Weathering & Erosion 5E NGSS Science Unit Plan

This Weathering and Erosion 5E Science Unit Plan is an inquiry-based unit where students learn about the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation. The unit includes three parts for each of the 5E’s (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate) and more.

KEY CONCEPTS IN THIS WEATHERING AND EROSION UNIT INCLUDE

• Effects of Weathering on common substances
• Factors that affect the rate of weathering and erosion
• How weathering and erosion have shaped landforms over the years

Included in this Weathering and Erosion Science Resource

• Teacher Notes that provide an overview of the resource and an explanation of the NGSS standard for Weathering and Erosion
• Common Misconceptions about the Weathering and Erosion
• Teaching Timeline available with four different options, including a correlation with the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Vocabulary Cards to reinforce key terms throughout the unit. These are similar vocabulary cards available in the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Big Idea Posters that illustrate the main concepts students will learn
• Exit Tickets in three formats: short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple choice

What is the 5E Instructional Model?

The 5E Model is student-led, with the teacher acting mainly as the facilitator. Through open-ended questions, real-life experiences, guided investigations, and research, the students gain a deep understanding of the scientific topics that are covered in the lessons. Each stage of the model serves as a foundation for the next, creating a coherent model that frames lessons, activities, and units.

Find out more about the 5E Unit Plans in this blog post.

Objectives and Timeline for Each Section of the 5E Weathering and Erosion Unit

ENGAGE

Objectives:

• Students will access their prior knowledge about weathering and erosion.
• Student interest in weathering and erosion will be elicited.
• The teacher will be able to identify student misconceptions about weathering and erosion.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Is This?):  10 minutes
• Part 2 (My Experiences):  15 minutes
• Part 3 (Introducing…Weathering and Erosion):  15 minutes

EXPLORE

Objectives:

• Students will work together to investigate weathering and erosion.  They will do this by investigating different effects of weathering on common substances and the factors that affect the rate of weathering and erosion.
• Students will gather general information about weathering and erosion.
• Students will begin to think about the effects of weathering and erosion on the environment.
• Students will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that different factors affect the rate of weathering and erosion.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Check It Out):  15 active minutes, 3 hours of wait time
• Part 2 (Read This): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (You Try It):  15 minutes

EXPLAIN

Objectives:

• Students will work collaboratively to observe weathering and erosion in action.
• Students will listen to the teacher’s explanation about weathering and erosion.
• Students will use the new information to revise their explanations about weathering and erosion and how it has shaped landforms over the years.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Does It Mean?):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (What are Weathering and Erosion?):  20 minutes
• Part 3 (Putting It All Together):  15 minutes

EXTEND

Objectives:

• Students will apply what they have learned about Weathering and Erosion to a new situation.
• Students will deepen their understanding of weathering and erosion, gaining a more generalized knowledge of this specific scientific concept.
• The teacher will resolve all persisting student misconceptions about weathering and erosion.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Where Is Weathering and Erosion?):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (Show What You Know): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (Have Fun With It):  20 minutes

EVALUATE

Objectives:

• Students will evaluate their own understanding of weathering and erosion.
• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and vocabulary.
• The teacher will encourage students to ask questions that could lead to future investigations.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What I Know):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Showing Weathering and Erosion): 30 minutes
• Part 3 (Going Forward): 15 minutes