Unit Plan 19 (Grade 2 Science): Earth Events — Fast & Slow

Focus: Use information from several sources to explain that some Earth events happen quickly (like earthquakes and landslides) and others happen slowly (like erosion and weathering).

Grade Level: 2

Subject Area: Science (Earth Science • Inquiry/Research Skills)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore how Earth’s surface can change in both fast and slow ways. Using books, photos, simple videos, and diagrams, they compare events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides (fast changes) with erosion, weathering, and river carving (slow changes).

Students learn to gather information from several sources, noticing clues about whether a change happens quickly or slowly, and use that information as evidence. By the end of the week, they can describe examples of fast vs. slow Earth events, explain how they change the land, and make a simple class chart or mini-book that shows their understanding, addressing 2-ESS1-1.

Essential Questions

• What are some Earth events that can change the land, and how do they look?
• Which Earth events happen very fast, and which happen very slowly over a long time?
• How can we use information from several sources (pictures, books, videos) to tell if an Earth event is fast or slow?
• Why is it important for people to understand how and how quickly Earth can change?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe at least one fast Earth event (such as an earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption) and one slow Earth event (such as erosion or weathering).
2. Use pictures, short texts, and simple videos as sources of information about Earth events.
3. Sort Earth events into fast vs. slow using evidence from multiple sources (e.g., time words, before/after pictures).
4. Create a class chart, picture graph, or mini-book that shows examples of fast and slow Earth changes and how they affect the land.
5. Explain, in their own words, how using more than one source helps them be more sure about whether an event is fast or slow.

Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 2-ESS1-1 — Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can name at least one fast Earth event and one slow Earth event.
• I can use pictures, books, or videos as sources to learn about Earth changes.
• I can sort Earth events into fast and slow and explain why using clues from my sources.
• I can make a chart or mini-book that shows how fast and slow Earth events change the land.
• I can tell how using more than one source helped me understand Earth events better.