Dynamic Earth Feature

Rock Layers

A teacher went on a vacation and spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and exploring all that the earth has to offer. While hiking, they took a picture of the rock layers because they could not believe how beautiful and different it was. After looking at the rock layers, they think that at one time there may have been an earthquake that disrupted the rock layers in this area.

Which other events can change the earth’s surface over time? Select all that apply.(Select all 4 answers)

• rivers

• ice

• hurricane

• water

• wind

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

At which layer in the diagram would the organisms have died first?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A 4th-grade teacher gave this picture of fossils to the students. The students felt that they could come to a lot of conclusions just by looking at this fossil diagram and the knowledge that they have learned. The teacher did not give the students any other information. If your teacher gave student's this picture of fossils do you think they could answer the questions? Would they need any other information? Act as if they were a geologist and answer the following question using this diagram.

What natural event happened based on evidence from the picture?

• Tornado 

• 
  Windstorm

• Earthquake

• Flooding

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A 4th-grade teacher gave this picture of fossils to the students. The students felt that they could come to a lot of conclusions just by looking at this fossil diagram and the knowledge that they have learned. The teacher did not give the students any other information. If your teacher gave student's this picture of fossils do you think they could answer the questions? Would they need any other information? Act as if they were a geologist and answer the following question using this diagram.

Students notice grass and other landforms on top of the fossils.  They also notice marine life at the bottom of the fossil layer. Which conclusion explains how this happened?

• The marine fossils were placed there by other animals.

• At one point in time, the area was covered by land but then was covered in water.

• The grass and landforms on top are older than the marine life at the bottom.

• At one point in time, the area was covered in water and then changed to land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Different canyons are usually formed in dry areas that are affected by water. An example of one type of canyon is a slot canyon where rain cannot soak into the ground. Another way canyons are formed is when liquid water gets trapped in a small break in rock and freezes. The frozen water expands and pushes the rock apart to create a deeper or wider canyon. This picture is a great example of this type of erosion. Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos have been sculpted over time due to erosion, water, and freezing temperatures.

Frost wedging in Bryce Canyon happened because_____got into the crack and continued to______have a droughtfreeze and expandrain.

• water, rain

• weathering, erosion

• freezing and thawing of water, moving

• slope, steep hill

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Wind Erosion and Weathering

Students in a fourth-grade class have been learning about erosion and weathering. Weathering happens when rocks are worn down or broken into smaller pieces by wind, water, or plants. Erosion happens when broken rocks and other pieces are picked up and moved to another place by ice, water, or wind.  The students have made observations and completed experiments to provide evidence of the effects of water, ice, wind, or vegetation. During one experiment, they investigated the impact of wind on the way sand moves. They had a pile of sand and used a straw to act as the wind.

Which causes the erosion of this beach coastline?

• wind

• ice

• water

• rain

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Which three pictures show where the least amount of soil erosion will occur?

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Choose the examples that would likely have erosion problems.(Select 2 Answers)

• A hillside covered in tulips

• A hillside covered in sand

• A hillside covered in dirt

• 
  A hillside covered in grass

• A hillside covered in pine trees

Which section of the hillside will erode the least?

• 2

• 3

• 1

• 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Volcanoes Erupt!

A volcano is an opening in the earth's surface where magma, gas and ash can escape. It is usually a mountain. Volcanoes are very dangerous when they erupt. For example, Mt. St. Helens is a volcano in Washington State. In 1980, it had a major eruption. Forests, buildings, homes, roads, and railways were destroyed. Some people lost their lives. If a volcano erupts, there are many things people can do to stay safe. One is to listen to local news stations.

A teacher was teaching her students how to protect a house from a volcanic eruption. Which is the best solution?

• Plant trees around the house. 

• Build a hill around the house. 

• Build your house on wooden stilts. 

• There are no solutions that can help.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3