Landforms Review

Landforms Science Review

Fossils - Clues from the Past

Fossils are evidence of past life.

• Scientists study fossils to learn about how land and environments have changed over time.

• Different rock layers contain different fossils—some are older and some are newer.

Open Ended

A scientist finds a shark tooth fossil in the middle of a desert. What does this tell us about the past?

📝What might the land have looked like millions of years ago?

Multiple Choice

Which fossil would tell scientists that a place was once a tropical rainforest?

• Fish fossil

• Fern leaf fossil

• Dinosaur footprint

• Seashell fossil

The oldest rock layers are at the bottom.
The youngest rock layers are at the top.
Fossils in lower layers are older than fossils in higher layers!

Rock Layers Tell a Story

Multiple Choice

Which rock layer is the oldest?

• Bright Angel Shale

• Hermit Shale

• Coconino Sandstone

• Kaibab Limestone

Open Ended

🎯 Challenge: Imagine you are a paleontologist (a scientist who studies fossils). Where would you look for the OLDEST fossils?

Multiple Choice

A scientist finds a fossil in the bottom layer of a canyon. What does this mean?

• The fossil is the youngest.

• The fossil is the oldest.

• The fossil just formed.

• The fossil is not real.

Match

What are weathering, erosion, and deposition? Match them!

• the carrying away of weathered earth material by wind, water, or ice

• Breaking rocks into smaller pieces

•  Rocks settling in a new place

Erosion

Weathering

Deposition

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Deposition

Match

Match the process to its photo!

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

• Weathering

• Erosion

• Deposition

Fast-moving water carries more rocks.
Slow-moving water carries less.
Larger sediments are deposited FIRST. Smaller sediments are deposited last.

Moving Water

🌊 Fast rivers carry big rocks 🪨

💦 Slow rivers carry small particles 🏝️

🏔️ Steep slopes = more erosion

🏞️ Flat land = more deposition

The Power of Moving Water

Multiple Choice

A river is carrying sand, pebbles, and boulders. The water begins to slow down. Which material will settle first?

• Sand

• Pebbles

• Boulders

• All settle at the same time.

Open Ended

Why do beaches have soft sand instead of big boulders?

Wind moves sand and creates sand dunes.

Wind

Water shapes river and valleys.

Water

Glaciers carve U-shaped valleys.

Glaciers

How do Landforms Change?

Multiple Choice

Which factor affects how much erosion happens in a river?

• The number of fish in the river

• The speed of the water

• The color of the rocks

• The shape of the riverbank

Multiple Choice

Which force moves sand dunes?

• Water

• Wind

• Volcanoes

• Earthquakes

How does soil form?

1. Rocks break down into smaller pieces through weathering.

2. Dead plants and animals add nutrients.

3. Different places have different soils depending on weather, plant life, and rock types.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following help create soil? (You can choose more than one)

• Ice and wind

• Water and plants

• Sunlight and temperature

• People and animals

Open Ended

A student wants to test how slope affects erosion. She pours the same amount of water on two different ramps.
Ramp A: Steep Slope
Ramp B: Standard or Gentle Slope.
Which ramp will cause more erosion? Why?