1. Shaping Earth’s Surface
6th grade
Ch. 2

2. Lesson 1 Big Idea
Earth’s surface is built up and worn away slowly. Both processes of weathering and erosion change Earth’s surface.

3. Learning Links Brainpop – weathering and erosion
Scholastic Studyjams- weathering and erosion
Youtube- weathering and erosion

4. Wearing down Earth’s Surface
Earth’s surface features a worn down by destructive forces such as weathering and erosion.
2 types: Mechanical and Chemical
Erosion is caused by wind, water, waves and ice or a combination of these
Gravity can cause landslides which destroy human and wildlife habitats

5. Vocabulary
Erosion- a destructive (negative) force where water or wind moves pieces of rock
Sediment- small pieces of rock
Weathering- a slow destructive force that breaks rock into smaller pieces
(picture or synonym or example)

6. Weathering Slowly wearing away of rock into smaller pieces
Water, ice, plant roots, chemicals and wind all cause weathering
2 types- mechanical and chemical
Changes Earth’s surface SLOWLY

7. Erosion The movement of small rocks from one place to another
Erosion happens after weathering
Water is the main cause of erosion
SLOW process

8. Glaciers A very large piece of moving ice Moves very slowly
Causes both Erosion and Weathering as it moves
Can form large canyons and valleys

9. How Earths Surface is Worn Down
Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
Erosion carries away Sediments (rock pieces)
Mechanical: breaks rock. Ice, wind, and water
Destructive force
moving water, wind, glaciers, and gravity
Rivers and streams
Chemical: Changes rocks

10. Review Big Idea
Weathering breaks down rocks and erosion carries these smaller pieces away to a new location.
BOTH of these forces change Earth’s surface

11. Plants roots grow
And crack rocks
Moves rocks
to new location
Change the Earth’s
surface
Water freezes
causing cracks
Erosion
Weathering
Slow process
Running water
Running water
wears down rocks
Wind
Running water
Chemicals and
acid rain weaken
rocks

12. Weathering Activity
Question- What effect does water and abrasion have on rocks?
Hypothesis- I think _______________.
Procedure-
Place 3 rocks in a jar of water
Shake for 5 minutes
Observe and record changes

13. Results
Before Shaking
After Shaking
(diagram and words to describe)

14. Conclusion- I thought ____________. I learned ________________________
Conclusion- I thought ____________. I learned ________________________. My observations showed ____________ ___________. This is like ___________ ______________________________. I still wonder _______________________.

15. Wind Erosion Activity Question- What effect does wind have on sand
Hypothesis- I think _______________.
Procedure-
Put sand in a plastic container
Form a sand dune
Blow sand gently through a straw
Observe and record changes

16. Results
Before Wind
After Wind
(diagram)
(diagram and words)

17. Conclusion- I thought ____________. I learned ________________________
Conclusion- I thought ____________. I learned ________________________. My observations showed ____________ ___________. This is like ___________ ______________________________. I still wonder _______________________.

18. Lesson 2- Big Idea
Water running downhill is a powerful force in changing Earth’s landscape. Rivers erode, move sediment, change course, and flood their banks in a continuous pattern.

19. Vocabulary
Alluvial fan- when a river flows over a steep area then slows over flat land forming a fan shape.
Delta- the area where a river meets and ocean and drops sediment
Deposition- stop carrying and drop sediment

20. Vocabulary (continued)
Meander- the slow curve of a river as it winds through a flat area
Tributary- a small river that flows into a larger river

21. Rivers Rivers are formed from runoff and melting snow
They flow downhill eroding the land and carrying sediment and rock with them.
They deposit the sediment in new locations
This changes the surface of Earth.

22. River Systems

23. Water runs downhill
joining together to
Form rivers
Rivers erode the
ground and carry
sediments as they
flow
Rivers Shape
the Land
Sediments are
Deposited at the
mouth of the river
Shape landscapes
forming deltas
and alluvial
fans
Rivers can overflow
Floods can occur

24. Lesson 3 – Big Idea
Beaches are formed through erosion and deposition. Sand is supplied by rivers and moved along the coast by waves.
Beach erosion

25. Lesson 3 - Vocabulary
arch- landform made by 2 sea caves joining when waves erode a headland.
barrier island- a sandbar that runs along the shoreline
beach- an area made from sediments dropped along a shoreline
Cliff- steep rock

26. Vocabulary (continued)
headland- a skinny strip of land that sticks out into the ocean
sandbar- a hill of sand below the ocean surface
sea cave- A hole in the land near the edge of the ocean created by waves slowly wearing away rock
sea stack- tall rocks away from the shore created by wave erosion
spit- a sandbar above water level that connects to the shore

27. Erosions and deposition work together to constantly reshape shorelines
Beach Formations
Erosions and deposition work together to constantly reshape shorelines
Waves cause deposition and erosion

28. Changes in Sea Level Shape shorelines Tides rise and fall every day
Sea levels also change over thousands of years as Earth’s climate changes.
Beach sand can be made of different types of minerals, rocks, plant remains, and shells.

29. Pollution
Huge problem in every coastal state in