BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

NAGA CITY

Weathering and Erosion

In Partial Fulfillment in the course: Geography and Natural Resources,etc.

Learning Activities/ Modules in Natural Resources/Geography

Submitted by:
Crisselda S. Chavez

Submitted to:
Mr. Floro T. Pelonio

Weathering and Erosion

OVERVIEW
Earth processes that are observed today are similar to those that have occurred in the past.

Weathering is the process where rock is dissolved,

when rocks and sediments are picked up and moved

worn away or broken down into smaller and smaller

to another place by ice, water, wind or gravity.

pieces. There are mechanical, chemical and organic

weathering processes.

Organic weathering happens when plants break up

rocks with their growing roots or plant acids help
dissolve rock.
Once the rock has been weakened and broken up by
weathering it is ready for erosion. Erosion happens

Mechanical weathering physically breaks up rock. One

example is called frost action or frost shattering. Water gets
into cracks and joints in bedrock. When the water freezes it
expands and the cracks are opened a little wider. Over time
pieces of rock can split off a rock face and big boulders are
broken into smaller rocks and gravel.

This process can also break up bricks on buildings.

Chemical weathering decomposes or decays rocks and

minerals. An example of chemical weathering is water
dissolving limestone.
When ice melts or wind and water slow down they can't
carry as much sediment. The sediment is dropped, or

deposited,

in

landforms.

Summary
The rocks,soil and other materials that make up the Earths surface are always changing due to the forces of
weathering, erosion and deposition. Weathering is a natural process that breaks rocks into smaller and smaller
pieces.Erosion is a process that takes place when those pieces are carried away from their original locations,and
deposition occurs when the small rocks and soil end up in another area,helping to create new land.Sometimes,as in
rockslides, erosion and deposition happen quickly.More often than not,weathering and erosion happens so slowly
that you cant even see it. Forces like wind,snow and rain are responsible for the physical weathering of
rocks,causing them to be worn down,cracked or broken into smaller pieces.Wind picks up sand and other
particles,blowing them against rocks, buildings,statues and other surfaces.Waves crashing against rocks at the
shoreline wear away those rocks,turning rock particles into sand.In fastflowing streams,rocks tumble against each
other,smoothing and rounding out rough surfaces.These are all examples of abrasion.Temperature changes,
especially from day to night,also cause physical weathering.The cold of night causes rocks to shrink or contract. In
daylight, the sun heats and expands the outer layers of rock while the insides are still cold.This temperature
difference causes outer layers of rock to flake off. Because water expands when frozen,water that seeps into cracks
on rockssurfaces can freeze and cause rocks to split open.Animals and plants can also cause physical
weathering.Animals that burrow into the ground,digging their homes under and between rocks,are unknowingly
responsible for exposing those rock surfaces to wind,water and temperature changes.Like the splitting of rocks by
freezing water,the pressure of growing plant roots that have moved into cracks and holes in rocks cause them to
split open as well. Rocks are also changed through the process of chemical weathering. Chemical weathering can
occur when certain chemicals called acids dissolve rocks and change them into new substances.Many of the
minerals that make up rocks will slowly dissolve as the weak acids found in water react with the rocks.This type of
weathering can be seen in the many interesting rock formations often found in limestone caves.The water that
slowly soaks and drips into the cave changes the rocks over many years.Some plants also give off weak acids that
can dissolve or change rock surfaces. Once weathering breaks down land,the process of erosion carries rocks and
soil away,while the process of deposition helps create new land somewhere else.Many of the same forces that cause

weathering,such as wind, running water,waves and ice,can also carry away rocks and deposit them elsewhere.Wind
picks up and carries dust,sand and other things.When the wind stops,these fragments fall to the ground in new
locations.During heavy rains,when the soil can hold no more water,the excess water called runoff carries away
topsoil that is not protected by plants.Heavy runoff can create streams that wear away the land.As streams flow into
rivers,the soil, sand and rocks carried by the water are deposited along the sides and at the mouth of rivers.

Vocabulary
The following words are included for teacher reference or for use with students.They are listed in the order in which
they appear in the show.
weathering The breaking up of rock and other
materials of the Earths surface into smaller

pieces.Weathering can be described as physical or

chemical.

erosion The moving of rocks and soil to other

places.

chemical weathering The changing of rocks into

new substances by water and acids.

deposition The dropping of weathered materials in

a new location.

acids Chemicals that can break down or change

some other substances.

physical weathering The

cracking,breaking,wearing and grinding down of rocks
by changing temperatures,ice,living things and
abrasion. abrasion The grinding or rubbing away of
rocks by solid particles that are carried by wind and
water.

carbonation The process by which a weak acid is

created by combining water and carbon dioxide gas
bubbles.Carbonation dissolves many rocks and
minerals.

Mount Rushmore A mountain in South Dakota

into which the worlds largest sculptures have been
carved the heads of four United States presidents.
granite Extremely hard rock that forms from
volcanic activity.

runof Water from melting snow and rain that

carries rocks and soil away.
delta The area at the mouth of a river where
eroded materials are often deposited.The soil in a delta
is very good for growing crops.
glaciers Gigantic deposits of ice that can move and
erode the landscape.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN THIS UNIT Focus Standards:

Students will investigate the scientific view of how the earths surface is formed.
A. Describe processes that change rocks and the surface of the earth.
B. Explain the effects of physical processes (plate tectonics, erosion, deposition, volcanic eruption, gravity)
on geological features including oceans (composition, currents, and tides).
C. Describe soil as consisting of weathered rocks and decomposed organic material.
D. Explain the effects of human activity on the erosion of the earths surface.
E. Describe methods for conserving natural resources such as water, soil, and air.
Supporting Standards:

Students will recognize the significant role of water in earth processes.

