Content Area: Science

Grade Level: 5th - 6th

Nevada State Standards: 10.8.2 - Investigate and describe how the combination of constructive and destructive forces result in the formation of landforms. 12.8.1 - Explain how some changes on the Earth's surface are due to slow processes, and others are due to rapid processes.

Objectives: Students will understand how the surface of the Earth changes over time, and that those changes are due to destructive and constructive forces. Students will experience some of the changes that have happened to the Earth's surface over long periods of time.

Materials: This Web site - http://www.learnthegreatbasin.net/gbvirtual.htm, paper, pencil, chart paper, markers, clay, possibly other art supplies.

Procedures: Working in pairs or small groups, students are to visit all the pages on the Web site and read the information on each page and view the photographs and video clips. While doing so students are to take notes and make sketches of examples of constructive and destructive forces and the changes they have made to the Earth's surface (including caves which are in the layer of Earth that covers the surface). They should also note the time some of these changes took to occur. If there is time, students could do research on the things they learn about here in books, encyclopedia's or other Web sites to make their research more complete.

Afterwards students should share with the class what they noted and learned, possibly showing examples from the Web site or other research sources. The class could make a chart of what they learned and add to the chart as they study other Earth processes.

Assessment: Using clay or other media, students are to model and explain either in written or oral presentation at least two of the changes to the Earth's surface they learned about in the lesson. Students will be graded on the understanding they exhibit in their models and in their explanation of their models.

Extensions: Have students research and exhibit other constructive and destructive forces (for example: volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building) found on the Earth.

Inclusion: Team students of varying abilities together.

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