1. Weathering

2. Weathering is the process where rock is dissolved, worn away or broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. BREAKS rocks into different shapes and smaller sizes Rocks get broken down to sand grains or even smaller Jagged rocks usually become smooth Weathering can happen by ice, wind, water or even by plants

3. A river or ocean waves can smash rocks against each other, making them smooth and turning rocks into sand. Rain water can dissolve some types of rock. Over long periods of time rain can even dissolve enough rock to make caves.

4. The famous Marble Arch caves in Co. Fermanagh were formed by water dissolving the limestone rock.

5. Freezing water in cracks expands and breaks rocks

6. Sand carried by the wind can act like sandpaper, slowly wearing the rock away.

7. Plants can break up rocks with their growing roots. Burrowing animals such as rabbits can burrow into a crack in a rock, making it bigger and splitting the rock.

8. Warming and cooling of rock causes top layers to break off in sheets

16. Can you remember the four main ways that rocks can get broken up? What do you think happens to the pieces of rock that get broken away?