Landforms
chemical weathering- the decomposition of rocks due to chemical reactions occurring between the minerals in rocks and the environment; caused by chemicals found in water, acids, and oxidation
physical weathering- also known as mechanical weathering, it is the process that breaks rocks apart without changing their chemical composition; can be caused by moving water, ice, and plant roots weathering- the process in which rocks are either broken into smaller particles (physical weathering) or changed into other kinds of minerals (chemical weathering). canyon- a V-shaped valley eroded by a river delta- a fan-shaped deposit at the mouth of a river deposition- the process by which eroded earth materials settle out in another place dune- a mound, hill, or ridge of wind-blown sand erosion- the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface, transported and deposited in other locations floodplain-the land that gets covered by water from a stream or river during a flood meander- a curve or loop in a river mountain- high, uplifted area with steep slopes plateau- nearly level area that has been uplifted sediment- eroded earth materials valley- a low area between hills and mountains; often where a river flows basin- a low area in which sediments are often deposited channel- the course or path water takes over the earth's surface alluvial fan- the fan-shaped landform made up of deposited sediments at the bottom of a slope gravity- the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other landslide- the usually rapid downward movement of a mass of rock, earth, or artificial fill on a slope slope- a surface of which one end or side flash flood- the result of heavy or excessive amounts of rainfall within a short period of time, usually less than 6 hours, causing water to rise and fall quite rapidly flood- an overflow of water onto normally dry land; The inundation of a normally dry area caused by rising water in an existing waterway, such as a river, stream, or drainage ditch (Flooding is a longer term event than flash flooding: it may last days or weeks) floodplain- the area around a river that is covered by water flowing over the riverbank during a flood. lava- molten rock on the earth's surface lava flow- stream of molten or hardened lava coming out from a volcano or crack in the earth's surface magma- molten rock under the earth's surface strata- layers of lava flows volcano- a vent in the crust of the earth or another planet or a moon; usually molten or hot rock, steam, and gas come out of the vent ; also : a hill or mountain made of hardened lava flows; usually have a crater or caldera earthquake- a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic activity fault- a crack in the earth's crust body fossils- preserved remains of body parts such as teeth, shells, or bones cast fossil- a positive imprint of an organism preserved in rock; when a mold fossil fills in with minerals or sediment and hardens fossil- the preserved remains of organisms mold fossils- a negative imprint of an organism preserved in rocks; a hollow space is left in the rock once the organism has decomposed petrification- occurs when parts of the organism are saturated with minerals trace fossils- fossilized evidence of the behavior of past organisms such as footprints, eggs, nests, and droppings fossil record- fossils and their placement within the earth's rock strata. The fossil record provides information about the history of life on earth, for instance what the organisms looked like, where and when they lived, how they evolved, etc relative age- the geologic age of a fossil, rock, geologic feature or event relative to other fossils , rocks, geologic features or events geologic time- a period of time covering the formation and development of earth |
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Standards
4.P.2.1 Compare physical properties of samples of matter: (strength, hardness, flexibility, ability to conduct heat, ability to conduct electricity, ability to be attracted by magnets, reactions to water and fire).
4.E.2.1 Compare fossils (including molds, casts, and preserved parts of plants and animals) to one another and to living organisms.
4.P.2.1 Compare physical properties of samples of matter: (strength, hardness, flexibility, ability to conduct heat, ability to conduct electricity, ability to be attracted by magnets, reactions to water and fire).
- Students know that samples of matter have many observable properties that can be measured. Students know that samples of matter can be described according to the characteristics of the material they are made from. Students are familiar with, and can test for the following properties: strength, hardness, flexibility, ability to conduct heat, ability to conduct electricity, ability to be attracted to magnets, reactions to water (dissolve) and heat/fire (melt/evaporate).
4.E.2.1 Compare fossils (including molds, casts, and preserved parts of plants and animals) to one another and to living organisms.
- Students know that fossils are evidence of living organisms that one existed on Earth. Students know that fossils share some characteristics based on where, how, and from what they were formed. Students know that some organisms lived long ago are similar to existing organisms, but some are quite difference. Students know that organisms that are alive today, will, under the right conditions, leave fossil evidence.
- Students know that fossils provide information about the environmental conditions that existed when the fossil organism was alive, as well as information about where, when, and how the organism lived.
- Students know that the surface of the Earth changes over time. Students know that there are many factors that contribute to these changes. Students know that such changes may be slow or rapid, subtle or drastic. Erosion and weathering are processes that change the Earth. Wind, water (including ice), and chemicals break down rock and carry soil from one place to another. Under the right conditions, gravity can cause large sections of soil and rock to move suddenly down an incline. This is known as a landslide. Volcanic eruptions occur when heat and pressure of melted rock and gases under the ground cause the crust of the Earth to crack and release these materials. Solid rock can deform or break if it is subject to sufficient pressure. The vibration produced by this is called an earthquake.