4-ESS2-1
The standard
Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to observe or measure how rock, soil, or land changes because of weathering or erosion. They should collect simple evidence, such as amount of soil moved, depth of a channel, or changes before and after water, wind, ice, or plant roots act on a material.
Mastery looks like a student running a fair test with one changed variable, recording data, and using that data to explain what caused the change. Students often confuse weathering with erosion, change too many variables at once, or describe what happened without using measurements as evidence.
Ways to teach it
- Build two foil-tray slopes with sand, one bare and one covered with grass clippings, then pour equal water and measure soil moved.
- Ask students to write: Which caused more change in our model, water amount or plant cover, and what data proves it?
- Show before and after photos of a stream table test and have students identify one measurement that would support a claim.
- Connect to a muddy playground path after rain by asking why soil moves there faster than under bushes or grass.
Plan a lesson for 4-ESS2-1
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- K-ESS2-1
Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
- 3-PS2-2
Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.
- MS-ESS2-5
Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
- K-PS3-1
Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface.