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Grade Five
What processes change landforms?

Forces of nature are constantly changing the surface of the Earth. Click on these web pages to explore caves and climb mountains. Find out more about the landforms where you live.
 
 

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Title: Water Science for Schools
Description: Find information on almost any water topic at this USGS site. Included in the site are: water basics, water use, Earth's water, water quality issues, map gallery, data library, picture gallery, glossary, and activity center and many water links.
URL: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
Title: Glacier
Description: The GLACIER website is an excellent resource for everything about the Antarctic continent. It has a lot of information, as well as suggestions for classroom projects about land ice. A curriculum is available for this site.
URL: http://www.glacier.rice.edu/
Title: Global Climate Change: Research Explorer - Cryosphere
Description: This website provides data about how glaciers respond to short-term changes in weather and climate. A glossary is provided and related websites are listed.
URL: http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/cryosphere/data1.h ...
Title: The Rock Cycle
Description: The processes of the rock cycle are described here, including weathering and erosion.
URL: http://www.personal.psu.edu/cll161/insys 441/main.html
Title: World View of Global Warming
Description: The World View of Global Warming project is documenting changes in the amount and distribution of the world''s ice.
URL: http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/index.html
Title: The Cryosphere: Where the World is Frozen
Description: Established by NOAA as a national information and referral center in support of polar and cryospheric research, NSIDC archives and distributes digital and analog snow and ice data. There is information about snow cover, avalanches, and glaciers.
URL: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/
Title: Landslide Hazards Program
Description: Learn everything about landslides! Visit the Information Center to cover the basics first and then look at pictures and read about recent landslides. Also data and current scientific research available.
URL: http://landslides.usgs.gov/
Title: Observations of Snow Cover
Description: "Observations of Snow Cover from the Ground and Space" uses computer animation, satellite imagery, and live-action video to show how snow research benefits our everyday lives.
URL: http://modis-snow-ice.gsfc.nasa.gov/edu.html
Title: Mars Exploration Program Missions
Description: The Mars Exploration Missions page provides viewers with an account of past, present, and future missions to the planet Mars. Links to various JPL sites are also provided.
URL: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/
Title: As Sea Level Rises, Beaches Shrink
Description: This is a great site for both teachers and students to gather information on how sea level changes affect beach sizes using up-to-date technology and data.
URL: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/Sea_lev ...
Title: Climate Influences the Rock Cycle
Description: Read about the processes of weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification and their roles in the rock cycle.
URL: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/ge ...
Title: A Science Odyssey: You Try It: Plate Tectonics
Description: See how the Earth moves in this simulated activity. This site has great animations and explanations on plate tectonic theory, sea floor spread, and the continental slide and crush. It also contains a related section on people and discoveries.
URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/index.html
Title: People Cause More Soil Erosion Than All Natural Processes
Description: How much erosion is the result of human activities, compared to natural processes? This article describes some research on this topic.
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/0411032347 ...
Title: Beach Erosion
Description: Here are some photographs that show the effects of beach erosion. The article also has predictions of what could happen with climate change.
URL: http://whyfiles.org/091beach/index.html
Title: Soil Erosion: It Can Run Away With Your Farm!
Description: Read about why farmers need to be concerned about erosion and the practices that can be used to minimize it.
URL: http://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/types/soil.h ...
Title: Soil Erosion
Description: What are the negative effects of soil erosion? This site describes the process and has lots of photographs showing the results of erosion. (Note: the site references the state of Maine, but the information could apply elsewhere,)
URL: http://maine.gov/dep/blwq/doceducation/dirt.htm
Title: Erosion and Weathering
Description: These two processes are described in this article, along with a photo gallery showing the results of weathering and erosion.
URL: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/the ...
Title: Protecting Your Property From Erosion
Description: Here are some suggestions for protecting property from erosion, runoff, and mudslides.
URL: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/enviro/erosion/erosion.h ...
Title: What's the difference between weathering and erosion?
Description: This short discussion explains the differences between two processes that often work in concert to decompose rocks.
URL: http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/misc/gweaero.html
Title: Virtually climb the Vancori-summit!
Description: What is it like to climb a volcano? This is the start page for two virtual climbs of Italy's Mt. Stromboli. You can go right up, or stop to sightsee and see the flowers along the way.
