Emily Rothstein and Emily Hart Day & Date: Friday, December 1st

Classroom: Mrs. Van Zandt Approximate Time: 11:30-12:30

Grade 4
Earth Science
Landslides

I. Essential Questions: What is a landslide? What causes a landslide? How does gravity
cause erosion? What are some hazards caused by landslides?

II. Standards:
4-ESS3-2. Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural
Earth processes on humans.
4-PS3-3. Ask questions and predict outcomes about the changes in energy that occur
when objects collide.
4- ESS2 - 1. Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified, tested, and used to
explain change.

III. Learning Objectives and Assessments:

Objectives Assessments

Students will be able to make observations Teacher will assess this by observing what
and predictions on what they think is observations the students are making as the
happening during a landslide. teacher does a demonstration.

Students will be able to describe landslides Teacher will assess this by circulating the
and what causes them. room to listen in on students conversation
while they fill out their science journals.

IV. Materials:
Literature: Landslides and Avalanches in Action by Louise A Spilsbury
PowerPoint
Landslide demonstration (dirt, water, container, rocks, sand)
Clipboards and pencils
Science journals
V. Pre-lesson assignments and/or prior knowledge: Students know how to make an
observation and prediction on something. They have also heard what natural hazards are.
Students know that there are effects of natural hazards.

Lesson beginning: The class will start with reading a book about landslides.

VI. Instructional Plan:

The class with start off with a reading about landslides.
Teacher will present a PowerPoint on landslide facts and provide the information and
facts for the students. They will be able to follow along and write in their landslide
worksheet.
The teacher will have the students gather around the carpet when their table is called in a
circle with a clipboard and pencil along with their science journal to make observations.
Students will be asked to predict what exactly a landslide is and what causes it.
The teacher will demonstrate what a landslide is and what causes it by using a container
and creating a slope using a piece of plaster. On the top of the slope, the teacher will put
materials like dirt, sand, and rocks on the landing to demonstrate land or earth. The
teacher will then pour water on the dirt as if it were raining to show that soil and other
particles are moving and changing the shape of the hill or mountain.
The students will have an opportunity to change or keep what they have written down
then will be asked to go back to their desks.
At the end of the lesson, the students will be asked to write a response to two questions
written on the board as their exit ticket.
Once they finish the response, they can read the books on the library table.

VII. Instructional Practices:

Differentiation: The students will all have an opportunity to see the demonstration and write
down what they think is happening. For students who are struggling with writing, they will have
have a choice to either draw or write something in their science journals.

Questions:
How does gravity cause erosion?
What do you think is happening during a landslide?
What causes a landslide?
How do landslides change Earths surface?
What are some effects of landslides?
What makes material in any landslide move downhill?
How might a landslide affect people?
 Classroom Management: If the students are beginning to get noisy, the teacher will use a
small chime for them to quiet down and focus their eyes on me. Another strategy that could use
is asking the students if someone could show me how they should be sitting in their desks.

Transitions: The students will be instructed to quietly to come to the carpet when their table
is called. After the demonstration the students will be asked to go back to their seats and put their
clipboards away and take out their science journals. I will make sure to have everyone's attention
by chiming the bell before starting with the PowerPoint. The students will have a chance to talk
after the PowerPoint and share with the class.

Closure: The teacher will ask the students to write or draw a picture something new they
found out or something they found interesting in the lesson. The students will then have the
opportunity to share to the class or share with a partner about what they have written down. Once
they finish, they can read the books on the library table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UmcF-XGs4E