What Can Erosion and Weathering Cause?
The Grand Canyon
5th Grade
Table of Contents
GPS and Objectives
Rationale
Instructional Websites
Activities
Software Programs
Links to My Other Pages

Grand Canyon
View of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.
Photograph taken by Amy Hughes - Spring of 2000.
       Georgia Performance Standards
             S5E1    Students will identify surface features of the Earth caused by    
                                constructive and destructive processes.
                            b. Identify and find examples of surface features caused by destructive                                                                       processes.
                                  - Erosion (water - rivers and oceans, wind)
                                  -Weathering
Amy in the Grand Canyon
Photograph of me on Hermit's Trail on the southern rim of the Grand Canyon.

Rationale
            I chose to create a website on the effects of weathering and erosion because wind and water can have both beautiful and detrimental effects on our land.  Students need to learn what great landmarks have been caused by erosion.  Students also need to know that erosion can cause bad things to happen in the community or environment where they live.  This website will help them learn about erosion and weathering and some ways they can help to prevent it.

Related Websites
Grand Canyon tree
Grand Canyon Explorer - How was the Grand Canyon formed? Find the answer and more here.  This page uses vocabulary and diagrams tailored to childrens learning. If you find a word in blue that you do not know, click on it to learn more.
grand canyon view
U.S. Land Marks - The Grand Canyon - Just how big is the Grand Canyon? Find the answer to this and many more interesting facts at this website.  It also has games and links about not only the Grand Canyon, but other major U.S. landmarks.
erosion
Soil Erosion - Did You Know? Causes of Soil Erosion, and find out what you can do to protect your community from erosion.
Cave Icon
Virtual Caves - Erosional Caves - This site has pictures of caves that were created by destructive processes, such as wind and water.  It explains how some caves are created by erosion and weathering.  Click on the Virtual Cave icon to explore other kinds of caves.
soil erosion
Science Mini Lessons - This site has over one hundred science lessons for elementary school students.  You can also find a great lesson about the types of erosion.
Weather vane
Weather Wiz Kids- Wind - Explore all types of weather.  Study how wind works and see what the effects of wind are.

Activities
cloud wind
Windblown Deposits
Activity 1
    This acitivity will demonstrate how wind effects landforms.  This will increase students awareness of the detrimental effects of soil erosion.  They will then make decisions to protect their homes and communities from the effects of erosion.

Primary Learning Outcomes
  • Students will identify the different types of erosion.
  • Students will identify the effect of wind on land.
Materials
  • Newspaper
  • Dry sand in a jar with a lid
  • Box lid
  • Paper
  • Pencil
Procedures
   (For an extra copy of this activity  go to  Science Mini Lessons . Click on Lesson 3 - Mini lessons on Soil Erosion.  It is Activity 2.
  1. Place box lid on the center of the paper. 
  2. Remove the lid from the sand and place it inside the box lid near the center. 
  3. Blow gently on the sand, increase the strength of your breath until sand is being thrown from the lid.
  4. Continue blowing for 5 to 10 seconds at this rate.
  5. Examine the material in the paper by rubbing your finger over it. Do the same to the material trapped in the box lid. Which is finer? Why?
Product
   Upon completion of the activity, the students will have gained insight on the effects wind has on the soil.  The teacher should follow up the activity with questions about why this happens and ways that we can prevent wind erosion (ex. planting ground cover).  The teacher should listen to the answers to ensure all students understand.

Water ripples

Water Weight Erosion
Activity 2
How does the weight of water affect the earth?
    This acitivity will demonstrate how water effects landforms.  This will increase students awareness of the detrimental effects of water on soil.  They will then make decisions to protect their homes and communities from the effects of erosion.

Primary Learning Outcomes
  • Students will identify the different types of erosion.
  • Students will identify the effect of water on landforms
Materials
  • Cup
  • Water
Procedures
   (For an extra copy of this activity  go to  Science Mini Lessons . Click on Lesson 3 - Mini lessons on Soil Erosion.  It is Activity 3.
  1. Find a spot of bare dry earth.
  2. Pour a cupful  of water on it.
  3. Repeat on the same spot, but this time hold the cup from as high a distance as possible.
  4. Observe, how did the earth change when you poured your first cupful of water?
  5. How did it change when your poured the second cupful from a greater height?
  6. Can you relate this to the changes caused by the weight of water in various places around the earth?
Product
     Upon completion of the activity, the students will have gained insight on the effects water has on the soil.  The teacher should follow up the activity with questions about why this happens and ways that we can prevent water erosion (ex. planting ground cover, installing sea walls around bodies of water to prevent soil from washing into them).  The teacher should listen to the answers to ensure all students understand.
cloud wind
What's in the Wind?
Activity 3
    This activity can teach students what can be carried away by the wind. Some of the things the wind blows away include, insects, dirt, seeds and leaves.  They will learn why it is important to try to practice erosion control.

Primary Learning Outcomes
  • Students will identify the effects of wind on land.
Materials
  • A few plastic lids
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Magnifying glass
  • Paper punch
  • Yarn
  • Windy day
Procedures
     (For an extra copy of this activity go to Weather Wiz Kids- Wind  and click on wind experiment at the bottom of the page.)
  1. Punch a hole at one end of each lid.
  2. Thread each hole with a length of yarn and knot the ends of the yarn together to form a loop for hanging.
  3. Spread petroleum jelly over one side of each lid.
  4. Take lids outdoors on a windy day and hang them in various areas.
  5. Leave them outside for about an hour or two to collect what may be blowing in the wind.
  6. Retrieve the lids and see what they have collected. Use the magnifying glass.
Product
   Upon completion of this activity, students will have gained an understanding that many things can be carried away by the wind, especially soil.  The end product will be their lids with the specimens that the wind blew away.  They can write a list of what  they saw on the lids through their observations with their magnifying glasses.

Software Programs
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a great software program for people of all ages.  After researching facts and information about erosion and weathering, students will use Word to type a 1 page paper about what they learned.  They must include facts and prevention strategies.  When they are finished they will use the spell check and grammar check tools.
Microsoft Paint
Microsoft Paint is a wonderful way for students to get practice using tool bars and help features, as well as, expressing their creative skills.  I would recommend that students use paint to create their own picture of a cave, canyon or other landform that can be caused from erosion.
Kidspiration
Kidspiration (Hampton-Brown) is a software program for elementary students that builds comprehension, communication and organization skills.  In this program students can build graphic organizers using words, pictures and/or spoken words to communicate ideas.  Students can use Kidspiration to build a graphic organizer about the grand canyon or the effects of erosion on landformsl.
Magic School Bus icon

The Magic Schoolbus Explores Inside the Earth (Microsoft) Mrs. Frizzle is at it again!!! This time her class is exploring Earth Science and you can drive the Magic School Bus.  Learn about rocks and minerals, explore canyons and volcanos, and other interesting Earth Science topics. This includes 8 games and 4 experiments for upper elementary school.  Available online as low as $11.95.
Earth 3D

Discovering the Earth 3D (Websters) a fascinating way to explore the changes the Earth has undergone. Excellent 3D animation.  This is appropriate for all ages.  There are hundreds of  topics to explore.  Students should definitely explore the Weathering and Erosion section. I found it online for only $8.95.

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