URL: http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/volcano/virtual/index ...
Title: Mapping Coastal Change Hazards
Description: The impact of a storm on a barrier island is dependent not only on the magnitude of storm characteristics but also on the elevation of the barrier island at landfall. A new scale has been developed that categorizes net erosion and accretion during storms
URL: http://science.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=barr ...
Title: Effects of Shoreline Structures on Performance
Description: One approach to extending the life of beach nourishment projects is through the use of stabilization structures. Find a discussion on the three types of structures that help control beach erosion.
URL: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/beachnourishment/html/geo/shore ...
Title: Building Back Brevard's Beaches
Description: The Brevard County Shore Protection Project successfully restored to their full width the world-famous beaches from Cape Canaveral through Cocoa Beach and from Indialantic through Melbourne Beach. Learn more about this project.
URL: http://www.brevardcounty.us/environmental_management/bb ...
Title: Kure Beach
Description: Kure Beach is a high density recreational beach with oceanfront sand erosion. A short term solution to this problem is beach renourishment. These photos show Kure Beach being renourished.
URL: http://www.ncsu.edu/coast/pjournal/ncsouth/kure/kure.ht ...
Title: Volcanoes
Description: Did you know there are different types of volcanoes? Click here for photos and a brief description of each type. This page also provides links to other interesting volcano information.
URL: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/interior/v ...
Title: Landslide Overview Map of the Conterminous United States
Description: This paper explains the landslide overview map that delineates areas where large numbers of landslides exist and areas which are susceptible to landsliding.
URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1183/
Title: Earthquakes
Description: Cosmos, the Research Robot, will help you find out how the geology of Mars compares to Washington. Just click below or use the arrows to see all nine topics. Whenever it applies, images of Mars are provided for comparison. For all covered topics see the
URL: http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/kids-earthquakes.ht ...
Title: How Landslides Work
Description: Landslides are an extreme form of erosion. Read more about what causes them.
URL: http://science.howstuffworks.com/landslide.htm
Title: Weathering and Erosion
Description: Diagrams and photographs are used here to describe these two processes, which include the action of glaciers.
URL: http://www.mrsciguy.com/weathering.html
Title: Weathering
Description: This website starts with a short definition of the Rock Cycle and then focuses on weathering. It is mainly informational in nature, with no activities or simulations. It does link to the Georgia Perimeter College Web site where more information can be f
URL: http://www.gpc.edu/testmyweb/badpage.php?SVR=1&URL=/~pg ...
Title: Erosion
Description: Read about how wind, water, ice, and waves are agents of erosion.
URL: http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/erosi ...
Title: Isostasy
Description: Watch the animation to learn about isostasy.
URL: http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/isos ...
Title: Erosion By Water Processes
Description: Learn how water can change the landscape. This slideshow explains drainage basins, watersheds, valleys, and interfluves.
URL: http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0074-erosion-ri ...
Title: Weathering
Description: Maybe you know that weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller and smaller pieces, but did you know there are different types of weathering? Click here to learn about mechanical, chemical and biological weathering.
URL: http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_weathering.htm ...
Title: Understanding Plate Motions
Description: Students visiting this site will develop a good understanding of how the plates move and how such movements relate to earthquake activity.
URL: http://www.sciencemaster.com/jump/earth/plate_motion.ph ...
Title: Soil
Description: Learn how soil works, how it can be coaxed into sustainable production and how it can so easily be lost.
URL: http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/soil/index.htm
Title: Mauna Loa
Description: Mount Everest may hold a world record, but it is not the biggest mountain. Mauna Loa, located on the island of Hawaii, is the biggest single mountain. Click here to learn what makes this mountain so big.
URL: http://www.extremescience.com/MaunaLoa.htm
Title: Geologic Characteristics of Borrow Areas and Sediments
Description: This discussion will consider the depositional nature of environments that are candidates as potential borrow sites, and the types of sediment that each of these environments accumulate to assist decision-makers.
URL: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/beachnourishment/html/geo/borro ...
Title: Sediment Budgets in Coastal Systems
Description: Learn why a sediment budget is critical to understanding the complex sediment pathways and the magnitudes of those sediment movements, at inlets and along beaches.
URL: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/beachnourishment/html/geo/budge ...
