Breaking Ground Teacher Guide Breaking Ground
Weathering & Erosion Teacher Guide
Time Estimate 60 Min
Learning Objectives
Define weathering as the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces.
Define erosion as the movement of rock pieces from one place to another.
Observe and record the physical changes in a rock-like object (sugar cube) during a simulation.
The Hook (5-10 mins)
"Hold up a hard rock. Ask: 'How can soft water or gentle wind break this rock?' Most kids will say it's impossible. Today, we're going to prove that even the hardest things can be broken down by nature!"
Materials List
1 Jar with lid (per group)
3-4 Sugar cubes (per group)
Spray bottle with water
Black construction paper
Hand lens (magnifying glass)
Instructional Steps
1
Part A: Shaking Rocks (Mechanical Weathering)
Have students place sugar cubes in the jar. They should shake the jar vigorously for 30 seconds. Stop and observe. Pour contents onto black paper. Use hand lenses to see the "rock dust" (sediment). Concept: Friction breaks things down.
2
Part B: Rain Storm (Chemical/Water Weathering)
Take a fresh sugar cube. Use the spray bottle to mimic rain. Observe how the sharp edges disappear first. Discuss how water can dissolve and wear away rock surfaces over time.
3
Part C: The Big Move (Erosion)
Use a straw to gently blow the sugar dust across the paper. Pour a little more water and see the "river" move the sediment. Concept: Weathering breaks it, Erosion moves it.
Check for Understanding
"If a mountain has jagged, sharp peaks, is it very old or relatively young? Why? (Older mountains are usually smoother due to more time for weathering)."
Teacher Tip
Use the phrase "Weathering breaks it, Erosion takes it" to help students differentiate between the two processes. It’s a catchy mnemonic!
Breaking Ground Slides Breaking Ground
How Nature Changes the Earth
The Big Question
Rocks are some of the hardest things on Earth.
How can "soft" water or "gentle" wind break them into tiny pieces?
What is Weathering?
The Definition
Weathering is when rocks are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces.
How it Happens
Wind blowing sand
Water freezing in cracks
Plant roots growing
What is Erosion?
If Weathering breaks it...
Erosion is the movement of sediment (bits of rock and soil) from one place to another by water, wind, or ice.
Sugar Cube Lab
Let's simulate weathering and erosion!
1
Shake It
Shake the sugar cubes in the jar. What happens to the edges?
2
Spray It
Spray water on a cube. Does it stay the same shape?
3
Blow It
Gently blow the sugar dust. Where does it go?
Sugar Cube Lab Sheet Sugar Cube Lab
Science Investigation: Weathering & Erosion
NAME:
DATE:
My Prediction
What do you think will happen to the sugar cubes when we shake them in the jar?
My Observations
1
Mechanical Weathering (Shake)
Draw what the cubes and the paper look like after shaking:
I noticed:
2
Chemical Weathering (Spray)
Draw what happens when the "rain" hits the cube:
I noticed:
Final Conclusions
1. Which process did we simulate when we shook the cubes and they broke into tiny pieces?
Weathering
Erosion
2. Which process did we simulate when we blew the sugar dust across the paper?
Weathering
Erosion
Think Like a Scientist:
In the real world, what could be the "jar" that shakes rocks together? (Hint: Think about rivers or oceans!)
Rock Roller Teacher Guide Rock Roller Game
The Rock Cycle Journey Guide
Activity Type Movement Game
Game Objective
Students act as rock particles moving between geological stations. Through dice rolls, they experience how rocks can stay in one state for a long time, or change rapidly due to Earth's forces. They record their journey in their "Rock Traveler Passport."
Station Setup
Volcano: Igneous Rock origin
River: Sediment movement
Earth's Crust: Pressure/Heat
Mountain: Weathering site
Ocean Floor: Deposition site
Mantle: Melting back to Magma
Materials
• Station Posters (provided)
• Large Dice (1 per station)
• Rock Passports (1 per student)
• Stamps or Stickers (optional)
Management Tip:
If a station gets too crowded (more than 5 kids), have them "wait in geological time" by doing 5 jumping jacks before rolling!
How to Play
01. Start
Assign students evenly to start at different stations. They are now "part" of that environment.
02. Roll & Move
Students roll the die at their station and check the Station Poster to see where they go next (or if they stay).
03. Log It
Before moving, they must record their current station in their Passport. Do about 10-12 rolls total.
Post-Game Discussion
"Did everyone have the same journey?"
(No, some stayed in one place, others visited every station. This shows rocks don't follow a fixed order.)
