Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit gives middle school teachers everything needed to teach weathering, erosion, and deposition in the context of ecoregions. Students explore how these processes impact the environment and connect them to real-world examples. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday instruction with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, allowing teachers to focus on guiding mastery and supporting student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What effects does weathering have on the environment in ecoregions?

• What effects does erosion have on the environment in ecoregions?

• What effects does deposition have on the environment in ecoregions?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated resources to support students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal activities to engage all learning styles

• Flexibility in format—resources are available in both printable and digital versions

• Editable PowerPoints for easy customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson is built on the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion ideas, activities, and notes on misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introduces weathering, erosion, and deposition through hands-on and digital activities

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension checks

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured questions

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Categorization activities (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended responses using complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Sketching/drawing to reinforce retention

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Extension activities (crosswords, puzzles, mini-projects) for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking organizers

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on weathering, erosion, and deposition for extended or at-home learning

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, available in standard and modified formats

• Review worksheets and questions for homework, practice, or class discussions

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-class and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook templates are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to implement in blended or online classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.