Unit 1 — Weathering and Erosion

• Students make observations and/or measurements to produce evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion
• Students identify and test cause-and-effect relationships to explain change
• Students identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils to support explanations for landscape changes
• Students support explanations using patterns as evidence

Develop an electrical warning system to alert astronauts on a spaceship of potential asteroid collisions

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Students may demonstrate understanding through labeled drawings or diagrams with teacher-provided word banks showing weathering or erosion effects, or by sorting picture cards and explaining their choices orally. Manipulatives such as sand, rocks, and water may be used to model erosion processes while a teacher or peer records observations.

During investigations of weathering and erosion, provide students with graphic organizers that pair visual diagrams of rock formations, erosion processes, and landscape changes with simplified written prompts to support observation recording. Allow students to demonstrate understanding of cause-and-effect relationships through oral explanations, labeled drawings, or dictated responses rather than relying solely on written output. Break multi-step investigations into clearly numbered, sequential steps with visual cues at each stage, and offer frequent check-ins to monitor progress and provide corrective feedback before misconceptions take hold.

Ensure students have extended time to complete observations, measurements, and written explanations during weathering and erosion investigations. Preferential seating near the teacher during direct instruction on rock formations and fossil patterns supports focus, and providing a print copy of any diagrams or data tables displayed on the board removes barriers to access during hands-on inquiry work.

Introduce and preview key content-area vocabulary — such as weathering, erosion, deposition, and sediment — before investigations begin, using labeled photographs, diagrams, and real or model rock samples to make meaning visible and concrete. Provide simplified, step-by-step directions for investigations and encourage students to use sketches or labeled drawings to record observations when English writing is a barrier. Where possible, allow students to discuss their thinking about cause-and-effect patterns with a partner who shares their home language before sharing with the whole class.

Connect the concepts of weathering and erosion to familiar, observable phenomena in students' everyday environments — such as cracked sidewalks, worn-down steps, or muddy water after rain — to build background knowledge and lower the entry point for inquiry. Offer simplified data collection tools, such as partially completed observation charts or sentence frames for recording cause-and-effect relationships, so that students can focus cognitive energy on the science concepts rather than the mechanics of recording. Prioritize hands-on, sensory investigation experiences as the primary mode of engagement before moving to more abstract pattern analysis in rock layers and fossil evidence.

Challenge students to extend their investigation of weathering and erosion by exploring how multiple variables — such as rock composition, water volume, or slope angle — interact to influence erosion rates, moving beyond single cause-and-effect relationships to more complex systems thinking. Encourage students to research real-world geological formations or historical landscape changes and construct evidence-based arguments that connect observable patterns in rock layers and fossils to long-term Earth processes. Students may also explore connections between erosion science and engineering applications, such as how humans design structures or land-use strategies to manage erosion in different environments.