Title: Introduction to Erosion
Description: Here is a description (with pictures) of types of weathering and erosion processes.
URL: http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0059-introducti ...
Title: Five Types of Volcanoes
Description: View the five types of volcanoes and a brief description of each type at this USGS page.
URL: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/VolcanoTypes/volcano ...
Title: Earth's Active Volcanoes
Description: Click here for a page full of links to the world’s most active volcanoes. Just choose a region and select the specific area your interested in.
URL: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/world.html
Title: What Is a Volcano?
Description: Where did the name volcano come from? Click here for the answer to that question and a brief description of volcanoes and volcano formation.
URL: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Outreach/AboutVolcanoes/what_ ...
Title: Operational Significant Event Imagery
Description: What do major environmental events such as volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, dust storms, or snow storms, look like from space? Here is an extensive collections of satellite images from NOAA organized by event, location, and year.
URL: http://www.osei.noaa.gov/
Title: 20th Century Volcanic Eruptions and Their Impact
Description: Information on 20th Century volcanoes is provided in a time line fashion at this US geological site. Click on the volcano name if you need more information.
URL: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicFacts/volc ...
Title: Volcano Watch
Description: Where in the world are the most active volcanoes? This site will show you. Click here for satellite images and java animation of the most recent volcanoes.
URL: http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/volcano.html
Title: Color Landform Atlas of the United States
Description: Can you identify the landforms in your area or your state? Click on this map and learn more about your region of the United States.
URL: http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/states/states.html
Title: Animated Movie of the Mt. St. Helens Eruption
Description: Watch Mount St. Helens blow! This page is a QuickTime movie of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
URL: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/movies/msh.mov
Title: Animated Movie of a Volcano Collapsing
Description: Click here to watch a QuickTime movie of a volcano collapsing.
URL: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/movies/caldera.mov
Title: Goal of the Paleomap Project
Description: A gold mine of resouce information and activities that can be readily used or adapted to any classroom. This site is very comprehensive when it comes to topics of earth history or past climates.
URL: http://www.scotese.com/Default.htm
Title: Weathering processes on Mars
Description: This site focuses on weathering and erosion on Mars. It has links to other pages so a reader can compare those processes with those on the earth. The site is well referenced and is just one part of a much larger site with lots of further recourses.
URL: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mars/exploring/M ...
Title: Earthquake Activity World Map
Description: Click on a point to go to a particular region on the world map. There you can click again to find more detailed information on recent earthquakes. Data includes; magnitude, location, depth and a general description of the event.
URL: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
Title: Pangaea Puzzle
Description: This is a fun, easy activity that explains plate tectonics and the various formations of the earth''s surface throughout history.
URL: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resource ...
Title: Enduring Resources for Earth Sciences Education
Description: Here is a searchable database of resources and information related to a variety of topics. You can search by research question or by topic.
URL: http://earthref.org/ERESE/
Title: Plot That Quake!
Description: Help students gain a better understanding of why earthquakes happen and where they are most likely to occur with this weekly earthquake plotting activity. This site provides a detailed lesson plan, resources, and links.
URL: http://seismo.berkeley.edu/seismo/istat/digiguide/EQ.ht ...
Title: The Dynamic Earth
Description: Use the Internet to help your students understand the nature of earthquakes and volcanoes. Includes learning how earthquake intensity is measured, where earthquakes occur, and what global patterns exist.
URL: http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/dynamic_earth/
Title: Winter/Spring 2005 California Landslides Information
Description: Find information on the California landslides. You will find facts, frequently asked questions, photographs, and videos of landslides.
URL: http://landslides.usgs.gov/recent/current.php
Title: The Ocean's Sand, A Natural Resource
Description: Here you will learn about and discover why we need sand and gravel. Read about beaches, erosion, and learn about the causes of beach erosion. Examine sand, make a beach profile, and participate in a sand size analysis activity.
URL: http://www.mms.gov/mmskids/PDFs/sandanaturalresource.pd ...
Title: Identifying erosion
Description: Students will be able to identify erosion and explain the causes of erosion after doing hands-on investigation and internet resources to do research.
URL: http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/298.shtml
Title: Earth Science
Description: Here you will find hands on learning activities and lesson plans for earthquakes and other earth science topics.
