1/13/24 Science

3rd Grade Science
Changes to Earth’s Surface
Topic 4/ Lesson 3

January 13, 2025

Multiple Choice

A student on a skateboard pushes off with
their foot increasing their speed. What
happens to their mechanical energy?
The mechanical energy–

• Decreases

• Increases

• Stays the same

• Turns into light energy

22

Do Now

A student on a skateboard pushes off with
their foot increasing their speed. What
happens to their mechanical energy?
The mechanical energy–

A. decreases.
B. increases.
C. stays the same.
D. turns into light energy.

23

LO: SWBAT investigate and explain how soils such
as sand and clay are formed by weathering of rock
and by decomposition of plant and animal remains.

DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly explain how soils
such as sand and clay are formed by weathering of
rock and by decomposition of plant and animal remains
in at least 4 of 5 questions.

3.10B Investigate and explain how soils such as sand and clay are formed by weathering of rock and by decomposition of plant and animal remains.
SEPs:3.1A, 3.1B, 3.1E, 3.1F, 3.2B,
RTCs : 3.5D 3.5E, 3.5G

Changes to Earth’s Surface

24

Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

How does soil change?

How are soils formed?

15

Lesson Vocabulary

process

soil

decomposition

weathering

Match

Match the following

• Process

• Soil

• Decomposition

• Weathering

Gradual changes that lead to a result

Examples are loam, sand and clay

Breakdown plant and animal remains

Breakdown of rocks

• Gradual changes that lead to a result

• Examples are loam, sand and clay

• Breakdown plant and animal remains

• Breakdown of rocks

Process

A natural phenomenon
marked by gradual
changes that lead
toward a particular
result; a continuing
natural or biological
activity or function

16

w
e
a
t
h
e
r
i
n
g

d e c o m p o s i t i o n

Soil

A mixture of
weathered rock
and plant and
animal remains,
air, and water

17

Decomposition

The process of
breaking down dead
organisms and their
products

18

Weathering

The process of breaking
down rock; caused by the
forces of wind, water, or
ice

19

Photo credit: Simon Annable/Shutterstock

25

What do these two pictures have in common?

Drag and Drop

​ Weathering is the ​

Placeholder

of landforms
by natural forces such as ​

Placeholder

Weathering of rocks is a ​

Placeholder

process.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

breaking down

water, wind, or ice.

slow

Fast

Rain, snow, tornado

Building up

29

What is weathering?

Photo credit: Simon Annable/Shutterstock

Weathering is the breaking down of landforms
by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice.
Weathering of rocks is a slow process.

Reorder

Reorder the following

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Match

Match the following

Rock is breaking
into smaller pieces.

There is some soil and small plants

More soil on top and larger plants.

A lot of soil, more plants.

• Rock is breaking
  into smaller pieces.

• There is some soil and small plants

• More soil on top and larger plants.

• A lot of soil, more plants.

Categorize

Options (6)

Rocks

Can be a slow process

Break down materials

Animal Remains

Plant Remains

Can be a fast process

Organize these options into the right categories

Weathering

Both

Decomposition

Neither

Drag and Drop

​

Placeholder

means ​

Placeholder

into smaller pieces.
​

Placeholder

are parts of plants or animals that were
once living. These decomposed parts add ​

Placeholder

to the soil.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Decompose

break down

Remains

nutrients

Weathering

Water

30

What is decomposition?

Decompose means break down into smaller pieces.
Remains are parts of plants or animals that were
once living. These decomposed parts add nutrients
to the soil.

Identify the processes that lead to soil
formation. List one type of soil as the
final product.

31

1.

Multiple Choice

How are the processes of weathering and
decomposition similar? Explain why the other
choices are not correct.

• They are both fast processes.

• They both include materials such as rock, sand, and clay

• Both involve plants and animals.

• Both break down material into smaller pieces.

32

How are the processes of weathering and
decomposition similar? Explain why the other
choices are not correct.

A. They are both fast processes.
B. They both include materials such as rock, sand,

and clay.

C. Both involve plants and animals.
D. Both break down material into smaller pieces.

33

DOL: Given scenarios,
SW correctly explain
how soils such as sand
and clay are formed by
weathering of rock and
by decomposition of
plant and animal
remains in at least 4 of
5 questions.

Demonstration of Learning