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Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface - Printable Science Worksheets year 2 - Wayground

Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface

Erica Morreale

Created by Erica Morreale

12 questions

2nd Grade

Science

Updated Apr 2026

Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface is a Grade 2 science worksheet that helps students distinguish weathering from erosion and classify changes to Earth’s surface as fast or slow. Students identify weathering as the breakdown of rocks, recognize erosion as the movement of soil and rocks by wind and water, and select wind, water, and ice as causes of erosion. The worksheet also introduces surface changes associated with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flash floods. This free printable worksheet includes 12 questions: seven multiple-choice items, three multiple-select items, and two open-ended prompts. Students apply the vocabulary to identify examples, sort fast and slow changes, and describe one change in their own words. It is designed for Grade 2 classroom practice, review, or formative assessment and includes an answer key for checking student understanding.

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Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface

Total questions: 12

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is "weathering"?

What is "weathering"?

a)

The breakdown of rocks

b)

The removal of rocks

c)

Neither of these

2.
What is "erosion"?

What is "erosion"?

a)

Breaking down of rocks and soil

b)

Moving soil and rocks to other places by wind and water

c)

Both

d)

Neither

3.

"Erosion" can be caused by ...

(Check ALL that are true)

a)

wind

b)

water

c)

ice

4.

Which is "weathering"

a)
Which is "weathering"
b)
Which is "weathering"
5.

Which is "erosion"?

a)
Which is "erosion"?
b)
Which is "erosion"?
6.

Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.

a)
Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.
b)
Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.
c)
Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.
d)
Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.
e)
Check off the SLOW changes to earth's surface.
7.

Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.

a)
Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.
b)
Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.
c)
Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.
d)
Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.
e)
Check off the "FAST" changes to earth's surface.
8.
What happens to earth during an earthquake ?

What happens to earth during an earthquake?

a)

shaking, rolling, cracking of earth's surface

b)

big party on earth

c)

lots of water floods earth's surface

d)

lots of animals find food

9.
What happens to earth's surface during a volcanic eruption?

What happens to earth's surface during a volcanic eruption?

a)

the earth shakes and water comes pouring out

b)

we have a big celebration

c)

hot rocks, gas and ashes escape earth's core and flow onto earth's surface

d)

I don't know!

10.
What happens to earth's surface during a flash flood?

What happens to earth's surface during a flash flood?

a)

hot gases, rock and ashes explode onto earth's surface

b)

we have a big party

c)

we flash lights

d)

water overflows rivers and lakes and covers land that's usually dry

11.
Pick one SLOW change to earth's surface and type what happens here:

Pick one SLOW change to earth's surface and type what happens here:

4 lines
12.
Pick one FAST change and describe it below.

Pick one FAST change and describe it below.

4 lines
WaygroundAnswer Key

Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface

Total questions: 12

1.
a)

The breakdown of rocks

2.
b)

Moving soil and rocks to other places by wind and water

3.
a)

wind

, b)

water

, c)

ice

4.
a)
5.
a)
6.
a) , b) , c)
7.
a) , b) , c) , d)
8.
a)

shaking, rolling, cracking of earth's surface

9.
c)

hot rocks, gas and ashes escape earth's core and flow onto earth's surface

10.
d)

water overflows rivers and lakes and covers land that's usually dry

11.
n/a
12.
n/a

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FAQs

What does the Fast and Slow Changes to Earth's Surface worksheet cover?

This Grade 2 science worksheet teaches students to distinguish weathering—the breakdown of rocks—from erosion, the movement of soil and rocks by wind and water. Through multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, students identify causes of erosion, classify changes as fast or slow, and recognize what happens during earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flash floods. Two open-ended prompts then ask students to describe one fast change and one slow change.

How can I use this worksheet to teach weathering, erosion, and changes to Earth’s surface?

Begin by modeling the difference between weathering and erosion, emphasizing that weathering breaks rocks down while erosion moves soil and rocks to another place. Have students explain why wind, water, and ice belong in the erosion question before completing the multiple-select items independently. Use the earthquake, volcanic eruption, and flash-flood questions as a discussion bridge, then ask students to justify their fast- or slow-change choices in the final open-ended responses.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this worksheet?

Students may confuse weathering with erosion by choosing rock breakdown for both terms or by treating movement as weathering. They may also select only one cause in the multiple-select erosion question instead of checking wind, water, and ice, or overlook that the fast- and slow-change items require all applicable choices. In the final responses, check that students describe what happens during a selected change rather than naming an event without an explanation.

How do I assign and grade this Fast and Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface worksheet?

You can assign this worksheet as a printable PDF or as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key for the multiple-choice and multiple-select items, while the open-ended responses can be reviewed for accurate descriptions of fast and slow changes. For printable submissions, scan student work with the Wayground for Teachers app to help grade the worksheet.

How can I differentiate this worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size so the weathering-and-erosion choices and the open-ended response areas are easier to read and use. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, helping students access the vocabulary and event descriptions in this 12-question Earth science practice set.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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