"What forces moved you?"
(Heat, pressure, wind, water, gravity, melting.)
Rock Traveler Passport ROCK TRAVELER
Official Passport
Explorer Name
Rock Identity
e.g., Granite, Sandstone, Slate
My Geological Journey
10 Million Year Log
Roll Current Location What Happened? (Optional) Stamp 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Reflection Question
Did you visit the same station more than once? Why do you think that happened in the real Earth?
Rock Station Posters VOLCANO
Melted Magma & Heat
or Erupt! Go to Mountain
or Cool & Harden. Stay at Volcano
or Drip Underground. Go to Deep Earth
RIVER
Flowing Water & Erosion
or Flash Flood! Go to Ocean Floor
or Stuck on a bank. Stay at River
or Washed up. Go to Mountain
MOUNTAIN
Rocks & Weathering
, , Broke by rain. Go to River
or Stayed solid. Stay at Mountain
Pushed Down. Go to Deep Earth
DEEP EARTH
Heat & Intense Pressure
or Too hot! Melting. Go to Volcano
, , Squished flat. Stay at Deep Earth
Earthquake push! Go to Mountain
Rock Roller Slides Rock Roller
The Great Geological Journey
You are a Rock Particle
Today, you will travel through time. You might be a liquid rock, a grain of sand, or a solid mountain.
Grab your passport and get ready to roll!
How to Play
Find a Station
Start at the station your teacher assigned you to.
Roll the Die
Read the poster to see where the Earth's forces move you next.
Log the Journey
Write down where you are BEFORE you move to the next spot!
Does it ever end?
The Rock Cycle has no beginning and no end. It is a continuous loop that takes millions of years!
"Energy from the Sun (weathering) and heat from inside the Earth (melting) keep the cycle moving."
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Cycle Navigator Teacher Guide Cycle Navigator
Mapping the Rock Cycle Teacher Guide
Lesson Type Diagramming
Learning Objectives
Identify and label the three main types of rock: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic .
Explain the process required to create each rock type (melting, weathering/pressure, heat/pressure).
Connect individual rock journey experiences to the global rock cycle diagram.
Vocabulary Focus
Igneous "From Fire"
Sedimentary "Settling"
Metamorphic "Change Form"
Lesson Flow
Review: Share journey stories from the game.
Model: Draw the 3 types of rock on the board.
Activity: Students complete the Navigator Map.
Exit: Quick check on definitions.
Key Concepts to Teach
Magma → Igneous
Explain that cooling magma becomes igneous rock. Mention basalt (lava) or granite (underground cooling).
Sediment → Sedimentary
Bits of rock settle in layers. Over millions of years, pressure "glues" them together into sandstone or limestone.
Extreme Heat → Metamorphic
Rocks don't melt, but they get soft like playdough and change texture. Limestone becomes Marble.
Support
Provide pre-cut labels for the diagram so students only have to glue them in the correct spots rather than write the long scientific names.
Challenge
Ask students to add a "Human Impact" arrow—how do humans break the cycle? (e.g., Mining, road construction).
Rock Cycle Map Worksheet ROCK CYCLE MAP
Science Explorer Activity: Diagramming the Earth
EXPLORER:
IGNEOUS
Draw it here!
SEDIMENTARY
Draw it here!
METAMORPHIC
Draw it here!
Weathering & Erosion
Heat & Pressure
Melting into Magma
Map Directions
Label the boxes with the rock types.
In the small boxes, draw what the rock might look like! (Use your passport notes).
Color the Igneous box red, Sedimentary orange, and Metamorphic purple.
Cycle Riddle:
I was once a smooth sandstone near a river. Now I am a hard piece of quartzite. What process changed me?
Cycle Navigator Slides Cycle Navigator
Mapping the Connections
The Three Main Rock Types
IGNEOUS
Formed when hot, liquid rock (magma or lava) cools and hardens.
Example: Granite
SEDIMENTARY
Formed when layers of sand, mud, and shells are pressed together over time.
Example: Sandstone
METAMORPHIC
Formed when existing rocks are changed by intense heat and pressure.
Example: Marble
The Cycle never stops!
Every rock was once a different kind of rock. Through heat, pressure, and weathering, they keep changing form.
Think back to the game:
Did you start as a river pebble and end as deep earth pressure?
Pebble Tales Teacher Guide Pebble Tales
Writing a Rock's Biography Teacher Guide
Subject Integration Science & ELA
Project Goal
Students use their Rock Roller Passport data to write a first-person narrative ("autobiography") or create a comic strip of their rock's journey. This assesses their understanding of geological transitions and terminology through creative storytelling.
