Page 11 - Kindergarten.indd

T E A C H E R N O T E S

RIVER EROSION - SC.7.E.7.2

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
What affect does the force of a flowing river have on the surrounding
land?

HYPOTHESIS: (predictions will vary)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Earth’s surface is covered by landforms that are constantly changing and creating new
features. Weathering and erosion are two causes of landform changes. Weathering breaks
down existing rock into smaller particles by way of air, water, wind, ice, and living
organisms. No movement is involved in weathering. Once rocks and soil are carried away
and deposited to other places, the process is called erosion. Moving water, wind, or gravity
causes the transport of these particles. Weathering and erosion can sometimes take years
to notice.
An example of weathering is rock that breaks down as a result of the pressure of raindrops
over a period of years. Another example of weathering is the occurrence of rivers carving
canyons in rocks. River erosion is the gradual removal of rock material from the river banks
and bed.

VARIABLES:

Control Group Watering can with the sprinkler (imitation of rain)

Independent Variable Watering can without the sprinkler (imitation of a river)

Dependent Variable The length of the gap in the land
The same….
Constant (Controlled) soil type, aluminum pans, force of the flowing water,
Variables slope of the pan, etc….

GRAPHS: (answers will be based on the data collected)

RESULTS: (answers will vary)

CONCLUSION: (answers will vary)

APPLICATION: (answers will vary)

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