In this Grade 6 Earth Science lesson from Chapter 5, students learn how erosion and deposition shape Earth's surface, exploring how water, wind, and ice transport weathered rock and sediment to new locations. The lesson also covers how gravity drives mass wasting, the large-scale movement of rock and soil down slopes. Students examine real-world examples, such as valley formation in Iceland, to understand how these natural forces continuously reshape landforms over time.
Section 1
Erosion Carries Weathered Particles Away
When rocks break down through weathering, erosion moves these particles from one location to another. Water, wind, and ice act as transportation agents, eventually depositing sediments in new locations.
Section 2
Water Reshapes Landscapes Over Time
Rainwater and streams flow downhill, carrying rock and soil particles with them. This continuous movement carves valleys, forms riverbanks, and deposits sediments, gradually changing Earth's surface features.
Section 3
Gravity Triggers Mass Wasting Events
Gravity pulls rock and soil downhill during mass wasting events like landslides, rockfalls, and mudflows. These movements can happen suddenly after heavy rain or earthquakes, or gradually over time through creep.
Section 4
Mudflows Transport Debris Down Mountains
When water saturates soil and debris on steep slopes, mudflows form. These dangerous mixtures rush downhill, picking up more material along the way before spreading across valleys below.
Section 5
Creep Slowly Tilts Structures Downhill
Though imperceptible to the eye, creep moves soil 1-10 millimeters yearly down slopes. Over time, this slow movement causes fence posts and telephone poles to lean, and can even crack building foundations.
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Section 1
Erosion Carries Weathered Particles Away
When rocks break down through weathering, erosion moves these particles from one location to another. Water, wind, and ice act as transportation agents, eventually depositing sediments in new locations.
Section 2
Water Reshapes Landscapes Over Time
Rainwater and streams flow downhill, carrying rock and soil particles with them. This continuous movement carves valleys, forms riverbanks, and deposits sediments, gradually changing Earth's surface features.
Section 3
Gravity Triggers Mass Wasting Events
Gravity pulls rock and soil downhill during mass wasting events like landslides, rockfalls, and mudflows. These movements can happen suddenly after heavy rain or earthquakes, or gradually over time through creep.
Section 4
Mudflows Transport Debris Down Mountains
When water saturates soil and debris on steep slopes, mudflows form. These dangerous mixtures rush downhill, picking up more material along the way before spreading across valleys below.
Section 5
Creep Slowly Tilts Structures Downhill
Though imperceptible to the eye, creep moves soil 1-10 millimeters yearly down slopes. Over time, this slow movement causes fence posts and telephone poles to lean, and can even crack building foundations.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter