wind is moving air. you can’t see it, but you can tell it...

www.njctl.org 2nd Grade PSI Wind, Water & Land

Classwork #1 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Wind is moving air. You can’t see it, but you can tell it’s there. Look at the pictures. Draw how each object would look if the wind was blowing.

a flag

a kite

a pile of leaves


Complete the diagram to show how wind is created. Write the steps in the correct order on the line:

a. Cooler air that is nearby moves in to take the place of warmer air.

b. Sun warms the land. c. Land warms the air which rises.

1._________________________________ 2._____________________________

3.______________________________

WOW FACT: The fastest wind speed ever recorded on Earth is 253mph. This is nothing compared to the winds on Neptune. Wind whips around at speeds of more than 1,200 mph! That is as fast as a fighter jet!


Homework #1 Name: __________________________ 2nd Grade PSI

Use the words in the box to complete the sentences.

Wind is moving ___________. It is caused by the

________ heating up the Earth’s surface. The heat

bounces up and heats the air above the surface. As

the air warms, it moves __________. Cooler air

moves in to take its place. ________ air is heavier

because it has more molecules. Cool, heavier air

moves down and pushes the warm air up. This

causes wind.

Read the passage below and then answer the questions in complete sentences.

Helpful Wind/Harmful Wind

People have used the power of wind for

thousands of years. Windmills were used to grind

grain, pump water and cut wood. Sailors relied on

air sun wind cool up


wind to move boats across the ocean. Today, wind

turbines make electricity without polluting the air and

water.

Wind brings changes in weather. Sometimes,

the wind can play a big part in harsh weather.

Storms like hurricanes and thunderstorms can have

winds that cause a lot of damage. Storm winds can

blow very fast, more than 100 miles per hour. At this

speed, winds can knock down trees, rip apart

homes, and throw objects around.

1. List three ways people use winds:

________________, __________________,

____________________

2. Explain how wind impacts weather.

______________________________________

______________________________________


3. Why is energy from wind helpful to the Earth?

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

4. Tell about a time when wind was helpful or

harmful to you.

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________


Classwork #2 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Wind is a powerful force that constantly changes

the Earth’s surface. Erosion is the process of

moving the pieces of rocks to a new place. Wind

pushes against rock and tears away small pieces.

Wind can carry away small rocks and soil. Wind can

blow sand into towering sand dunes, a hill made of

sand. Some sand dunes can be more than 1,300

feet high!

Severe storms often involve wind. A tornado is a

spinning air mass that can produce winds up to 300

miles per hour. They often form during

thunderstorms. A hurricane is a huge storm that

forms over warm ocean water. They can create

winds up to 200 miles per hour.


1. Explain how severe storms like tornados and hurricanes can change the Earth’s surface through erosion. Give an example.

______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________


Homework #2 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Dust Bowl

Wind causes erosion by picking up loose sand

and carrying it away to new locations. During the

1930’s wind erosion caused the Dust Bowl. It

occurred in the Midwest states of Kansas, Texas,

Colorado and New Mexico. More than 850 million

tons of topsoil blew away. It is one of the worst

environmental disasters in the world.

Drought and farming caused the disaster.

Farmers removed most of the prairie grasses so

they could grow wheat. There was little rain during


this time. The soil was very dry. With no grass to

hold the dry dirt in place, strong winds picked it up

and created huge dust storms. These dust storms

were called Black Blizzards.

Black Blizzards caused dust to fill the air and

cover everything. Cattle and sheep choked to death.

People had dirt in their clothes, hair, and teeth. They

had to wear dust masks. Breathing the dust caused

a serious illness that killed thousands of people. The

dirt covered homes and caused them to fall down.

The worst dust storm was on April 14, 1935. It

was called Black Sunday. The dust blocked out the

sun and nearly 300,000 tons of topsoil was moved

by the wind. The wind blew the dirt as far as New

York City! The dirt buried homes and barns.

The Dust Bowl taught farmers new farming

methods and the importance of taking care of the

land.


1. What were two causes of the Dust Bowl? _________________ and _________________

2. Where and when did the Dust Bowl happen?

______________________________________ ______________________________________

3. Tell 3 effects of Black Blizzards.

______________________________________

______________________________________

4. How topsoil did wind erosion move during the Dust Bowl? ______________________________________

5. Write the sentence that shows how powerful the

storm on Black Sunday was?

______________________________________

6. What lessons did the Dust Bowl teach farmers? ______________________________________

______________________________________


Classwork #3 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Wind erosion can blow away valuable topsoil.

Without topsoil, farmers can’t grow crops. Wind

erosion can also bury plants. It is important to

prevent wind erosion. Planting new plants prevents

erosion because the roots lock in the soil.

Windbreaks can also be made or planted to protect

the soil.

1. Why is it important to prevent wind erosion? ______________________________________ ______________________________________

2. What are two ways to prevent wind erosion?

______________________________________ ______________________________________

Beach erosion is when the sand or dunes are

washed away. It is caused by wind, waves, and


storms. Your old Christmas tree can be used to

prevent beach erosion. The pine needles trap sand.

Eventually the trees are covered up and used to

plant sea grass.

3. What causes beach erosion?

______________________________________ ______________________________________

4. How can Christmas trees prevent beach

erosion? ______________________________________ ______________________________________

5. Explain one way the Dust Bowl could have been

avoided. (Think about what the farmers’ could have done.) ______________________________________ ______________________________________


Homework #3 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

A windbreak is a barrier that helps prevent erosion. It stops wind from blowing across land and carrying away soil. This picture shows a sand dune. The grasses on the sand dune act as a windbreak and trap the sand.

