Rock Breakers: Erosion and Weathering

• newEditor
• Science
• Primary Education
• Age 8,9

Rock Breakers: Erosion and Weathering

What do you already know about how rocks are broken down?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how erosion and weathering break down rocks, describe their differences, and recognise their effects in nature.

What Is Weathering?

Weathering is the process where rocks break down into smaller pieces by wind, water, plants, or temperature changes.

Types of Weathering

Physical weathering breaks rocks apart without changing their makeup. Chemical weathering changes the minerals in rocks.

What Is Erosion?

Erosion moves rock particles from one place to another using wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Weathering vs. Erosion

Erosion

Transports those pieces to new places.

Breaks rocks into smaller pieces at the same location.

Weathering

Real World Impact: Coastal Erosion

Amazing Fact!

About 500 million tonnes of sediment are carried by rivers into the oceans each year due to erosion!

Reflection

Think: Can you spot an example of weathering or erosion near where you live?

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.