Earth and Space Sciences
Weathering and Erosion
Year 8
Earth and Space Sciences: Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human
activity (ACSSU075)
Science as Human Endeavour
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Scientific models, theories, processes, applications (ACSHE157). Technological advances through science (ACSHE158)
Use of science in improving people’s lives, generating new careers, and meeting societal needs. (ACSHE161)
Use science to evaluate claims or predictions (ACSHE160)
Values of society influence research (ACSHE228)
Scientific Inquiry Processes
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Formulate questions or hypotheses to investigate. (ACSIS164)
Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods e.g. field and laboratory work. (ACSIS165)
Select and use appropriate equipment, to systematically collect and record data (ACSIS166)
Analyse patterns and trends in processing data e.g. relationships between variables (ACSIS169)
Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)
Evaluate conclusions, including possible alternative explanations. (ACSIS171)
Critically analyse the validity of information in secondary sources and evaluate the approaches used to solve problems (ACSIS172)
 Communicate scientific ideas and information, including using appropriate scientific language. (ACSIS174)
Knowledge and Understandings
Learning Program
Weathering and Erosion
There are two types of weathering,
chemical and mechanical.
Weathering and Erosion
Purpose: Students understand that there are different types of
weathering which shape landforms.
Mechanical (physical) weathering
involves rocks breaking into fragments
without changing the chemical
composition. Weathering occurs on or
near the surface. Metamorphism also
produces chemical changes in rocks, but
these occur at depth where either the
temperature and/or pressure are
significantly higher than conditions found
on Earth’s surface.
Inform – Motivate: Provide books/pictures of various landforms
which have been created by weathering. (Some can be found at :
http://www.rosssea.info/rock-weathering.html)
Chemical weathering occurs when water
from rainfall, streams, lakes, or oceans, or
oxygen from the atmosphere chemically
react with the minerals in rocks to produce
new minerals or where the minerals
completely dissolve as a result of contact
with water. The end products of chemical
weathering are the minerals that make up
soils, such as clay minerals and quartz.
View the following demonstration of mechanical weathering due to
ice crystals in fractures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAcasoiFEo
Biological weathering is a combination
of both mechanical and chemical
weathering. Living organisms contribute
to mechanical weathering through the
growth of roots or the burrowing of
animals. Tree roots grow into cracks and
joints, prising rocks apart and increasing
As a class discuss the type of mechanical (physical) forces which
would have worked on the rock to create the form. Australian
examples can be found at:
http://www.ga.gov.au/education/geosciencebasics/landforms/monolithic-icon.jsp
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/geology/
View the video at the following site to see the effects of erosion
and weathering.
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.er
osion/
Investigate: Conduct the following experiment to illustrate
chemical weathering.
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~ks73/Chemicalweathering.htm
Set up experimental stations to demonstrate erosion and
weathering using the following site
http://geologyonline.museum.state.il.us/tools/lessons/6.3/lesson.ht
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
the surface area for continual weathering
by plants, wind, and water. Plants give off
organic acids as part of their life and
decay processes which help to break
down rocks chemically. Decaying remains
of dead animals in soil form organic acids
which, when dissolved in water, cause
chemical weathering. Lichens and
mosses grow on rock surfaces and create
a more humid chemical microenvironment
which increases both physical and
chemical breakdown of the rock surface.
Burrowing animals and insects disturb the
soil layer next to the bedrock surface
which increases water and acid
infiltration.
Erosion: When a rock particle loosened
by weathering, moves due to the action of
a flowing agent such as air, water or ice.
In summary, if a particle is loosened,
chemically or mechanically, but stays put,
it is weathering, but once it is moves, call
it erosion.
Glacial erosion
Glaciers form in areas where snow falls and
fails to melt over many centuries. They are
slabs of ice which can grow to be many
kilometres high and wide. They are
extremely heavy, and crush the land
beneath them as they slowly move there
way down an incline carving out paths
known as glacial valleys. The Yosemite
Valley was formed by glaciers. Large
stretches of exposed granite were formed
when glaciers scraped away overlying rock
layers to reveal the underlying bedrock.
The fjords of Norway (and other northern
countries) were formed by ancient glaciers.
ml
Print out the lab sheets for students to complete.
Apply: Students try to find as many pictorial examples of
biological weathering as they can on the internet and produce a
collage.
Extension: What are glaciers? Research on the internet some of
the landforms we see today which were created by glaciers. The
weathering caused by glaciers is known as erosion because it is
caused by ice (water which is frozen).
Students create a PowerPoint presentation about a well-known
glacial valley or fjord and how it was formed. Students may access
the following sites for useful information:
http://www.scienceviews.com/geology/glaciervalley.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/glacier.htm
Students investigate how caves are formed and research the
formation of a particular well-known cave (or set of caves) and
produce a text detailing information about the cave, its age and the
processes which formed it.
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.ca
veform/
L535 Shaping the land: model landforms
Learning Object Education Services Australia The Le@rning
Federation
Experiment with cross-section models of the Earth's crust. Explore
how landforms are shaped over time. Apply geological forces:
deposition of sediments, folding, faulting, igneous intrusions and
erosion. Work out a sequence of geological events to match
example landforms. This learning object is the second in a series
of three objects. *
http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/objectLink.action?action=content&id=
L535
Assessment:
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Perform a chemical weathering experiment.
Perform an investigation on erosion and weathering.
Produce a collage of examples of biological weathering
Create a PowerPoint presentation on how glaciers have formed a valley or fjord.
Standards
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Science/Curriculum/F-10?y=8&s=SU&s=HE&s=IS&layout=1
Teacher Resources
External Forces Shaping the Earth: Lesson plan about external forces which shape the earth
Student Activities and IWB Resources
http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_vid_canyon/ Video about the creation of the Grand Canyon
http://www.env.duke.edu/eos/geo41/wea.htm Links to weathering slides
http://pti.lsu.edu/Activities/B03%20Weathering_Experiments.pdfExperiments to illustrate chemical and mechanical
weathering
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/livingearth/ Glaciers activity
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/weatheringjm.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDUpwM8brgU&NR=1 Demonstration of erosion and transportation
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/shapeitup.html Interactive Erosion activity/quiz
© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia
Lesson Planner
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Student Activities
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© Education Research Solutions T: 1300 669 810 E: contactus@educationresearch.com.au W: www.educationresearch.com.au
This is an ERS plan and is NOT endorsed by ACARA. Green font is ACARA sourced materials. Go to: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
* © Education Services Australia