This geoscience processes shape Earth activity reviews how different forces on the crust (compression, tension, shearing) have shaped local geographic features and landforms. Students also learn more about specific examples of each landform on Earth.
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Students should have a background in the basics of the forces that shape Earth’s surface – compression, tension, and shearing – before doing this activity. This activity is meant as review and reinforcement.
In this activity, students will:
- SORT THE CARDS. There are 3 main categories: compression, shearing, and tension. Students place cards for the types of landforms in each category, along with specific examples from Earth. The cards include clues that will help the students make the classifications, so students do not need to have prior knowledge of the specific example locations on Earth that are included.
- COMPLETE A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER. This helps to cement the classification of the types of forces, the landforms they create, and the specific locations on Earth that were formed due to these forces.
Topics Reviewed:
- The landforms that result from compression, including specific examples on Earth.
- The landforms that result from shearing, including specific examples on Earth.
- The landforms that result from tension, including specific examples on Earth.
What You’ll Get:
- 3 FORCES cards
- 7 LANDFORMS cards
- 14 EXAMPLE cards
- 2-page Graphic Organizer
- Teacher Notes
Related NGSS Standard:
- MS-ESS2-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.
Teacher Notes:
- The cards DO NOT need to be printed in color for the activity to “work.” You can make the cards in black and white, and the learning will still be the same.
- Includes an answer key.
- Please note that this geoscience processes shape Earth activity is not editable.
- Save time and copies! Make just one class set of the cards and reuse them class-to-class and year-to-year!
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