This image shows the effects of wind and water erosion after Hurricane Sandy. Some beaches were 10 feet lower and the sand from dunes was moved 118 feet inland. On the lines, write a caption for this photo. Use specific vocabulary.


Classwork #4 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Water erosion creates different types of landforms. Write the letter that matches the definition of each landform on the line.

1. ____delta A. an area of low land

surrounded by hills or

mountains

2. ____waterfall B. small piece of land formed

when rivers leave rocks and

sand on way to lakes and

oceans

3. ____valley C. a cascade of water over a

cliff

4. ____canyon D. a deep valley with high sides,

often with a river flowing

through it.


Number the sentences 1-4 to show the correct

sequence of how a canyon is formed.

______ After a long time, a deep canyon is formed.

______ The streams become rivers and carry away

bits of dirt and sand.

______ As the rain runs over the ground, it forms

small streams.

______ At first, the rain begins to fall.


delta erosion canyon waterfall valley water 1 1

Homework #4 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Complete the sentences using words from the box below.

_____________ is the movement of soil from one

place to another. It is almost always caused by wind

and ________. Water erosion creates different

landforms. A__________ is a small piece of land

formed when rivers move large amounts of soil. A

__________ is a low land surrounded by hills or

mountains. The Grand __________ was formed

over millions of years by the Colorado River. A

__________ is also called a cascade. It is a body of

water’s fall over a rocky ledge. Water erosion even

creates caves.


Classwork #5 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

The Earth’s surface is constantly changing. Sometimes the changes are slow and sometimes the changes are rapid. Erosion is an example of slow changes. Earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and even volcanoes cause rapid changes. Look at the pictures below. Decide whether they show slow or rapid changes. Cut them out sort them.

volcano Tsunami wind erosion


Earthquake

Glaciers landslide

water erosion


Slow Changes Rapid Changes


Homework #5 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Match each description with the term from the word

bank. If it is an event that occurs suddenly, put a star

next to the number.

flood hurricane water erosion

wind erosion waves

1. _______________ Wind and waves from these

tropical storms cause coastal damage.

2. _______________ The Colorado River created

the Grand Canyon due to this.

3. _______________ After a heavy rainfall, this

type of event can damage surrounding areas.

4. _______________ The ocean constantly

changes the shape of the beach because of this.

5. _______________ Rock landforms in the desert

are formed because of this.


Classwork #6 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Coastal erosion is the wearing away of beaches and coastal land. It is mainly caused by waves. Storms can also cause costal erosion. Look at the images taken by Patrick Barnard of San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. Think of a technique that could have slowed the erosion of the beach. Explain how the technique works. __________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________


terracing seawall jetty breakwater

Homework #6 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Use the words in the box to complete the riddles about reducing coastal erosion.

1. I am a wall built in the same direction as the ocean to reduce water erosion by waves and currents. I am a ___________________

2. I am a wall built along the coast to protect the

area from erosion by strong waves and storms. I am a _______________________

3. I am a technique used by farmers to reduce

water erosion. I am ___________________

4. I am a wall that goes into the ocean. I am a _________________

5. Explain why it is important for people to change

their behavior to prevent coastal erosion. ______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________


Classwork #7 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Draw a line to match from each animal to a landform that would be a good home for it. canyon

valley bat

dune

bighorn sheep

delta

rattlesnake

cave

fawn

crab


Select one of the animals from above. Write a paragraph about the animal and what it needs to survive. Explain why the landform would be a good home for the animal. __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________


Homework #7 Name: __________________________

2nd Grade PSI

Cool Caves A cave is a hole in the Earth formed by millions

of years of erosion. Most caves form when water flows through

cracks in underground rocks. This causes the rock to dissolve. When more water washes away the rock, a hole is left. This is now a cave! Caves can also be formed by ocean waves and lava from volcanoes.

Caves are cold, dark and wet. However, many animals still make their homes inside of them. Bats live at the opening of caves. They hibernate in them during winter. Bears sometimes hibernate in caves, too. Crickets, centipedes, earthworms, and spiders live in caves. There are some animals that only live in caves. These animals are able to survive in total darkness. Many are blind or have no eyes at all. Salamanders, shrimp and cavefish are adapted to life in caves and could not survive anywhere else.

People like to explore caves to learn about the Earth and to challenge themselves. This is called spelunking. Spelunkers need helmets, flashlights, warm clothing and ropes to safely explore caves. Caves are exciting, but can also be dangerous. It is easy to fall or get lost in caves. Guided tours are ways to keep the cave and the explorers safe.


Use Cool Caves to answer the questions. 1. Write the letter that matches the bold word from

the passage to the definition. Reread the passage for context clues to help you.

____cave a. spend the winter asleep ____hibernate b. exploration of a cave ____adapted c. a large hole in the Earth ____spelunking d. adjust to new conditions

2. List three ways caves can form.

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

3. Why do people like to explore caves? Circle the

answer. a. For a challenge. b. To learn about the Earth. c. Both a and b.


4. Name three animals that can only survive in a cave. _____________________

____________________

____________________

5. Would you want to explore a cave? Explain your

answer. ______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

wind is moving air. you can’t see it, but you can tell it...

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