The Rock Cycle (Part 3)

What You'll Learn

Erosion moves weathered rock and soil from one place to another by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Rivers carve valleys, wind shapes sand dunes, and glaciers grind mountains.

Key Words

weathering
erosion
sediment

Materials Needed

sand
clay
water

Safety First

Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.
Do not taste any materials.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the introduction and identify the main idea of this lesson.

Step 2 — Do

Investigate soil layers: fill a jar with soil and water, shake it, and let it settle overnight. Identify the layers of clay, silt, sand, and organic matter.

Step 3 — Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 — Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the rock cycle?