Our Changing Earth

Our Changing Earth

This unit was focused on how our wonderful Earth changes daily. Students learned, explored and observed the different rapid changers and slow changers of our Earth. After learning about weathering and erosion, I taught them a cool way of remembering the different between weathering and erosion. You can see the hand signs in the picture below. Basically, students make a "w" with each of their hands and wiggle their fingers as they lower their hands and while saying "weathering is the breaking down of rock". For erosion, students turn their "w" hands sideways so now the "w" looks like an "e", moving their hands across their body and saying "erosion is the movement of weathered material". Great for teaching kinesthetically.

 

 

After learning about weathered material, we moved into our soil unit where we focused on what soil is and how it is created. Students studied soil samples and recorded it in their AIMS Soil Study booklet. The next day, students created their own soil sample in a vial using the same ingredients we discussed the day before. After filling the vial with material, students added water, shook the vial and let it rest till our next class. Upon entering the next day, students got to see how their soil sample settled, which parts were which and why they thought it settled that way. Lastly, we discussed how important soil was. Students did not think that soil was in their lives as much as it was. We learned that without soil we would be "naked, hungry and without shelter". Students discussed with partners using a Kagan Structure about how we use soil to make our food, clothes and shelter. To wrap it all up, students created a "Storyboard" about how to create soil. They had to include different types of weathering, erosion and the mixture of weathered material to create their soil.

 

 

Lastly, to wrap of this unit, students explored our Natural Resources. We created a 6 part foldable about how important Natural resources are to survival.