Your next great Lessn starts here.

Exploring Erosion: Earth’s Changing Surface – What is Earth’s erosion? – Erosion is when earth, sand, or rocks move from one place to another. – Erosion is a natural process – Water, wind, and ice can cause erosion. – Erosion shapes the land – Mountains, valleys, and beaches are shaped by erosion. – Erosion affects our planet – Erosion can make big changes over time. | Begin the lesson by introducing the concept of erosion in simple terms that first graders can understand. Explain that erosion is the process by which the surface of the Earth gets worn down. Discuss the agents of erosion such as water, wind, and ice, and how they move soil and rock from one place to another. Use familiar examples like how a beach might look different from one summer to the next or how a hill can slowly become smaller. Encourage the children to think about and share their own experiences with erosion, perhaps in their own backyards or at a local park. The goal is to help them recognize erosion as a powerful natural force that constantly shapes our planet.

What is Erosion? – Erosion moves earth materials – Soil and rocks get carried to new places – Wind, water, ice are erosion helpers – These natural forces can pick up and move bits of Earth – Sand moves when you blow on it – Erosion shapes our planet – Mountains, valleys, and beaches are made over time | Erosion is a natural process that changes the shape of the Earth’s surface. It’s important for first graders to understand that erosion is caused by elements they can see and feel, like wind and water. Use simple examples like blowing on sand to make the concept relatable. Explain that erosion is not instant; it happens over a long time and creates the landscapes we see around us, such as mountains and beaches. Encourage students to think of examples of erosion they may have seen, like sand being washed away at the beach or soil being blown away in a garden.

How Erosion Changes Earth – Wind moves soil – Wind can be strong and blow dirt and sand from one place to another. – Water washes rocks away – When it rains, water can make rivers that take mud and pebbles downstream. – Glaciers carry rocks – Big sheets of ice called glaciers can grab onto rocks and drag them as they move. – Erosion shapes the land | This slide introduces the concept of erosion to first graders by explaining how natural elements like wind, water, and ice can move soil and rocks, changing the Earth’s surface over time. Emphasize that erosion is a powerful force that can shape mountains, valleys, and beaches. Use simple language and real-life examples, such as observing how water flows during rain and takes dirt with it, or how windy days can blow dust into the air. Encourage students to think about how these elements have shaped the land around them, and discuss the importance of these processes in nature.

Erosion in Nature – Erosion changes Earth’s surface – Erosion is when wind, water, or ice wears away land – Canyons form from river erosion – Like the Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River – Erosion works slowly over time – It can take thousands of years to see big changes – Pictures: Erosion’s powerful effects | This slide introduces the concept of erosion and its impact on Earth’s surface. Explain erosion as a natural process that gradually wears away rocks and soil through the action of elements like water, wind, and ice. Use the example of a canyon, such as the Grand Canyon, to illustrate how a river can erode the land over many years, creating dramatic landscapes. Show pictures of various places before and after erosion to help students visualize the process. Emphasize the slow but powerful nature of erosion in shaping our planet. Encourage students to think of questions about erosion and how it might affect places they know.

Fast vs. Slow Erosion – Erosion: quick during storms – Erosion: slow over years – Examples of fast erosion – Landslides or washed away sand – Examples of slow erosion – Mountain shape changes, rock smoothing | This slide introduces the concept of erosion and the fact that it can occur at different speeds. Quick erosion happens during events like heavy rainstorms, where water can wash away soil or sand rapidly, leading to noticeable changes in the landscape such as landslides or riverbank collapse. Slow erosion is a gradual process that takes place over many years, such as the wearing down of mountains or the smoothing of rocks in a riverbed. Encourage students to think of examples they may have seen or heard about, like changes at a beach or in a mountain area they visited. This will help them understand the concept of erosion and its impact on Earth’s surface.

Our Erosion Experiment – Observe erosion with an experiment – Using water to demonstrate erosion – Water can wash away soil, like in rivers or rain – Watch soil move and change – See how water flow can shift the soil from one place to another – Notice changes in the landscape – Look at how the shape of the land can be altered over time | This slide introduces a hands-on class activity where students will witness erosion firsthand through a simple experiment. The objective is to help them understand the concept of erosion by using water to simulate the natural process that shapes our planet’s surface. Teachers should prepare a small-scale model landscape using soil, sand, or similar materials and then pour water over it to show how it causes the soil to move and the landscape to change. It’s important to guide the students to observe the before and after effects carefully. This activity will provide a visual and practical representation of erosion, making it easier for first graders to grasp this complex Earth event. After the experiment, discuss with the students what they observed and how erosion can affect environments in the real world.

Class Activity: Erosion in a Cup – Each student gets a cup with soil – Add small rocks to your cup – Simulate rain with water – Observe soil and water interaction – Notice how soil moves or changes shape | This activity is designed to help first graders understand the concept of erosion through a hands-on experiment. Provide each student with a cup filled with soil and small rocks to represent the Earth’s surface. Then, carefully pour water over the contents of the cup to mimic the effect of rain. Instruct the students to observe how the water interacts with the soil and rocks, noting any movement or changes. This will demonstrate how water can cause erosion by carrying soil away. After the activity, discuss the observations as a class and relate them to real-world examples of erosion, such as how rivers and streams can change the shape of the land over time. Prepare to guide the students through the process and ensure safety measures are followed.

Erosion: Earth’s Changing Surface – Erosion shapes our planet – Causes: water, wind, ice – Reflect on our erosion experiment – What changes did you see? How did it happen? – Erosion’s role in nature – Erosion creates valleys, canyons, and new landforms | This slide concludes our lesson on erosion, emphasizing its significance as a natural process that continuously shapes the Earth’s surface. Highlight the different causes of erosion, such as water, wind, and ice, and how they contribute to the Earth’s dynamic landscape. Encourage students to reflect on the erosion experiment conducted in class, asking them to describe the changes they observed and to think about the forces that caused these changes. Explain that erosion is responsible for creating many of the natural features we see around us, like valleys and canyons, and it’s a key factor in the formation of new landforms over time. This reflection will help reinforce their understanding of the concept and its real-world implications.

Review: Erosion and Protecting Our Earth – Recap on erosion Erosion is when earth is worn away by water or wind. – Questions about erosion? – How to prevent too much erosion Planting trees and not walking on grass can help. – Class discussion and ideas Let’s think of more ways together! | This slide aims to consolidate the students’ understanding of erosion and engage them in thinking about conservation methods. Begin by summarizing the key points about erosion, emphasizing how water and wind can move soil and rocks from one place to another. Open the floor for any questions the students might have, clarifying any misconceptions. Then, guide the discussion towards prevention of excessive erosion, suggesting ideas like planting trees and avoiding damaging grassy areas. Encourage the students to come up with their own ideas on how to protect the Earth’s surface from erosion, fostering a sense of responsibility and creativity.

Homework Challenge: Erosion Artwork – Draw a landscape picture – Show erosion in your drawing – Show how the land changes with erosion – Imagine wind or water effects – Think how the land looks after soil moves for a long time – Share your artwork next class | This homework assignment is designed to help first-grade students visualize and understand the concept of erosion. By drawing a landscape before and after erosion, students can see the effects of wind and water on the Earth’s surface. Encourage them to think creatively about how these elements can change the land over time. Provide examples of erosion, such as a riverbank that gets smaller or a hill that becomes smoother. In the next class, create a gallery of the drawings to discuss the different ways erosion can shape our planet. This activity will help reinforce the lesson on erosion and give students a chance to express their learning through art.