3rd Grade Weathering Makes Soil

3rd Grade Weathering Makes Soil Worksheet (Earth and Space, TEKS 3.10B)

Students learn that weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces, from big rock to pebbles to sand to clay. They number four cards in order, then match each example to water, ice, wind, or roots. Simple black and white doodles and big, easy to read text keep the focus on the science, not the reading. No prior knowledge is needed: the page teaches the idea first.

What's Inside

• A teach strip on how water, ice, wind, and roots break rock
• Part A: number four cards from big rock to clay, with one done
• Part B: write the letter of what is breaking the rock, with one done
• A friendly squirrel guide that points out the key idea
• A visual answer key with answers marked in red, plus a short teacher note

How Teachers Use It

Use it as a mini lesson follow up, a quick check, or a science center. It takes 6 to 8 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. The focus skill is explaining how weathering helps form soil, part of the grade 3 earth and space strand.

Why It Works

Each sheet teaches one idea with everyday objects kids already know. Every activity has a done for you example, and students only circle, sort, number, or write a letter or word, so they can finish on their own. Wrong choices are believable, not silly, so students have to think. Pair it with the other Earth and Space sheets to cover weather, how soil forms, landforms, and fast changes to Earth's surface.