1. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Catastrophe Damburst Problem 1 Safety check Jake works at a outdoor adventure centre. The centre reopens at the end of March. Jake must check out the mountain bike trail and rock climbs before the centre reopens. The rocks are constantly changing due to the natural processes of weathering and erosion. Jake must make sure that the trail and rock climbs have not become unsafe over the winter months. This photo was taken last October just before the rock climbing faces were closed to the public. Explain what type of weathering could have affected the rocks to make the face dangerous. Use the weather data opposite to explain why this would have happened during the months between October and March. The rainfall figures this winter were unusually high meaning that the river ran very high and very fast. Explain how this may have made the biking trail unsafe. Weather data The other rock climbing face is made from a different type of rock. Explain why this face may have been affected differently over the winter. Part of the mountain biking trail runs next to the river. This photo was taken last summer. MonthMinimum temperature  C Maximum temperature  C Rainfall cm October3225.2 November01214.1 December-31014.3 January-4815.8 February-21015.6 March01413.1

2. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Teachers’ guide Goal The problem targets understanding part of the Big Idea: Weathering.  The Earth's surface is shaped by the motion of water, ice and wind, which continually break down exposed rock surfaces and may eventually level mountain ranges.  The process consists of: - weathering, the breaking down of exposed rocks into smaller pieces, called sediments - moving water, ice and wind carry rock fragments (sediments) away from weathered rock surfaces. This is erosion.  Big sediments can only be carried by fast flowing water or moving ice. Fine sediments, like silt, can be carried long distances even by slow flowing water.  As water, ice and wind lose energy they drop the sediments they are carrying, which form into new rocks. These sedimentary rocks are usually porous, and less hard than igneous rocks (formed in volcanoes).  Chemical weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down by a chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater forms an acid. This dissolves rocks that contain 'carbonates‘, e.g. limestone, marble. APP links The problem could be used to assess achievement against criteria in the ‘Explanations’ strand of AF1. Mission If you are using the APPREND Mission Booklets, the student outcomes will allow you to give feedback on the ‘Use concepts?’ and ‘Explain simply’ sections of the L3–5 mission: ‘Weathering’. Marking guide APP L3 Identifies differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas, processes or phenomena. Responds to ideas given to them to answer questions or suggest solutions to problems. Factual recall that in freezing conditions (winter) rocks may be broken down by a process called weathering thereby making the rock climb unsafe. APP L4 Uses scientific ideas when describing simple processes or phenomena. As above plus: the water in the cracks in the rock expanded as it froze. This process would take place during the winter months when temperatures were below zero this process is a type of physical weathering the process by which the river could wear away the bank is called erosion. The river would have moved rocks that make up the bank. This may make the bike trail unsafe and at risk of falling into the river. APP L5 Uses abstract ideas or models or more than one step when describing processes or phenomena, e.g. As above plus: only a small expansion occurs when water in a crack in the rock freezes but that when this melts more water can fill the now bigger crack. Further freezing widens the crack further. It is this repeated freezing and thawing that eventually causes rock fragments to break off. The conditions were just right for this process to take place with minimum temperatures below zero but maximum temperatures above zero the other rock climbing wall might be made of a softer or harder rock, which would have been affected differently. Also it may have had more/less cracks in it in October. Catastrophe Damburst Problem 1

3. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Catastrophe Damburst Problem 2 Safety check Jake works at a outdoor adventure centre. The centre closes in October for winter and reopens at the end of March. Jake must check to see if the mountain bike trail and rock climbs are safe before the centre reopens. These photos were taken last October just before the rock climbing faces were closed to the public. Predict whether each rock face will still be safe to climb after the winter months. Explain the reasons for your prediction. You should include in your explanation: The type of weathering that could have affected the rocks to make the face dangerous. Evidence from the weather data opposite that helps to explain why this would have happened during the months between October and March. How the weathered rock from the walls would be eroded. Weather data He decides that it may need to be closed down for repairs. Use ideas about weathering and erosion, as well as the weather data below, to explain why Jake is concerned. Jake takes a photo to record the state of the bridge that runs across the river. The bridge is attached to rocks on the river bank. MonthMinimum temperature  C Maximum temperature  C Rainfall cm* October3225.2 November01214.1 December-31014.3 January-4815.8 February-21015.6 March01413.1 *Rainfall has been much higher than normal this year.

4. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Teachers’ guide Goal The problem targets understanding part of the Big Idea: Weathering.  The Earth's surface is shaped by the motion of water, ice and wind, which continually break down exposed rock surfaces and may eventually level mountain ranges.  The process consists of: - weathering, the breaking down of exposed rocks into smaller pieces, called sediments - moving water, ice and wind carry rock fragments (sediments) away from weathered rock surfaces. This is erosion.  Big sediments can only be carried by fast flowing water or moving ice. Fine sediments, like silt, can be carried long distances even by slow flowing water.  As water, ice and wind lose energy they drop the sediments they are carrying, which form into new rocks. These sedimentary rocks are usually porous, and less hard than igneous rocks (formed in volcanoes).  Chemical weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down by a chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater forms an acid. This dissolves rocks that contain 'carbonates‘, e.g. limestone, marble. APP links The problem could be used to assess achievement against criteria in the ‘Explanations’ strand of AF1. Mission If you are using the APPREND Mission Booklets, the student outcomes will allow you to give feedback on the ‘What if?’ and ‘Solve’ sections of the L5H–7 mission: ‘Weathering’. Marking guide APP L5 Uses more than one step to explain processes or phenomena. Suggests solutions to problems and answers questions. e.g. predicts that on the first rock climb pieces of rock may have either fallen off or be loose dues to freeze–thaw weathering suggests that the low temperatures would mean that the rocks on the climbing faces would have been weathered this process is a type of physical weathering. APP L6 Takes account of more than one factor when explaining processes or phenomena. As above plus: predicts that the smooth crack-free surface of the second rock climb should mean that it will not have undergone freeze–thaw weathering as there were not places for water to gather and then freeze explains that water in the cracks in the rock expanded as it froze. This process would take place during the winter months when temperatures were below zero the rocks from the climbing walls could have been eroded by wind or gravity Jake is concerned about the bridge because it is attached to rocks on the river bank that may have been weathered and eroded over the winter. APP L7 Employs a systematic approach in deciding the relative importance of a number of factors when developing an argument and explaining processes or phenomena. As above plus: Jake is concerned about the bridge because the high rainfall over the winter would have caused the river to flow faster and the water level would have been unusually high. This would mean that some of the rocks on the bank that had been holding up the bridge may have been eroded some of the rocks may have been weathered over the winter by physical weathering (water freezing in the cracks) or chemical weathering from acid in the high rainfall that fell on the rocks. This would cause the rocks to break down into smaller pieces, which are more likely to be carried Catastrophe Damburst Problem 2

5. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Catastrophe Damburst Problem 3 Saving our castles This castle is built on top of basalt rock. The basalt formed inside a volcano. Over millions of years the rock around it has been eroded away until only the hard basalt is left. This castle is built near the edge of a cliff. At beach level the cliff is formed from soft clay and silt. Above this are layers of stronger sandstones and grit. The sea defences around Portland Harbour, which were built in 1903, have reduced wave height in the area. The last stonework from the castle fell 50 years ago. Many organisations are involved in preserving our historic castles but looking after these ancient buildings costs money. It is important to prioritise any work carried out. Read the information about the three castles shown below and list them in order of priority for preservation work. You should consider both the long-term stability of the castle structures and the safety of people visiting the sites. Explain your order by using the ideas of weathering and erosion. This castle is built from soft silt stone. The site is still in its natural state with plants such as ivy growing over the walls. Castle 3: Edinburgh Castle Castle 2: Sandsfoot Castle, Dorset Castle 1: Wigmore Castle, Hereford and Worcester

6. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Teachers’ guide Marking guide APP L5 Uses more than one step to explain processes or phenomena, Suggests solutions to problems and answers questions. e.g. identifies Wigmore Castle to be most at risk due to the weathering of the soft stone and links this to both the gradual deterioration in the stability of the stonework and a potential hazard to visitors if pieces of stone break off and fall. gives biological weathering as the most obvious type of weathering to cause a problem. identifies Sandsfoot Castle as being at risk due to the gradual erosion of the cliffs by the sea recognises that the long-term stability of the castle is a concern but that risk to visitors is minimal links the hardness of basalt rock to minimal risks of weathering or erosion of the cliffs below Edinburgh Castle and lists the castle as being at little risk of long-term instability. APP L6 Takes account of more than one factor when explaining processes or phenomena. As above plus: suggests additional forms of weathering that may damage Wigmore Castle, e.g. freeze–thaw weathering in winter takes account of the difference between the rate of weathering at Wigmore Castle and the rate of erosion at Sandsfoot Castle when working out the order of the list links the presence of the sea defences with a reduction in the rate of erosion of the cliffs in recent years and hence a decrease in the imminent risk to the stability of Sandsfoot Castle gives some explanation as to why basalt is less at risk of freeze–thaw weathering than the stone at Wigmore Castle in terms of lack of cracks in the rock for water to penetrate. APP L7 Employs a systematic approach in deciding the relative importance of a number of factors when developing an argument and explaining processes or phenomena. As above but also: identifies the long-term risk to the stability of Sandsfoot Castle in terms of the gradual erosion of softer rock at the base of the cliff leading to the eventual collapse of the harder rocks above links the interlocking crystal structure of basalt to its increased resistance to physical and biological weathering and its chemical composition (i.e. not the same as limestone) to its resistance to chemical weathering. Catastrophe Damburst Problem 3 Goal The problem targets understanding part of the Big Idea: Weathering.  The Earth's surface is shaped by the motion of water, ice and wind, which continually break down exposed rock surfaces and may eventually level mountain ranges.  The process consists of: - weathering, the breaking down of exposed rocks into smaller pieces, called sediments - moving water, ice and wind carry rock fragments (sediments) away from weathered rock surfaces. This is erosion.  Big sediments can only be carried by fast flowing water or moving ice. Fine sediments, like silt, can be carried long distances even by slow flowing water.  As water, ice and wind lose energy they drop the sediments they are carrying, which form into new rocks. These sedimentary rocks are usually porous, and less hard than igneous rocks (formed in volcanoes).  Chemical weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down by a chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater forms an acid. This dissolves rocks that contain 'carbonates‘, e.g. limestone, marble. APP links The problem could be used to assess achievement against criteria in the ‘Explanations’ strand of AF1. Mission If you are using the APPREND Mission Booklets, the student outcomes will allow you to give feedback on the ‘Solve’ section of the L5H–7 mission: ‘Weathering’.

7. Activity from the Catastrophe unit © upd8 wikid, built by cracking science 2009 This page may have been changed from the original Picture Slide Credit Edinburgh Castle 5 commons.wikimedia.org UK dor Sandsfoot 5 commons.wikimedia.org Wigmore Castle Ruins 5 Geograph – Humphrey Bolton Picture credits