Weathering and Erosion - FREE Video Worksheet - Middle School Earth Science

How do massive mountains become tiny grains of sand? What carved the Grand Canyon? Why do rock monuments eventually crumble? The answer lies in two powerful processes - weathering and erosion - that constantly reshape Earth's surface!

[Preview this free video here on YouTube]

Standards:

Perfect for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students studying Earth's surface processes, geology, and landform development. This video connects to NGSS standards, MS-ESS2 Earth's Systems, exploring how Earth's surface is shaped by geoscience processes. (🎯 MS-ESS2-1 & MS-ESS2-2)

TEKS Addressed: 
🎯 Middle School Science: 6.10.C - The student is expected to describe how metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks form and change through geologic processes in the rock cycle. 
🎯 Middle School Science: 7.10.A - The student is expected to describe the evidence that supports that Earth has changed over time, including fossil evidence, plate tectonics, and superposition

⭐ What's Covered?:

✅ The difference between weathering (breaking down) and erosion (moving) 
✅ Physical weathering: freeze-thaw, thermal expansion, and abrasion 
✅ Chemical weathering: dissolution, oxidation, and acid reactions 
✅ How water, wind, ice, and gravity erode Earth's surface 
✅ Real examples: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, coastal cliffs 
✅ How weathering and erosion work together to shape landscapes 
✅ The role of these processes in the rock cycle

What will the students be doing?

● Students will be given either a printed or digital handout to record answers on.

● Either individually or as a class watch the video

● Then, they will use the video and their own knowledge to answer the questions.

● Use questions to spark discussions and apply information beyond the page!