Make your Earth science lessons engaging and hands-on with this Weathering and Erosion Science Stations resource, featuring an interactive glacier model activity aligned to 4th grade NGSS (4-ESS2-1 & 4-ESS2-2). Students explore glacial erosion, deposition, and landforms through reading, modeling, and observation—helping them truly understand how glaciers shape Earth’s surface.

This hands-on science station allows students to model glacier movement, observe erosion in action, and analyze how glaciers form features like U-shaped valleys, moraines, cirques, and horns. With multiple station formats included, this resource supports differentiation while reinforcing key weathering and erosion concepts in a meaningful, inquiry-based way.

📦 What’s Included

• Teacher notes and setup instructions
• Hands-on glacier model activity with step-by-step directions
• Reading passage about glaciers and glacial processes
• Student worksheets (short answer & fill-in-the-blank options)
• Task cards (multiple choice & short response)
• Science journal prompts
• Vocabulary support materials
• Answer keys for all activities
• Google Forms & Google Slides links for digital use
• Materials checklist for easy prep

🔬 Skills & Concepts Covered

• Glacial formation and movement
• Weathering vs. erosion vs. deposition
• Glacial processes (plucking, scraping, transport)
• Landforms created by glaciers (moraines, cirques, horns, U-shaped valleys)
• Cause and effect relationships in Earth systems
• Scientific observation and modeling

🧪 How Teachers Use This Resource

• Science stations rotation (8–12 stations included in full unit)
• Hands-on lab activity for glacial erosion
• Small group or partner work
• Independent practice or guided instruction
• Science journal responses and discussion prompts
• Assessment or review for NGSS-aligned standards

💡 Why Teachers Love It

• ✔️ Engaging, hands-on learning that brings abstract concepts to life
• ✔️ Saves prep time with clear directions and organized materials lists
• ✔️ Differentiated options (task cards, worksheets, digital formats)
• ✔️ Strong alignment to NGSS 4th grade Earth science standards
• ✔️ Encourages critical thinking through observation and modeling
• ✔️ Easy to implement in station rotations or whole-group lessons

Bring your weathering and erosion unit to life with this engaging, standards-aligned science station that helps students see Earth’s processes in action!

This MODEL station is also available in a larger bundle of 8 stations at a discount.

Weathering & Earth Materials & Systems, Biogeology Fourth Grade Next Generation Science Stations include 12 different science stations where students deepen their understanding of how the weathering and erosion change the Earth’s surface. The focus is on 4-ESS1.A and 4-ESS2.E. Concepts include weathering, erosion, how landforms are created, rock formations, river erosion and deposition, the effect of vegetation on soil erosion, glaciers, physical and chemical weathering, forces that cause changes on earth as well as animals and plants that weather the Earth.

TERMS OF USE

Copyright © What I Have Learned, Jessica Boschen

Permission to copy for single classroom or homeschool family use only.

This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view.

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