Objective Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation. Materials Needed Erosion: Changing Earth’s Surface by Robin Koontz or Cracking Up: A Story About Erosion by Jacqui Bailey Observation sheet Rocks, gravel and sand Plastic or metal trays (one for each group) One-liter bottles of water (one for each group) Rulers or tape measures (one for each group) Introduction Read aloud Erosion: Changing Earth’s Surface by Robin Koontz or Cracking Up: A Story About Erosion by Jacqui Bailey to introduce students to the process of erosion and how it affects Earth and its landforms.
Objective Compare and classify objects by observable physical properties. Materials Needed Mickey’s Magnet by Franklyn M. Branley and Eleanor K. Vaughan or What Makes a Magnet? by Franklyn M. Branley Magnets or Magnetic Wands Pipe Stems (cut into 1-or 2-inch pieces) Pom-Poms Variety of small magnetic objects (e.g., paper clips, nuts or bolts, etc.) Variety of small nonmagnetic objects (e.g., rubber bands, plastic counters, feathers, etc.) Clear, empty 2-liter plastic bottles (at least two) Several plastic shoe box–sized containers (one for each small group of students) Sand or dried beans Magnetic/Not Magnetic sorting mat Introduction Read aloud Mickey’s Magnet or What Makes a Magnet?
