Earth sciences host a myriad of interesting topics; one of which is erosion! How the Earth is formed and shaped is an intriguing niche that students always seem to love. Erosion activities help kids better understand how erosion works, why it works, and why they need to learn to solve problems like how to better care for our Earth. These 20 activities are sure to be some that you want to add to your list to help create the most interactive and unique erosion lessons!
1. Sugar Cube Erosion
This mini-experiment is used to demonstrate how erosion breaks down rock into sand. Students will shake a sugar cube (this represents the rock) with gravel in a baby food jar to observe what happens to the “softer rock”.
Learn More: Berkley
2. Sand Erosion
In this hands-on experiment, students will utilize sandpaper to imitate wind erosion on a soft rock like limestone, calcite, or a similar stone. They can compare the original to the new “sanded-down” version to complete the scientific analysis.
Learn More: Berkley
3. Weathering, Erosion, or Deposition Sorting Activity
This is the perfect activity for a quick review or as a break from monotonous bookwork. This free printable activity presents scenarios for kids to sort into the correct categories. This can be a solo activity or can be completed in groups.
Learn More: Lauren Candler
4. Erosion Vs Weathering
This interesting video from Kahn Academy teaches kids the difference between erosion and weathering. It’s the perfect lesson launch to get kids intrigued by the topic.
Learn More: Kahn Academy
5. Wind and Water Erosion
This captivating video gives students detailed information about wind and water erosion. It’s helpful for them to know the differences between the two, as well as the characteristics of each.
Learn More: Lincoln Learning Solutions
6. Coastal Landform Drawings
Help students demonstrate their knowledge of coastal landforms that are created by erosion with this creative drawing activity. A model is provided for the students to sketch and practice.
Learn More: Twinkl
7. Erosion Stations
Throughout the unit on erosion, give kids the opportunity to get up and move around the room. Time students in 7-8 minute rotation intervals. These stations will allow students to read, analyze, draw, explain, and then demonstrate their knowledge about erosion.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
8. Virtual Erosion Field Trip
Don’t have examples of erosion within reach? Help kids see and understand the effects of this natural phenomenon with a virtual field trip! Follow Ms. Schneider as she takes students through real examples.
Learn More: Brooke Schneider
9. Take a Real Field Trip
Live near an amazing landform? Places like caves, mountains, and beaches are the perfect nature classroom for students who are studying erosion. Seek out national parks for a full list of interesting places to take students.
Learn More: National Park Service
10. Erosion from Glaciers Experiment
Students who do not live in cold areas may not think that erosion can be caused by glaciers. This simple yet effective experiment beautifully demonstrates this type of erosion! Some soil, pebbles, and a chunk of ice help imitate nature and bring science to life.
Learn More: The Good and the Beautiful Homeschool Science
11. Candy Lab
What do you get when you combine candy and science? Students who actively listen and participate! Erosion can easily be modeled using candy and any form of liquid. As the candy sits in the liquid, it will slowly begin to melt away; creating the effect of erosion.
Learn More: Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers
12. Escape Room
Students will be required to decode, review, and solve puzzles surrounding weathering and erosion. Once they do, they will have successfully escaped and worked through an entertaining take on a unit review!
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
13. Quizlet Flash Cards
Weathering and erosion become a game when you are working through these flash cards. Students will review their learning using these digital cards that describe everything they need to know on this topic.
Learn More: Quizlet
14. Color by Number
Students will answer questions and complete sentences using a color-coded answer system. This tool can be used as a review or quick assessment to see if kids are grasping the science concepts being taught.
Learn More: TES
15. Comprehension and Erosion
Reading is the foundation for everything- including science. This article is a great first read for students who are just beginning their exploration of erosion. It will help provide background knowledge and even includes a short quiz with multiple-choice questions.
Learn More: Soft Schools
16. Erosion in a Soda Bottle
This lab is one of the best demonstrations of erosion out there. Fill a bottle with soil, dirt, sand, rocks, and other sedimentary products. Then, you can easily show students exactly what happens when the Earth erodes. Give them a student lab sheet to fill out their observations.
Learn More: Science Classroom
17. Investigation of Erosion
This little experiment would be a great addition to a science series. Using three varieties of sediment mixtures, students will have the ability to see exactly how erosion affects dry soils. This is important because erosion affects landforms in different ways and directly connects to conservation.
Learn More: The Owl Teacher
18. Water Erosion Demonstration
This model of erosion will display how the process works on coastal lands and how water is a major agent of erosion. Using colored water, sand, a water bottle to simulate waves, and a bucket, kids will easily connect the logistics of sand and waves.
Learn More: Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
19. Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Relay
Bring kinesthetic value to science with this fun and interactive relay designed to help students take their knowledge a step further. Running back and forth to demonstrate erosion gets students’ heart rates going and their minds working as they physically erode the landforms (blocks).
Learn More: Kristen Leigh
20. Sandcastle STEM Challenge
This beach erosion demonstration gets kids thinking about solutions to common problems like protecting our dunes. They are required to utilize specific materials to make a sand castle and then build a protective barrier around it to keep it from eroding.
Learn More: Pinterest
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