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How Weather Breaks Down Rocks — Reading Comprehension

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This engaging 400-word reading passage introduces fifth-grade students to the concept of weathering and how atmospheric conditions interact with Earth's geosphere. Aligned to NGSS standard 5-ESS2-1, the passage explains how wind, rain, ice, and temperature changes slowly break apart rocks through both mechanical and chemical weathering processes. Students discover how water seeps into rock cracks and expands when it freezes, how wind carries sand particles that scrape rock surfaces, and how rainwater can dissolve certain minerals. The passage uses age-appropriate language and relatable examples to help students understand that weather doesn't just happen in the sky—it actively changes Earth's surface over time. Audio-integrated features support diverse learners, while differentiated versions ensure all students can access this important earth science concept. The passage includes bold key vocabulary terms, real-world connections, and an interesting fact that captures student curiosity about weathering processes.

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Detailed view of erosion patterns and rock formations on a seaside landscape, revealing natural beauty. — Detailed view of erosion patterns and rock formations on a seaside landscape by Yan Krukau / Pexels.

Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. Weather conditions like wind, rain, ice, and changing temperatures slowly wear away even the hardest rocks on Earth's surface. This process is important because it creates soil, changes landscapes, and moves materials around our planet.

One powerful type of weathering happens when water gets inside tiny cracks in rocks. During cold weather, this water freezes and turns into ice. When water freezes, it expands and takes up more space. This expansion pushes against the inside of the crack with tremendous force, making the crack bigger. When the ice melts, more water can flow into the now-larger crack. This freeze-thaw cycle repeats many times, eventually splitting the rock apart. Think of it like filling a water bottle completely and putting it in the freezer—the expanding ice can crack even plastic containers.

Wind also breaks down rocks through a process called abrasion. Abrasion means wearing something away by rubbing or scraping. Wind picks up tiny particles of sand and dust and blows them against rock surfaces. Over many years, these particles act like sandpaper, slowly grinding away the rock. You can see evidence of wind abrasion in desert areas where rocks have smooth, polished surfaces or unusual shapes carved by windblown sand.

Rain contributes to weathering too, especially through chemical weathering. Chemical weathering happens when rainwater reacts with minerals in rocks and dissolves them. Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic because it mixes with carbon dioxide in the air. When this acidic rain falls on certain rocks, it can dissolve minerals like limestone. The dissolved minerals wash away, weakening the rock structure. This is similar to how sugar dissolves in water—the sugar doesn't disappear, but it breaks apart and mixes with the liquid.

Temperature changes also crack rocks through a process called thermal expansion. Thermal expansion means materials get bigger when heated and smaller when cooled. Rocks heat up during the day and cool down at night. Different minerals inside the rock expand and contract at different rates, creating stress. Over time, this stress causes cracks to form. In places like deserts, where temperatures change dramatically between day and night, thermal expansion can break rocks quickly.

All these weathering processes show how the atmosphere interacts with the geosphere. The atmosphere is the layer of air surrounding Earth, and the geosphere is the solid, rocky part of our planet. Weather in the atmosphere constantly changes the rocks in the geosphere, reshaping Earth's surface one tiny piece at a time.

Interesting Fact: Scientists have discovered that weathering on Mars happens much more slowly than on Earth because Mars has almost no liquid water and a very thin atmosphere with little wind.

What is weathering?

Process that breaks rocks into smaller piecesHow clouds form in the skyThe way water flows in riversHow plants grow on mountains

What happens when water freezes in cracks?

The water disappears completelyThe ice expands and makes cracks biggerThe rock becomes harder and strongerThe crack closes up tightly

How does wind cause abrasion?

By making rocks very cold at nightBy pushing large boulders down mountainsBy blowing sand particles against rock surfacesBy creating rain clouds above rocks

Why can rainwater dissolve certain minerals?

Rainwater is naturally slightly acidicRain falls very hard on rocksRainwater is extremely hot when fallingRain contains large amounts of salt

What causes thermal expansion in rocks?

Strong winds blowing constantlyHeavy rainfall throughout the yearHeating and cooling temperature changesAnimals walking across rock surfaces

Where does thermal expansion break rocks quickly?

In deserts with big temperature changesIn oceans with constant water temperatureIn forests with lots of shadeIn caves with no sunlight

Weathering happens faster on Mars than Earth.

TrueFalse

What does the word geosphere mean?

The layer of air around EarthThe solid, rocky part of EarthAll the water on Earth's surfaceLiving things on the planet

Perfect For:

👩‍🏫 Teachers

• Reading comprehension practice
• Auto-graded assessments
• Literacy skill development

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• Reading practice at home
• Comprehension improvement
• Educational reading time

🏠 Homeschoolers

• Reading curriculum support
• Independent reading practice
• Progress monitoring

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