Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition — 5E Lesson Plan
Earth Science · 50 minutes
Grade 4
5E lesson flow
01
Engage
6 min
Teacher Does
Show examples of cracked rock, moving muddy water, and a small sediment pile. Ask what is different about the material in each scene.
Students Do
Notice, compare, and propose what is breaking, moving, or settling.
Ask
- Which scene shows material moving?
- Which scene shows material staying in place but changing?
Look For
Students begin separating breaking, moving, and settling.
02
Explore
17 min
Teacher Does
Run or supervise two water-erosion trials with the same water amount and different slope angles. Model how to measure sediment moved.
Students Do
Predict, observe, measure, and record the amount of sediment collected from each slope.
Ask
- What changed between trials?
- What stayed the same?
- Which measurement is larger?
Look For
Students use measurements rather than visual impressions alone.
03
Explain
9 min
Teacher Does
Name weathering, erosion, deposition, sediment, slope, and evidence. Connect each term to the class model.
Students Do
Annotate or point to where each process appears in the model.
Ask
- Where did erosion happen?
- Where did deposition happen?
- Did our model directly test weathering or erosion?
Look For
Students distinguish the three processes and recognize that this investigation tests water erosion.
04
Elaborate
11 min
Teacher Does
Display the class measurements in a two-column table and ask students to construct an evidence statement about slope.
Students Do
Compare values and complete: 'The ___ slope had more erosion because ___.''
Ask
- Which number is your evidence?
- What can we claim about this model, and what can we not claim about every real hillside?
Look For
A claim tied to measured sediment and appropriate limits on the model.
05
Evaluate
7 min
Teacher Does
Give a three-part exit check: identify a process, interpret one data comparison, and name one controlled condition.
Students Do
Respond independently with words, a diagram, or a short explanation.
Ask
- What evidence supports your answer?
Look For
Accurate process identification plus evidence from a measurement.
Student goal
I can use observations and measurements to explain weathering, erosion, and deposition.
Learning objectives
- Distinguish weathering, erosion, and deposition.
- Use observations and measurements to explain how flowing water can move sediment.
- Compare erosion data and use evidence to explain the effect of slope.
Materials
- Two shallow trays
- Same type and amount of damp soil or sand for each trial
- Books or blocks to make two slope angles
- Measuring cup with water
- Collection cups or pans
- Kitchen scale if available, or a simple sediment-volume comparison
- Ruler
- Recording sheet
Before class
- Build one gentle-slope and one steeper-slope tray using the same tray type.
- Use equal amounts of the same Earth material in both trays.
- Measure the same water volume for each trial.
- Place collection containers at the bottom of each tray.
- Choose either sediment mass or sediment volume as the class measurement; do not switch measures between trials.
- Keep weathering, erosion, and deposition distinct: breakdown, transport, and settling can occur in a sequence but are not interchangeable words.
- Use shallow trays and small measured water volumes on a protected surface; clean spills promptly and never use outdoor slopes or uncontrolled flowing water for the classroom investigation.
Prior knowledge
- Water can move downhill.
- Earth materials include rock, soil, sand, and water.
Vocabulary
- weathering
- The breaking of rock into smaller pieces without moving it away.
- erosion
- The movement of rock or sediment from one place to another.
- deposition
- The dropping or settling of sediment in a new place.
- sediment
- Small pieces of rock, soil, or other Earth material.
- slope
- How steep a surface is.
- evidence
- Observations or measurements that support an explanation.
Differentiation
- Provide picture cards for weathering, erosion, and deposition.
- Give a sentence frame: 'I know this is ___ because ___.''
- Let students compare bar lengths before requiring exact numerical language.
- For additional challenge, ask how vegetation might change erosion while keeping other variables the same.
Assessment
- Check process sorting during discussion.
- Check the class data table for accurate recording.
- Look for a claim supported by a measurement and one correctly identified controlled condition.
Exit ticket
A steeper-slope trial moved more sediment than a gentle-slope trial. Name the process and cite the measurement pattern that supports your answer.
Extension
Plan a new investigation that changes only vegetation cover or water volume. Predict the result before testing.