Effects of Wind and Water on Landscapes - 2nd Grade Science

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Question

The hill near the playground has been changing over the last few months. During heavy rain, the dirt is being quickly washed off the hill. This is a problem for the class because the students are unable to play in this area since it is unstable and unsafe.

Which solution would be best to prevent the wind and water from changing the hill?

Answer

The best option to prevent the hill from continuing to be eroded is to plant new grass. The roots of the grass will absorb water and hold the dirt in place. As wind and rain wear things down and move them away, humans must come up with solutions to prevent it from getting worse. The other answers are not reasonable or will not work. Leaves will not absorb the water and will wash away, leaving it alone will allow the problem to get worse, and putting a slide on the hill is dangerous!

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Question

Our land is changed when wind and water break down the soil and wash it away. Hurricanes in the South cause a lot of damage and change the area in very severe ways. Below is a picture of the damage from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

New Orleans, Louisiana, After Hurricane Katrina, City

What could the city do to prevent the water from changing the shape of the land and damaging the buildings in the future?

Answer

The damage from Hurricane Katrina permanently changed the area and the land of New Orleans. The floodwaters destroyed many buildings, and when the water receded to the ocean, it dragged dirt, rocks, and debris along with it changing the landscape. The city could install barriers or levees to block the water from passing into the city. There were already some in place, but there could be taller levees installed or more of them.

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Question

Many times farmers face strong winds, and they can damage crops and change the shape of the land. Below you will see an image of a wheat field on a sunny day and then after a dust storm.

Cornfield, Field, Wheat Field, GrainBuried, Devastated, Devastation, Sandstorm, Dust Bowl

Farmers will often plant tall plants and shrubs alongside their wheat. Why would these plants help prevent the wind from changing the landscape and damaging crops?

Answer

Shrubs and tall plants next to fields of wheat, corn, and other crops help act as a windbreak and stop the wind and dust from tearing up the fields. If the soil is very dry, it will get swept up by the strong winds and create a tornado-like force that will bury all of the crops in dust and dirt. The shrubs block the soil from being picked up, and the wind from pushing through the crops the farmers are growing.

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Question

What caused erosion and the changes to the land to create this landform?

Desert, Horsheshoe Bend, Grand Canyon

Answer

This beautiful canyon was formed by years and years of wind and water pushing through the ground and blowing against the sides. Erosion is the movement of broken down Earth to new places, and that is what the river and wind in this area have done. The water races through the canyon, cutting a path while the wind blows tiny particles of soil and sand into the walls breaking it away slowly and moving it to new places. Many times humans get involved and try to prevent wind and water from damaging areas.

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Question

The soil around Maddie's farm is becoming very dry and loose. When the wind blows many pieces are picked up and blown around her fields. This process is called desertification. The area is turning into a desert because of the wind and dry soil.

What can Maddie do to prevent the wind or water from changing the land's shape?

Answer

This is a widespread problem on many farms, especially in the mid-West, where it is very dry and can get windy. The best option to prevent the wind and water from changing the land's shape and damaging her farm is to water the soil to keep it wet and less dusty, plant tall shrubs to help block the wind, and rotate the crops, so the nutrients in the ground are not all used up. If farms are left to become very arid and dusty, it can create large dust storms and damage property and change the land over many miles.

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Question

Which solution would be the best and most reasonable for stopping wind and water from changing the shape of the land?

Answer

The best and most reasonable way to stop wind or water for changing the shape of the land would be to plant shrubs and trees to hold the soil together. Tree roots stabilize and secure the soil helping it from being eroded. This process can help control erosion (the movement of broken-down materials), so there are fewer changes to the Earth.

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Question

Our land is changed when wind and water break down the soil and wash it away. Hurricanes and flooding cause damage when rocks, dirt, and sediment are carried away.

High Water, Danube, Ulm, Road

A city wants to prevent flooding of this level during the next storm. Which answer choice would NOT be a good way to prevent the land from being changed?

Answer

Floodwaters rush into the city and destroy homes, roads, and tear up plants. It would NOT be a good idea to place large umbrellas near the sides of the town to block the rain to stop the land from changing. This would not prevent a flood or keep erosion from taking place.

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Question

Fire Island in New York has an eroding shoreline. Over the years, waves have washed away much of the beach.

sandy beach with rippled pattern and dune grasses

What can the state of New York do to prevent further changes to the beach?

Answer

Beach erosion is widespread and changes the shape of the land forever. The most reasonable and practical way to slow the wind and water would be to bring in sand and plants to rebuild the beach; this will add more shoreline and help to strengthen the coast. This should help slow some of the erosion and stop the land from changing.

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Question

What caused erosion and the changes to the land to create this landform?

A wave crashes into the rocks at Ship Harbor.

Answer

This cliffside was formed by years and years of wind and water pushing through the ground and blowing against the sides. Erosion is the movement of broken down Earth to new places, and that is what the ocean and wind in this area have done. The water smashes into the cliffside, cutting a path while the wind blows tiny particles of soil and sand into the walls breaking it away slowly and moving it to new places. Many times humans get involved and try to prevent wind and water from damaging areas.

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Question

What do these two aerial photos of the same shoreline taken years apart tell scientists?

Answer

These aerial photos allow scientists to make comparisons of the same area over time to look for changes or similarities. In these photos, scientists could see that the shoreline has changed over the years. There is a reduction in the land visible, and more of it is underwater. The coastline has receded and become more narrow.

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Question

What does the term erosion mean? Example: Due to erosion in the area, the beach is closed. The sand is slipping away and becoming very unstable.

Answer

Erosion is the changing of the land's shape due to the movement of weathered bits of earth to another place. When wind and water pick up bits of rocks, dirt, and debris from the ground, they bring them to new locations. This movement changes the shape of the land and creates new landforms.

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Question

Erika's class is submitting ideas to help stop beach erosion. The beach has large rocks that are exposed, and the sand seems to be washing out to sea, which leaves very little beach behind.

Which idea of Erika's seems most reasonable and practical to slow wind and water form changing the shape of the land?

Answer

Beach erosion is widespread and changes the shape of the land forever. The most reasonable and practical way to slow the wind and water would be to bring in sand to rebuild the beach; this will add more shoreline and help to strengthen the coast. Then they can build barriers in the water to help break some of the waves before they reach the shore, so there isn't as much force pounding into the rocks and sand. This should help slow some of the erosion and stop the land from changing.

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Question

Liam's teacher announced, "I have made a hill with sand. You are going to get to take a turn making "wind" by blowing into a straw." The students predict that the sand will blow all over the place, breaking up the hill. His teacher gives them a challenge.

What can you build to slow the wind from changing the shape of our landform?

Answer

This classroom investigation is very much like the real process of erosion that happens in the natural world. The students' production that the "wind" will blow the sand everywhere is correct. The best option to prevent the changing of the landform is to build a wall in front of the hill. Building the wall behind it still leaves the hill exposed and will not help. Also, making a river will not stop the "wind" from blowing, so it is not a good option. A wall would be secure and take the gust of wind instead of the hill, thus saving it from breaking apart.

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Question

The sides of a river are falling because of the water racing through a narrow section of the river. The town council is trying to decide how they can slow the water down and control it, so the shape of the river doesn't change and cause more problems.

Which solution is the best option?

Answer

Many towns face a similar problem to this because moving water is so strong. The force of the water can cause the riverbanks to change shape, which can be dangerous if there are buildings or homes constructed right along the river. The best option would be to build a dam upstream that would stop the water flow downstream. The town could control how much water passes through the dam so that the damage can be limited. This solution could slow the erosion and stop the changing of the land's shape.

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Question

London was eating a lollipop and noticed how it was getting smaller and smaller, and depending on how he licked it; the shape was even changing.

What is this example similar to in the natural world?

Answer

London's simple example of eating a lollipop is very much like wind and water, changing the shape of the land. As waves crash into the shore of a beach, they move sand away and expose rocks that change the way the area looks. Rivers often rush through canyons carving the sides into new shapes and sights. Licking the lollipop is wearing it down and changing the shape.

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Question

Which solution would be best and most reasonable for slowing wind and water from changing the shape of the land?

Answer

The best and most reasonable choice for slowing wind and water from changing the shape of the land would be to bring in new sand or dirt to fill in areas that have started to wear away. Erosion is the movement of materials that have been broken down, so bringing in new sand or dirt can help slow the water and wind from changing the landform.

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Question

Which factor(s) can change the shape of the land?

Answer

All of these listed answer choices are correct. Wind, water, and plants all change the shape of the land through weathering and erosion. When the land changes, it can cause problems for humans and the environment. Sometimes humans have to intervene and help fix what nature has created.

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Question

Aanya's class is submitting ideas to help stop erosion on a riverbank. The riverbank has houses nearby, and the soil is slipping into the river. There are exposed tree roots, and they seem to be the only thing holding the bank in place.

Which idea of Aanya's seems most reasonable and practical to slow wind and water form changing the shape of the land?

Answer

Erosion is widespread and changes the shape of the land forever. The most reasonable and practical way to slow the wind and water would be to add more trees and plants along the bank. The additional trees and plants will help stabilize the soil and keep it from sliding and moving. This should help slow some of the erosion and stop the land from changing.

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Question

Patricia's teacher announced, "I have made a hill with rocks, sand, and dirt. You are going to get to make "rain" by pouring water down the hill." The students predict that the sand, dirt, and rocks will flow down the hill and break it up. Her teacher gives them a challenge.

What can you build to slow the water from changing the shape of our landform?

Answer

This classroom investigation is very much like the real process of erosion that happens in the natural world. The students' prediction that the "rain" will blow the sand, rocks, and dirt everywhere is correct. The best option to prevent the changing of the landform is to build barriers to block the water, dirt, sand, and rocks from sliding. This will help prevent the land from changing shapes.

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Question

What does the term weathering mean? Example: Due to weathering, the house cannot be occupied. The foundation is unstable, and the rocks are loose.

Answer

Weathering is the process of wind, water, and vegetation breaking apart rocks and other natural materials. The house in the example is unstable because the rocks below the foundation have been beaten by rain and wind and broken apart.

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