Our Changing Earth Incursion (Levels 3/4)

In this exciting 90-minute incursion, students learn about the natural processes of weathering and erosion to gain an understanding of how human’s impact the landscape we inhabit. Students investigate the ‘rock cycle’ and classify samples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. This incursion challenges students to link the effects of different human activities on the earth’s surface to changes in the landscape. Our passionate science educators carefully guide students through each step, prompting students to predict, observe and reflect on each activity.

• Students explore the natural processes of weathering and erosion as well as human impacts that change the landscape.

• Discussing prior knowledge of natural and human forces that change the landscape.
• Exploring the ‘rock cycle’ and classifying samples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• Investigating weathering caused by physical actions such as sand blasting and ice expansion.
• Observing the effects of chemical weathering.
• Investigating wind and water erosion and deposition of sediments.
• Investigating water absorption by different types of soils.
• Linking the effects of different human activities on the earth’s surface such as logging, mining and urbanisation.

• Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity (VCSSU062).
• Science knowledge helps people to understand the effects of their actions (VCSSU056).
• With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge (VCSIS065).
• Suggest ways to plan and conduct investigations to find answers to questions including consideration of the elements of fair tests (VCSIS066).
• Safely use appropriate materials, tools, equipment and technologies (VCSIS067).
• Use formal measurements in the collection and recording of observations (VCSIS068).