6th - 8th Grade Module 13 Concept 2

Cycle 1

How do forces of nature break apart and change rocks?
Cycle Summary

In this cycle, students will construct an explanation that answers the guiding question: How do forces of nature break apart and change rocks? Students will answer this guiding question by developing models of surface processes, including: weathering, erosion, and deposition.

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Session 1
Elicit

Students observe a series of photos of Earth’s surface and make predictions about factors that led to the changes over time.

Engage

Students use a card sort to ask questions about the types of weathering and erosion processes that help to breakdown Earth’s materials and create Earth’s landforms.

Session 2
Explore

Students complete five stations to model and observe chemical and mechanical weathering processes.

Session 3
Explain

Students model chemical and physical weathering and read scientific texts to describe how weathering breaks apart and changes rocks.
weathering

Session 4
Elaborate

Students use a stream table model and reading to investigate why the MIssissippi River path and surrounding land has changed over time.

Session 5
Elaborate

Students design their own investigations to deepen their understanding of the factors that shape Earth’s surface.

Session 6
Elaborate

Students revisit card sort and explain how the processes they modeled and investigated led to the landforms they observe on the cards.

Evaluate

Students complete a formative assessment.

Extend
Extend

Students explore the relationship between weathering, erosion and soil formation. They will then consider how the diversity of soils is important to our everyday lives.