F. Explain that a large portion of the Earths surface is water, consisting of oceans, rivers, lakes,
underground water, and ice.
G. Explain the causes of waves, currents, and tides.
Students will understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather.
H. Relate unequal heating of land and water surfaces to form large global wind systems and weather
events such as tornados and thunderstorms.

I. Relate how moisture evaporating from the oceans affects the weather patterns and weather events such
as hurricanes.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
Students will understand that
Weathering is the process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earths surface.
Erosion is the movement of rock particles by water and wind.
Deposition occurs where the agents (forces) of erosion lay down sediment.
Weathering and erosion wear down, and deposition fills in the Earths surface.
Although weathered rock is the basic component of soil, the composition and texture of soil and its fertility and
resistance to erosion are greatly influenced by plants and other organisms.
Human activities, such as reducing forest cover and intensive farming have changed the Earths surface.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
Overarching Essential Question:
What are the characteristics of weathering, and how does weathering differ from erosion?
Topical Essential Questions:
What is meant by weathering? How many different kinds of weathering processes are there?
How are weathering and erosion different?

 How are weathering and erosion related?

How does the formation of soil relate to the processes of weathering and erosion?

KNOWLEDGE:
Water, wind and ice are agents of erosion.
Soil is comprised of a mixture of rock particles, decomposed organic materials, minerals, and water.
Weathering breaks the rocks down.
Erosion transports weathered rock material.
Physical (or mechanical) weathering includes frost wedging, exfoliation, and thermal expansion.
Chemical weathering includes dissolution (soluble rocks and minerals dissolve in acidic waters), hydrolysis
(feldspars alter to clay), and oxidation (rusting of iron).
Biological weathering - organisms can assist in breaking rocks down - tree roots, lichens, burrowing animals.
Humans can increase erosion through poor farming practices or disturbing the land through development.
There are practices which can be implemented to control erosion, such as contour plowing, terracing, planting
ground cover, or windbreaks.
Waves erode the shoreline.
Man-made structures are sometimes built to help control erosion.
Unfortunately, man-made structures along the coastline often have the unwanted side effect of enhancing coastal
erosion.

 Construction on steep slopes can lead to mass wasting or erosion by gravity, including slumps and landslides.
CONCEPTS: Forces, pressure, change, effects of weather processes
LANGUAGE: Soil formation, organic matter, horizons , erosion, chemical weathering, physical weathering,
nonrenewable and renewable resources, methods of conservation.

MISCONCEPTIONS

PROPER CONCEPTIONS

Weathering and erosion are essentially the same

thing, and the terms can be used interchangeably.

Weathering and erosion are two very different

processes that tend to act sequentially.

Weathering is the transportation of rock and mineral

debris after it has been altered by Earths surface
processes.

Weathering is the result of the physical and chemical

alteration of rock and mineral material; the resultant
products might or might not be transported.

EVIDENCE OF LEARNING:
By the conclusion of this unit, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies: Culminating
Activity:
For Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition Mini-Unit Goal: To show evidence of the impact human activity has on the
processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition in regard to creating a new subdivision
Role: You are a contractor/developer for a new subdivision in your area
Audience: Towns people and EPA representatives
Situation: You have been hired to design a plan to develop a new subdivision on 400 acres of land in your area.
There are two creeks that run through the land and an old cemetery on the property. One of the creeks feeds into
the Chattahoochee River, which is the supplier of drinking water for several communities down river. In addition,
there are several existing homes around the property that have wells. You must get EPA approval of your plans and
you must convince the community that this new development will not harm their existing community.
Product: Presentation at town meeting with EPA representatives present (PowerPoint, Model of new community,
etc.) using the "Subdivision Development Project Rubric.

Weathering

4
Project shows
detailed and
complete evidence
of the effects the
development would
have on soil

3
Project shows
detailed evidence of
the effects: 1) the
creation of the
subdivision would
have on soil

2
Project shows some
evidence of the
effects the
development of the
subdivision would
have, but not very

1
Inaccurate or no
evidence of the
effects the
development would
have

Erosion

Deposition

composition and how

clear cutting would
affect the
environment; also
includes ways to
avoid/fix these
problems
In addition to
showing detailed
evidence of how the
development might
affect wind and
water erosion,
includes ways these
problems could be
avoided/corrected
In addition to
showing detailed
evidence of how the
development might
alter the deposition
of sediment, includes
ways to prevent
these problems

composition; 2) clear
cutting would have
on the environment

detailed

Project shows
detailed evidence of
how the
development might
affect wind and
water erosion

Project shows some

evidence of how the
development might
affect wind and
water erosion, but
lacking specifics

Inaccurate or no
evidence of how the
development might
affect wind and
water erosion

Project shows
detailed evidence of
how the
development might
alter the deposition
of sediment

Project shows some

evidence of how the
development might
alter the deposition
of sediment

Inaccurate or no
evidence of how the
development might
alter the deposition
of sediment

TASKS
The collection of the following tasks represents the level of depth, rigor and complexity expected of all physical
science students to demonstrate evidence of learning.
Task:
Description:

Discussion, Suggestions for use: Possible Solution :

References
https://www.google.com.ph/?
gfe_rd=cr&ei=XRiXVpy8JIPM8gfe4oSABw&gws_rd=ssl#q=weathering+and+erosion+with+learning+co
mpetencies
https://www.google.com.ph/?
gfe_rd=cr&ei=XRiXVpy8JIPM8gfe4oSABw&gws_rd=ssl#q=weathering+and+erosion+with+learning+co
mpetencies