Name:_______________________________________ Period:_______
Earth Science
Mr. Sturges
MP 3 - Erosion and Weathering Project
OBJECTIVE:

Show examples of weathering and erosion in your surroundings
o Determine the causes of weathering
o Develop ways of preventing erosion
Due Date: FRIDAY, January 13, 2012
BACKGROUND/IMPORTANT TERMS:
The Earth’s crust is constantly being reshaped by constructive and destructive forces. Over time,
weathering due to chemical action (dissolving, oxidation, acid rain, etc.) and mechanical action (root
action, sand blasting, frost/ice wedging, etc.) breaks huge slabs of solid rock into small pieces called
sediments. The sediments are moved to a new location through the process of erosion. These sediments
settle out in a new location through the process of deposition. These deposits can be turned into
sedimentary rocks through compaction and cementation.
Agents of erosion include currents of air or water and glacial movement.
PROCEDURE:
1. Take a tour of the school grounds, a local park, cemetery or your neighborhood to find evidence of
weathering and erosion.
2. Take pictures with a film or digital camera or create color drawings which illustrate weathering and
erosion in action.
3. Each photograph or drawing must be clearly labeled, giving the exact street location and explaining what
it shows (Note: You cannot just “cut and paste” pictures from the Web!).
Examples of weathering and erosion include but are not limited to:
 Rock that has been cracked due to frost wedging
 Rock that has been cracked due to tree roots
 Rock with layers that are peeling or breaking
 Lichens growing on a rock
 Rock that is “rusting” or oxidizing (don't confuse lichen with rust)
 Rock that has been worn due to salt water or acid rain exposure
 Rocks smoothed by running water.
 Glacial erratics
 Glacial morain deposits of unsorted sediments
 Running water making sorted sediment deposits
4. Make a report or wall poster showing:
a) 5 (Five)) examples of weathering and erosion shown by the clearly labeled
illustrations, giving the exact street location, explaining what the type of weathering
it shows and at least one way to stop, slow down or repair each of the examples of
weathering or erosion you have chosen. If it is not necessary to remedy the
weathering or erosion, explain why.
b) Report or wall poster must have your name and class period clearly printed in ink on
the front.
Grading Rubric:
Points:
Examples
Content
Location
Presentation
1
5 or more
examples of
weathering or
erosion
Weathering
and erosion
are correctly
identified
Four locations
are identified
Presentation
has no
misspellings
or
grammatical
errors.
Connections 5 Suggestions
3/4
1/2
1/4
4 examples of
weathering or
erosion
3 examples of
weathering or
erosion
1-2 examples
of weathering
or erosion
80% of the
examples are
correct
60% of the
examples are
correct
Weathering
and/or erosion
is not identified
Three locations
are identified
Presentation
has no more
than two
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors
4 Suggestions
Two locations
are identified
Presentation
had three
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors
One location is
identified
Student’s
presentation
had four or
more spelling
errors and/or
grammatical
errors
1-2
Suggestions
3 Suggestions
(Section 4B
above)
Project Points total = _____________ (100 points max)
Total