2-ESS1 Earth events - fast and slow changes
Aligned to 2-ESS1 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Some changes to the Earth happen fast, like a volcano erupting or an earthquake shaking the ground in seconds. Other changes happen so slowly you cannot see them happen, like water slowly wearing away rock over many years.
Worked examples
Example 1
A volcano can cover land with lava in a single day, which is a fast change. But a river carving out a deep canyon takes thousands of years, which is a very slow change.
Example 2
An earthquake can crack a road in seconds, but a mountain takes millions of years to wear down into hills.
Example 3
You can watch a fast change happen. A slow change you can only see by comparing photos taken years apart.
Practice questions
- Name one Earth change that happens fast.
- Name one Earth change that happens slowly.
- Is a mountain wearing down a fast change or a slow change? Explain.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
2-ESS1 Eventos de la Tierra: cambios rápidos y lentos
Algunos cambios en la Tierra ocurren rápido, como la erupción de un volcán o un terremoto que sacude el suelo en segundos. Otros cambios ocurren tan lentamente que no puedes verlos, como el agua que desgasta la roca poco a poco durante muchos años.
Ejemplo 1: Un volcán puede cubrir la tierra con lava en un solo día, lo cual es un cambio rápido. Pero un río que forma un cañón profundo tarda miles de años, lo cual es un cambio muy lento.
Ejemplo 2: Un terremoto puede partir un camino en segundos, pero una montaña tarda millones de años en desgastarse y volverse lomas.
Ejemplo 3: Un cambio rápido lo puedes ver pasar. Un cambio lento solo lo notas comparando fotos tomadas con años de diferencia.
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