Earth Changes Vocabulary: Edible Science Mary Roland Liz Hunter

What is Weathering? Weathering is the breaking of large rocks into smaller pieces or rocks. Nature does this all of the time to real rocks. It usually occurs through use of forces like wind, rain, snow, and hail with change occurring over long periods of time. This also includes extreme hot and cold temperatures. 3.7 B and 4.7 B Observe and identify slow changes to the Earth’s surface caused by weathering, erosion, and deposition from water, wind and ice.  

Learning through the 5 E model Take a Gobstopper and place it in your mouth for 3 to 5 minutes. (Please do not bite it!) Once it breaks apart…stand up and shout, “Weathering!” Weathering is a process by which large rock breaking into smaller pieces. The tiny pieces left on your tongue are called sediment or “tiny rocks” made up of sand and soil. Now swallow! The movement of sediment is called Erosion. As the tiny pieces are moved by water they are deposited or dropped in rivers and lakes. As you swallow the small pieces of Gobstopper the tiny pieces “land” in your stomach where deposition takes place.

Weathering Journal Page

What is Sediment? Tiny rocks usually formed through the process of weathering. Sediment is made up of sand, soil, and other types of Earth materials.

What is Erosion? Erosion is the movement of sediment from one place to another. Erosion is a natural process which is usually made by rock and soil being loosened from the earth's surface. Erosion changes the landscape by wearing down mountains, filling in valleys, and making rivers appear and disappear. It is usually a slow and gradual process that occurs over thousands or millions of years.

Erosion Journal Page

Rock and soil that is dropped or deposited at a new location. What is Deposition? Rock and soil that is dropped or deposited at a new location.

Deposition Journal Page

Summary Key Understandings Weathering is the process of breaking rocks down into smaller pieces called sediment. Erosion is the process which changes the Earth’s surface by moving earth material. Deposition is the process which changes the Earth’s surface by depositing sediment in a new location. Weathering, erosion, and deposition can be caused by water, ice, wind, and temperature.