Grade 4 · Science · Earth science

4th Grade Weathering and Erosion worksheets

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Weathering and Erosion

Grade 4 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
Two hillsides get the same rain. Hill A is covered in trees. Hill B was cleared. Which hill loses more soil?
- neither loses soil
- both lose the same
- Hill A
- Hill B
2.
A student claims ice cracks rock with cold alone. Which result shows something else is needed?
- warm rock does not crack
- wet rock in a freezer cracks
- rock in a warm room stays the same
- dry rock in a freezer does not crack
3.
Trial A: a river table with fast water moved 80 g of sand. Trial B: slow water moved 20 g. How many times more sand did fast water move?
- 3 times
- 2 times
- 60 times
- 4 times
4.
Which test best shows whether plant roots slow erosion?
- pour more water on the bare slope than the grassy one
- pour water on one grassy slope only
- use a steep bare slope and a flat grassy slope
- pour equal water on two equal slopes, one with grass and one bare
5.
Weathering happens in a cliff, but no erosion happens. What would you observe?
- cracked rock that stays in place
- a river carrying pebbles away
- a beach growing wider below it
- sand piles far from the cliff

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.

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