SC.4.E.6.4

Export Print
Describe the basic differences between physical weathering (breaking down of rock by wind, water, ice, temperature change, and plants) and erosion (movement of rock by gravity, wind, water, and ice).
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 4
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Big Idea: Earth Structures - Humans continue to explore the composition and structure of the surface of Earth. External sources of energy have continuously altered the features of Earth by means of both constructive and destructive forces. All life, including human civilization, is dependent on Earth’s water and natural resources.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
  • Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: MC item(s)

  • Clarification :
    Students will identify and/or describe the processes of physical weathering and/or erosion.

    Students will compare and contrast the agents and/or the processes of physical weathering and erosion.
  • Content Limits :
    Items may address but will not assess specific landforms resulting from physical weathering and erosion.
  • Stimulus Attributes :
    None specified
  • Response Attributes :
    None specified
  • Prior Knowledge :
    Items may require the student to apply science knowledge described in the NGSSS from lower grades. This benchmark requires prerequisite knowledge from SC.1.E.6.1, SC.1.E.6.3, and SC.2.E.6.1.
Sample Test Items (1)
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 1
  • Question: Earth has a great variety of surface features that are caused by weathering and erosion. Which of the following describes a change due to weathering?
  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: MC: Multiple Choice

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5020050: Science - Grade Four (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7720050: Access Science Grade 4 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 and beyond (current))
5020110: STEM Lab Grade 4 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SC.4.E.6.In.4: Identify that wind and water cause physical weathering and erosion of rocks.
SC.4.E.6.Su.4: Recognize examples of weathering or erosion in the environment.
SC.4.E.6.Pa.4: Recognize the effect of weathering on an object.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Preventing Soil Erosion Lesson:

Students will investigate the factors that contribute to soil erosion.  Students will then design and model a berm that will resist soil erosion.

Type: Lesson Plan

Rocks:

Students will use their knowledge of minerals and the rock cycle to analyze the rocks on three available sites for a new skate park. After analyzing each rock site, they will write a one page recommendation that will explain the classification of the rock and why it is the best for option for building. In addition, they will create a product plan that contains information on the rocks, their history and their uses. Student groups will present to fellow group members then each student will evaluate the products.

Type: Lesson Plan

Dune or Doom: The Effects of Wind Erosion on Sand Dunes:

In this lesson, students will address the following real-world problem of sand dune erosion while integrating Engineering Design concepts:

Florida’s coastline has been ravaged by winds from hurricanes, resulting in damage to sand dunes and oceanfront properties. Your mission is to design the most effective barrier that would limit the amount of sand displaced from our tall sand dunes and prevent further damage to oceanfront buildings. Your designs can help us save the sand dunes before they are blown away!

Type: Lesson Plan

Building up Beaches:

In this STEM build, students will use problem solving skills and teamwork to model an effective way of slowing down beach erosion caused by the ocean. Students also will practice sharing their results through PowerPoint presentations.

Type: Lesson Plan

Washed Away:

In this Engineering Design Challenge lesson, students will create a model beach and use different materials to find a solution to slow down the erosion process.

Type: Lesson Plan

Design a Dune:

Students work in teams to rank and determine which vegetation is best for a coastal dune restoration project.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Weathering and Erosion Video Project:

Using a digital video recorder, 6th grade students will create an informational video that teaches 4th grade (or 5th as an FCAT review) students about weathering and erosion using images from around the school and local areas. This will most likely be a long-term project, depending on how many digital video recorders and computers are available.

Type: Lesson Plan

Save Our Sand--An Engineer/Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of weathering and erosion from SC.4.E.6.4 as they build devices to stop beach erosion. It is not intended as an initial introduction to this benchmark.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Weathering and Erosion:

Dig into the effects weathering and erosion have had on the shaping of our landscape.  Sift through the rocks of our world and how weathering has cut and shaped them and how erosion has transported  and molded the surfaces of the Earth.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Idea

Looking at Weathering and Erosion:

Students will be divided into small groups to do simple science experiments that illustrate a type of weathering or erosion.

Type: Teaching Idea

Text Resource

Weathering:

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes chemical, biological and mechanical weathering and includes causes and examples for each.

Type: Text Resource

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Weathering and Erosion: A Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS) Lesson Plan:

This lesson plan follows the template for the Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS), developed to implement academic standards in English/Language Arts. This sequence scaffolds students as they read and response to complex content-area informational text. This particular lesson plan uses informational text about weathering and erosion, which ties into the 4th grade benchmark .

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Weathering and Erosion:

In this unit, students learn about weathering and erosion (and different types of weathering and erosion) through different models and activities. An engineering design competition asks students to synthesize knowledge about erosion to create an erosion-blocking process/product for the Atlantic Coast.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

Design a Dune:

Students work in teams to rank and determine which vegetation is best for a coastal dune restoration project.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

Weathering and Erosion:

Dig into the effects weathering and erosion have had on the shaping of our landscape.  Sift through the rocks of our world and how weathering has cut and shaped them and how erosion has transported  and molded the surfaces of the Earth.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Weathering and Erosion:

Dig into the effects weathering and erosion have had on the shaping of our landscape.  Sift through the rocks of our world and how weathering has cut and shaped them and how erosion has transported  and molded the surfaces of the Earth.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.