How Weathering Creates Soil Over Time - Grade 4-5 Science Passage - Reading Passage with Quiz for Teachers, Parents & Homeschoolers

About this printable Weathering and Soil Formation science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 3-6)

This NGSS-aligned science passage, 'How Weathering Creates Soil Over Time,' introduces students in grades 4-5 to the process of weathering and its role in forming soil. Students will learn how rocks break down through weathering, the difference between physical and chemical weathering, and how soil supports life. Key vocabulary terms are highlighted and defined in a glossary for easy understanding. The passage includes real-world examples, such as how plants and animals help create soil and why soil is important for growing food. Students can test their knowledge with a multiple-choice quiz and develop their science writing skills with engaging writing prompts. A Spanish translation of the passage is provided for bilingual learners. All activities are audio integrated and designed to build comprehension, vocabulary, and application skills in earth science.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

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Sample passage and quiz from Weathering and Soil Formation

What Is Weathering

"Weathering patterns of mudstone in the Jōsōji Formation-7" by Gkiseki /
Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Weathering is the process of breaking rocks into smaller pieces over time. This process happens slowly, often taking hundreds or even thousands of years. Weathering is important because it is one of the main forces that shapes Earth's surface by slowly breaking down mountains, cliffs, and boulders.

Weathering happens everywhere on Earth's surface where rock is exposed, which means the rock is out in the open where it touches air, water, and living things. Water is one of the most powerful causes of weathering. When water gets into cracks in rocks and freezes, it expands like ice cubes in a tray. This expansion pushes the rock apart from the inside. Rain can also slowly dissolve certain types of rocks, similar to how sugar dissolves in water.

Air and wind also cause weathering by blowing sand and dirt against rocks. Think of it like sandpaper rubbing against wood—over time, the surface wears away. Even living things cause weathering. Plant roots can grow into small cracks in rocks and push them apart as the roots get bigger.

One important thing to remember is that weathering does not move the broken pieces of rock. The pieces stay in place where the rock broke apart. Moving rock pieces is called erosion, which is a different process that students will learn about next.

Interesting Fact: Some rocks in the Grand Canyon have been weathering for over 2 billion years! The canyon itself was formed by both weathering breaking down the rocks and erosion carrying the pieces away.