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Slow Changes to the Earth's Surface (2025)

  • Lesson Plan Creator: Caitlyn Richter
  • Grades: Grade 2
  • Subjects: Science
  • Part of Class: Creative Movement
  • National/State Fine Arts Standards: Perform/Present
  • Tags: Creative Movement

In this creative movement lesson designed for 2nd grade, students will experience slow changes in the earth's surface through movement.

Learning Objectives/Goals

• Students will explore and contrast different movement qualities, compare movement and stillness, and create patterns in space. • Students will experience slow changes in the earth’s surface through movement.

Materials Needed

Introduction

Set class expectations, space boundaries, and goals of the class.

Warm-Up

Have the students spread out in space and have them create their own rock shape. Ask the students if rocks are smooth or bumpy, big or small and have them notice how each of their shapes are different just as every rock is different. Have them create 3 different rock shapes of different sizes and on different levels. Have the students move through the space by floating, swooshing, pushing, crumbling and melting. Direct the students to move on different levels and tempos. The students will freeze in a rock shape between each of these action words. 

Investigate

Have the students gather together and sit down. Bring out 4 pictures of land formations (arch, mountain, canyon, and wind tunnel). Ask them what words describe each picture and have them create a group shape that looks like the picture. Have the students slowly “erode” into a smaller mountain, wider canyon, etc. Do this for each land formation picture so they create 4 group shapes. Have the students spread out into the space. Play one of the weather sounds that cause erosion and ask the students what it sounds like and what words describe the sound. Explain that erosion happens slowly even though the forces that cause erosion often move quickly. Have them move through space while playing the sound. Do this for each of the 4 sounds.

Create

Put it all together into a dance. Place the 4 pictures in each corner of the room. Starting at one picture, the students will make the corresponding shape that they created earlier and then slowly move into the eroded shape. Play one of the sound effects and have them move like the sound to the next picture. Create the next shape, erode, then play the next sound to move to the next picture. Practice going around the circle 2-3 times.

Reflect 

Ask the students:

  • What is something new you learned?
  • What are the 4 causes of erosion?

Extension to the Lesson

Split the students into 2 groups (apples, and pears). Have the apples start in one of the group land formation shapes. The pears will move past the apples as one of the causes of erosion. The apples will slowly erode as the pears pass them. The pear will freeze in one of the land formation shapes and the apples will pass them as a different cause of erosion. Repeat switching groups 2-4 times.

Follow-up Resources

 

    

 

 

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What People are Saying

The diversity of the dancers really spoke to my students! It was great to see boys and girls dancing, and different races. The high level of engagement was so refreshing and got students excited about thecontent.
This activity was valuable because it helped students make connections between dance, rhythm, healthy lifestyles, and expression. The students were impressed by the talent of the dancers and it was motivating to them.
Opportunities for art and expression are so limited at school but so essential and valuable for all students, especially those who struggle to learn through traditional methods. My Kindergarteners have been dancing since you left!
This was so engaging. I looked around the auditorium and every student was watching. Not one person was talking or distracted
This activity is valuable to teachers and students because it gives them a creative outlet. We need movement in the classroom to engage, energize and deepen student learning.
I got great ideas on how to incorporate movement into math and science lessons.
I loved how you made movement and exercise relatable to the students. The dancers were full of energy and there was very little down time so students stayed engaged.
Our children were captivated by the performance. They listened to you and they were learning without knowing. They usually giggle when bodies are shown and talked about. But the way you presented it was so tastefully done, they now do poses and movement around the room and outside. You brokesome barriers and they took that permission and literally ran with it!