3rd

Topic:

Lesson #

Water and Wind Erosion

Date:__________

Standards:
S3E1 Students will investigate the physical attributes of rocks and soils.
d. Determine how water and wind can change rocks and soil over time using observation and research.

Essential Question:
How can water and wind change rocks and soils over time?
Vocabulary:
Materials:
Top soil

water

wind

erosion

observation

--Prepared Wind erosion monitors made with

notecards and double sided tape
--glass mayonnaise jar with water
--vocabulary organizer (within lesson)
--individually wrapped mints (about 5 per class)
--Student recording sheets
--pencils and clip boards
--post-it notes

Instruction: Large components of this lesson MUST be done outside.

ONE WEEK AHEAD OF TIME PREP: Prepare several wind erosion monitors and place them around your
school building. These can be as small as a notecard, but should have a sticky side (rolled tape is easiest, but
double sided tape would be flattest) to catch the particles that are blown by the wind that week.
DAY BEFORE PREP: Fill a glass mayonnaise jar with water and seal it with the lid. Wrap a towel around the
jar and put it in the freezer overnight. Carefully unwrap the jar in front of the class and ask for their
observations. Discuss that when the water expanded, it caused the glass to crack. The same thing can happen
in nature when rainwater gets inside holes and cracks in rocks. This constant process slowly erodes the rocks.
1. Begin this lesson by sharing this great overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmon7Rj6ns
Have students either as a class or as small groups, work to complete the vocabulary organizer below.
2. Give any students willing to demonstrate an individually wrapped mint. Tell them that they may NOT bite
the mint, and must be willing to describe what happens to the mint as it disappears in their mouths. Ask for
updates from these students periodically over the next several minutes.
3. Share the shattered mayonnaise jar with students to demonstrate the power of frozen water.
4. Take the entire class on an erosion/weathering walk around the building. Point out several areas where
water and wind have eroded the soil- also point out features of the building that should limit this type of
erosion (gutters, etc.). Be sure to stop by all your prepared wind erosion monitors to check for evidence that
the wind has been blowing particles of soil around that area. Have groups sketch eroded areas as a group (pass
the paper to another student after each site)
5. If time permits, you may choose to do one or more of the following demonstrations:
http://www.therez.ms/students/documents/Threetypesoferosionexperiment_000.pdf
http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/pdf/level1/PubsErosioninabottle.pdf

Summarizer/Assessment:

Lab Safety Precautions:

Be aware of student allergies before taking students outside.

Have students use a post it note to list one

reason that soil erosion can be a problem.

Classroom Teacher Connections:

Share the links above if you dont have time to get to them in
class.
Teacher Notes:

Science Lab Lesson Plan

Erosion Organizer
What are the types of erosion?

What is Erosion?

EROSION

Why is erosion bad?

Other interesting facts