URL: http://www.jclahr.com/science/earth_science/
Title: Erosion and Weathering
Description: A descriptive slideshow with background information and discussion questions will help introduction the processes of erosion and weathering. Free registration allows download access.
URL: http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.ea ...
Title: Weathering and Erosion
Description: Here is an activity to help students understand chemical and physical weathering and the erosion process.
URL: http://www.nps.gov/archive/maca/learnhome/cur_p_wea.htm
Title: Weathering and Erosion
Description: Here are some ideas for an activity or demonstration of factors that influence erosion.
URL: http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/CURR/Science/sciber00/8th/ear ...
Title: Weathering and Erosion
Description: Use this activity to show the effects of weathering and erosion on rocks. Background information and extensions to the activity are provided.
URL: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=2692
Title: Losing Ground
Description: Find two activities which demonstrate how the effects of farming practices in the early 20th Century contributed to severe soil erosion of a large portion of the North American grasslands. and became known as the Dust Bowl.
URL: http://forces.si.edu/ltop/pdfs/2-5-LosingGround.pdf
Title: Investigate and Report on Erosion
Description: Take a walk around your home, school, or neighborhood. What evidence of erosion do you see? This activity will guide you through the writing process as you describe your observations.
URL: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/erosion/index.htm
Title: Mechanical Weathering
Description: Here is a hands-on activity to help students understand what happens during the weather process and to determine if all rocks weather at the same rate.
URL: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/education/lessons/ac ...
Title: Erosion
Description: Erosion is happening all around us. Even though you may not recognize it, the forces of erosion are constantly shaping our planet. Learn more about erosion, investigate, and describe how erosion is affecting the earth in your neighborhood.
URL: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/erosion/invest.ht ...
Title: Finding Impact Craters with Landsat
Description: In this lesson, students consider what happens when an extraterrestrial object strikes the Earth. They discuss the effects that such a collision might have and then read descriptions of the actual effects of these events.
URL: http://craters.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.htm
Title: Rocks for Kids
Description: This site is for kids of all ages who love rocks. Here you will find out stuff about rocks & minerals and where to go to find out more.
URL: http://www.rocksforkids.com/
Title: Do Rocks Last Forever?
Description: These four experiments will have students exploring the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering.
URL: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/information/kids_geo ...
Title: How Does the Rain Shape the Earth?
Description: How does rain shape the earth? To see erosion in action, try this simple science lab. Can you predict what will happen to the dirt after you pour the water over it?
URL: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/erosion/index.htm
Title: Wind Erosion
Description: Study how the wind moves sand on a beach with this wind erosion activity. What effect does the moving sand have on buildings? Can your students think of ways to minimize this effect?
URL: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/Wind.html
Title: Volcanoes
Description: What happens when a volcano forms underwater? Ms. Frizzle’s class knows and when your kids do this hands-on activity, they will know too!
URL: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1671
Title: Lesson 3: Soil Erosion
Description: This lesson plan incorporates four activities to help students explore factors which promote or prevent soil erosion. The activities are written in a step-by-step manner, and a chart is included to help students organize their observations.
URL: http://www.walkerschools.org/eco/soil3.html
Title: Gelatin Volcanoes
Description: Get "jiggy” with some red gelatin and see how and why magma moves inside volcanoes. You will need gelatin, a pegboard and lots of paper towels, but the mess is worth the effort! Great background information is available at the teacher’s page.
URL: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/GelVol.html
Title: Erosion Jeopardy
Description: Make review fun! Play this game with the class, even includes great sound effects. Topics include weathering, erosion, deposition, the water cycle, rivers, and glaciers.
URL: http://www.regentsearthscience.com/jeopardy/erosion/jeo ...
Title: Making a Volanic Eruption
Description: This lesson does not have a lot of background information, but it does have good recipe for making a volcano and a great link to current volcano information.
URL: http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/weather/eruption.html
Title: Stream Table
Description: Use this activity to show your students how a stream erodes, then transports and deposits materials.
URL: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/Streams.htm ...
Title: Volcanoes
Description: Demonstrate how volcanoes erupt with this lesson on volcanoes. The instructions are vague, but include a list of materials. The best part of this page is the link to the awesome virtual field trip!
URL: http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Les ...