To solve this worksheet, we need to sort the eight pictures into two categories:
Weathering and
Erosion.
The worksheet gives us a very helpful hint at the bottom:
*
Weathering is when rocks are
breaking down.
*
Erosion is when the broken pieces (like dirt, sand, or mud) are
moving from one place to another.
Let's look at each picture one by one and decide which category it fits into.
1.
"The roots of the tree caused the rock to crack."
* The rock is cracking. It is breaking apart. It is not moving away yet.
* This is
Weathering.
2.
"The mud is moving the rocks down."
* The key word here is "moving." The rocks are being carried somewhere else.
* This is
Erosion.
3.
"The rain washed away the dirt."
* "Washed away" means the dirt is moving.
* This is
Erosion.
4.
"Water got into the crack of a rock and when the water froze, the rock cracked."
* The rock cracked. It broke into pieces because of the ice.
* This is
Weathering.
5.
"The wind is carrying the sand away."
* "Carrying... away" means the sand is moving.
* This is
Erosion.
6.
"The canyon is smooth because of the ocean water."
* This one can be tricky, but think about what makes it smooth. The water is rubbing against the rock and wearing it down over time. It is breaking down the rough edges. This is often called abrasion, which is a type of weathering.
* This is
Weathering.
7.
"The hurricane caused the rocks to break into tiny pieces."
* The rocks are breaking into smaller pieces.
* This is
Weathering.
8.
"The river is carrying the products downhill."
* "Carrying" means moving. The river is taking the stuff downstream.
* This is
Erosion.
Now, let's group them together for the final answer.
Weathering (Breaking down):
* The roots of the tree caused the rock to crack.
* Water got into the crack of a rock and when the water froze, the rock cracked.
* The canyon is smooth because of the ocean water.
* The hurricane caused the rocks to break into tiny pieces.
Erosion (Moving):
* The mud is moving the rocks down.
* The rain washed away the dirt.
* The wind is carrying the sand away.
* The river is carrying the products downhill.
Final Answer:
Weathering:
1. The roots of the tree caused the rock to crack.
2. Water got into the crack of a rock and when the water froze, the rock cracked.
3. The canyon is smooth because of the ocean water.
4. The hurricane caused the rocks to break into tiny pieces.
Erosion:
1. The mud is moving the rocks down.
2. The rain washed away the dirt.
3. The wind is carrying the sand away.
4. The river is carrying the products downhill.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of erosion worksheet.
