Here are the answers to fill in the blanks on your worksheet. These are based on the facts taught in the "Bill Nye the Science Guy" episode about Erosion.
1.
gravity,
valleys
*(Water, ice, wind, gravity, and chemicals cause erosion. It widens valleys and deepens canyons.)*
2.
time
*(Erosion is a slow process that takes a long time.)*
3.
expands
*(When water freezes into ice, it gets bigger/expands.)*
4.
break apart (or
crack)
*(Freezing water pushes against the rock until it breaks.)*
5.
sand
*(Wind carries sand which acts like sandpaper against the mountain.)*
6.
canyon
*(Moving water cuts through rock to make canyons.)*
7.
roots
*(Plant roots hold the soil together so it doesn't wash away.)*
8.
overhang
*(The hard rock stays while the soft rock underneath washes away, creating a shelf or overhang.)*
9.
slow
*(Erosion happens very slowly over many years.)*
10.
Waves crash against rocks, breaking them into tiny pieces of sand.
*(The ocean grinds rocks down until they become sand.)*
11.
plant (or
tree)
*(Roots stop erosion by holding soil, but growing roots can also crack rocks and speed up weathering.)*
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of bill nye plants video worksheet.
