Grade 4 · Science · Earth science

4th Grade Weathering and Erosion worksheets

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Weathering and Erosion

Grade 4 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
A student claims ice cracks rock with cold alone. Which result shows something else is needed?
- wet rock in a freezer cracks
- warm rock does not crack
- rock in a warm room stays the same
- dry rock in a freezer does not crack
2.
A desert rock has a hard top layer and a soft lower layer. Over time it becomes mushroom-shaped. Why?
- the soft layer is eroded by ice only
- wind-blown sand wears the soft lower layer faster
- the hard top layer grows wider
- rain builds up the top layer
3.
Two hillsides get the same rain. Hill A is covered in trees. Hill B was cleared. Which hill loses more soil?
- both lose the same
- Hill A
- neither loses soil
- Hill B
4.
Why is erosion faster on a steep hill than on a flat field?
- water cannot move on flat land
- steep hills have stronger soil
- gravity makes water run downhill faster
- flat fields have more rain
5.
A sidewalk crack has water in winter and weeds in summer. Which explains why the crack grows all year?
- erosion moves the sidewalk away in winter
- ice widens it in winter and roots widen it in summer
- the sun melts it in summer only
- wind fills it in winter and rain fills it in summer

4th Grade Weathering and Erosion worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Weathering and erosion investigations show how Earth's surface changes when rock breaks down and sediment moves asks fourth graders to connect observations with an explanation, model, or design decision instead of choosing a fact from memory. Students may use weathering and erosion as if they mean the same thing, or they may choose a cause without reading the measurement or observation. This worksheet uses short investigations and evidence-based situations so students must read what happened, decide which science idea is being tested, and choose the answer that fits the title.

Students identify agents of weathering and erosion, compare rates from measurements, connect plants and slope to erosion, and choose evidence-based explanations. Support versions use familiar objects and direct wording. Standard and challenge versions add closer distractors, fair-test language, and multi-step evidence. Ask your child to point to the measurement, diagram, map, or observation before answering. If the choice does not explain the evidence in the prompt, it is probably a distractor. That habit keeps science reasoning tied to data rather than guesswork.

What your child will learn

Tell weathering from erosion
Identify water, wind, ice, roots, and waves as agents
Use measurements to compare erosion rates
Explain how plants can reduce erosion

NGSS standard: 4-ESS2-1

Worked example

If more sand washes from a steep tray than a flat tray, water eroded the steep slope faster.

Common mistake

Naming an agent without using the observation that shows what it did.

Helpful hint

Weathering breaks material down; erosion moves it away.

Next skill: Natural Hazards Earlier: Rocks, Fossils, and Time

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with weathering and erosion?

Naming an agent without using the observation that shows what it did.

How can I help my child with weathering and erosion?

Weathering breaks material down; erosion moves it away.

Are these 4th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 4th grade earth science

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