Assessment Checklist
Uses at least 3 vocabulary words (Erosion, Heat, Pressure, etc.)
Describes at least 2 transitions (e.g., Mountain to River)
Mentions a specific rock type (Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic)
Narrates in chronological order (First, Next, Finally)
Pacing (60 mins)
0-10 Min
Hook & Brainstorm: "What would a rock sound like if it talked?"
10-25 Min
Planning: Use the Biography Planner to map out the story arc.
25-50 Min
Drafting: Writing or drawing the final "Biography" page.
50-60 Min
Gallery Walk: Students share their stories in small groups.
Creative Prompts
• "I was born in a fiery explosion at the top of a volcano..."
• "For thousands of years, I sat at the bottom of the cold blue ocean..."
• "I felt a giant squeeze! Suddenly, my layers started to bend and swirl..."
Vocabulary Integration
Encourage students to use "power words" to describe action. Instead of "I went to the river," use "I was eroded and washed into the rushing river."
My Rock Biography Worksheet MY ROCK BIOGRAPHY
"Every pebble has a story. What is yours?"
BY:
Character Profile
My Rock Name
My Starting Type (Igneous, Sedimentary, or Metamorphic?)
Favorite Travel Force (Wind, Water, Heat, or Pressure?)
Draw a portrait of your rock!
The Story of My Life
I first began my journey at the...
Then, a huge change happened! I was...
Finally, after millions of years, I became a...
Scientific Word Bank WEATHERING EROSION HEAT PRESSURE MELTING SEDIMENT COOLING
Pebble Tales Slides Pebble Tales
If a rock could talk...
Every Rock has a Story
Think about your journey in the Rock Roller game. You didn't just move—you transformed.
Today, you are the author. You will write the "autobiography" of your rock particle.
10 Million
Years of History
The Science Word Bank
Weathering
"I was smashed and broken by the rain."
Erosion
"The river carried me miles away."
Heat & Pressure
"I felt a giant squeeze underground."
Melting
"I turned into glowing, liquid fire."
Earth Detectives Teacher Guide Earth Detectives
Playground Erosion Walk Teacher Guide
Activity Type Field Study
Learning Objectives
Identify physical evidence of weathering (cracked pavement, worn bricks) on school grounds.
Identify physical evidence of erosion (soil washing onto sidewalks, roots exposed) on school grounds.
Explain the cause and effect relationship between weather (rain/wind) and landscape changes.
What to Look For
Cracks: Water freezing or roots growing in asphalt/concrete.
Silt/Sand: Deposited at the bottom of a slope after rain.
Worn Stones: Old walls or steps where edges have become rounded.
Exposed Roots: Soil washed away from the base of trees.
Materials
• Clipboards
• Scavenger Hunt Sheet
• Pencils
• Cameras/Tablets (optional)
Safety Reminder:
Remind students to stay on the designated path and not to touch any sharp debris found near cracks.
Field Trip Steps
1
Preparation
Before leaving, review the "Weathering vs Erosion" mnemonic. Give each student a clipboard and the Scavenger Hunt checklist.
2
The Discovery Walk
Lead the class around the building. Stop at a major example (like a crack in the sidewalk with a plant) and model how to fill out the detective sheet.
3
Debrief
Back in the classroom, ask: "If we come back in 10 years, will these cracks be bigger or smaller? Why?"
Playground Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Earth Detectives
Playground Erosion Scavenger Hunt
DETECTIVE:
Mission: Find Evidence of Weathering (Breaking)
Location 1: A sidewalk crack
Draw what you see inside the crack (dirt? a plant?):
Detective Notes:
Location 2: Worn-down stone or brick
Draw the shape of the edges (sharp or rounded?):
Detective Notes:
Mission: Find Evidence of Erosion (Taking)
Location 3: Sediment (mud or sand)
Where did this mud come from? Where is it going?
Location 4: Exposed roots
Look at the base of a tree. Can you see roots?
Case Conclusion:
Is the school playground staying exactly the same, or is it changing? What is the "Number 1" thing that causes these changes?
Earth Detectives Slides Earth Detectives
Solving the Mysteries of Our Playground
Evidence is Everywhere!
Geology doesn't just happen in the mountains or volcanoes. It is happening right here at our school!
"We are looking for clues that the Earth is breaking and moving."
Weathering
Erosion
Detective Skills
Observe
Look closely at the ground. Don't just see the grass—see the soil beneath it. Is it washing away?
Record
Draw what you see! A quick sketch is often better than a thousand words for a scientist.
