. There are four forces presented in the game: Glacier, Water, Wind, and Volcanoes. Based on what
you have learned about erosion, determine which of the four is NOT a force of erosion.

Click the "Learn More" button in the game to learn more about the forces of glaciers, wind, water, and volcanoes.

In your journal, explain which three are forces of erosion and which one is not, justify your answer by using at least
three examples or details.
Source: Shape it Up, Kineticcity
erosion
the process of weathering and transport of sediment, soils, and rocks in the natural environment
Can Erosion Build Up Landforms?
Read the information below about how erosion helps to deposit sediment in other areas. Then practice what you have
learned by completing the matching activity below.
Erosion happens at the tops of mountains and under the soil. Water
and chemicals get into the rocks and break up the rocks through
mechanical and chemical forces.
Erosion in one area can actually build up lower areas. Think about a
mountain range and a river. As the mountain erodes, the river
carries sediment downstream towards the ocean.
Source: Chalaati River Gorge, gobe67, flickr
The sediment slowly builds up and creates new wetlands at the
mouth of the river. This movement of sediment is called deposition
which creates landforms such as floodplains and river deltas.
Source: Quilted, esctascist. Flickr
Erosion Matching Activity
Find the correct answer for each question below by clicking and dragging each answer to the matching
question.
Exploration 2: The Mighty Mississippi
Directions for The Mighty Mississippi:

Read the excerpt below, "The Mighty Mississippi" and think about why flooding was a benefit to the Mississippi
region.

View the video segment "Flood: Farming and Erosion" to learn more about the effects of farming on the
processes of erosion along the Mississippi River.

Answer the following questions:
1. How does farming affect the soil and make it more prone to flooding?
2. What can humans do to manage flooding in an agricultural setting?
The Mighty Mississippi
The Mississippi River watershed drains more than one-third of the United States; rain
falling in eastern Montana may eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico. Such an
expansive watershed accommodates a huge volume of water. On average, the
Mississippi carries 173,600 cubic meters of water per second. On occasion, however,
this great river overflows its banks and inundates a wide swath of land on either side
known as the floodplain.
Flooding is a natural part of the life of a river. Before humans intervened, the
Mississippi River flooded every year. In fact, floods and the sediments they deliver are
largely responsible for the richness of the soil found in floodplains. Unfortunately,
these soils and other resources provided by the river have also encouraged people to
build communities in the paths of floodwaters.
-Teachers' Domain, Flood: Farming and Erosion, published December 17, 2005,
retrieved on July 27, 2010,
Flood: Farming and Erosion
http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_vid_flooderosion/
Test Your Understanding
1. The most striking feature of the Guadalupe Mountains in West Texas is the El Capitan
rock formation.
The limestone of El Capitan is layered with strata of marine fossils even though it is more
than 500 miles from the nearest ocean. The stone of El Capitan was most likely formed
A. from a volcanic eruption and has since been eroded by thousands of years of precipitation.
B. by prehistoric glaciers moving eastward from the Sea of Cortez.
C. in the Gulf of Mexico and shifted westward due to continental drift.
D. under a prehistoric sea and was more recently pushed up by tectonic uplift.
answer D.
2. Two landscape regions are shown below.
The evidence shown indicates that currently each landscape region is being modified
primarily by
A metamorphism.
B lithospheric plate movement.
C folding and faulting.
D weathering and erosion.
answer D
3. The photograph below shows an arch of rock located in the western United States.
How did the arch most likely form?
A The bedrock in the arch was more resistant to weathering and erosion than the
surrounding bedrock that was removed.
B An underground glacier tunneled through the bedrock.
C Sand and gravel were deposited and compacted by wind and water to form new rock in the
shape of an arch.
D An earthquake forced bedrock upward into the shape of an arch.
answer D
4. The cross section below illustrates the general sorting of sediment by a river as it flows
from a mountain to a plain.
A Hardness of the surface bedrock
B Temperature of the water
C Velocity of the river water
D Mineral composition of the sediment
answer c
5. The map below shows barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico along the coast of Texas.
Which agent of erosion most likely formed these barrier islands?
A Glaciers
B Streams
C Wave action
D Mass movement
ANSWER C
6. The presence of parallel scratches on bedrock in a U-shaped valley indicates that the
area has most likely been eroded by
A a glacier.
B waves.
C a stream.
D wind.
ANSWER A
7. The map below shows the large delta that formed as the Mississippi River emptied
into the Gulf of Mexico.
Which process was primarily responsible for the formation of the delta?
A Mass movement
B Glacial erosion
C Cementation of sediment
D Deposition of sediment
ANSWER D
8. The cross section below shows a V-shaped valley and the bedrock beneath the valley.
Which agent of erosion is responsible for cutting most V-shaped valleys into bedrock?
A Surface winds
B Running water
C Glacial ice
D Ocean waves
ANSWER B
9. The photograph below shows a sand dune that formed in a coastal area.
This sand dune was most likely formed by
A water flowing from the left.
B wind blowing from the left.
C wind blowing from the right.
D water flowing from the right.
ANSWER C