Grade 5 · Science · Lesson 31

Earth Changes: Erosion & Volcanoes

Earth\'s surface is always changing. Some changes happen so slowly that we never see them with our own eyes — a river takes thousands of years to carve a canyon. Other changes happen in minutes or seconds — a volcano can erupt overnight, and an earthquake can shake the ground in less than a minute. Both kinds of change shape the land we live on.

What this lesson teaches

1Distinguish between slow and fast changes that shape Earth's surface
2Describe how weathering, erosion, and deposition reshape the land
3Explain how volcanoes and earthquakes change Earth quickly
4Identify real-world examples of each Earth-changing process

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