From mountain to sea

From mountain to sea

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about how things in the environment change.

Question 1Change answer

mountain and hills
 
Jo was out tramping with her friend Aroha. She picked up a stone on the top of a mountain, looked out towards the coast and said, "One day, Aroha, this stone will be sand on that beach down there". 
 
a)  Describe two ways that Jo's stone could be broken down by weathering before it reaches the beach.
1.
2.
b)  What is the most likely way stones would "move" from the tops of mountains to the coast?
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Copyright: 
mountain-hills-JF.jpg
Copyright: J.Fisher (permission for educational use in New Zealand)
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Knowledge, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
Earth systems, weathering, erosion
Description of task: 
Students are asked to explain how a stone from the top of a mountain could become sand on a beach. Students then identify the most likely way stones 'move' from the tops of mountains to the coast.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities: Use Evidence
This resource provides opportunities to discuss using logical reasoning and their emerging science understandings to make inferences.
Science capabilities: 
Use evidence
Answers/responses: 
 

Y9 (03/1997)

Y10 (03/1997)
a) Any 2 of:

•   Ice action (water freezes in crack in 
     stone).
•   Temperature changes.
•   Water action/rain/acid rain.
•   Lichen, moss growth/action of roots.
•   Wind action.
•   Mechanical action of animals.

 2 correct – moderate

1 correct – very easy

 2 correct – moderate

1 correct – very easy
b) Water action. very difficult difficult