Earth Science · Changing Earth
Fast & Slow Changes to Earth
Use several sources to compare Earth events that happen quickly with processes that change the surface slowly over time.




Lesson plan
Fast & Slow Changes to Earth
A step-by-step guide to help you teach this lesson.
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Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Use information from several sources to classify familiar Earth events as happening quickly or slowly.
- Support a fast-or-slow claim with at least two relevant clues from pictures, captions, or observation sequences.
Key science ideas
- Some Earth events happen quickly.
- Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are examples of changes that can happen rapidly.
- Erosion can change rock and land little by little over a long time.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 2
- 40 min
- ~9 min prep
- 2-ESS1-1
- 5 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary