Landforms:
Constructive and Destructive
Forces
By: Mrs. Kelsey
• Landform’s Are:
Any physical feature of the
earth’s surface having a
characteristic, recognizable
shape and produced by
natural causes.
Landforms
Constructive forces:
These are occurrences in nature
that promote development in nature
• Some constructive forces are:
– Volcanic eruptions
– Soil deposits
– Movement of the Earth’s plates
The Hawaiian Islands were
created by constructive forces.
Destructive Forces: These are
occurrences in nature that break
down landforms.
• Some destructive forces:
– Weathering
– Erosion
– Deposition
– Human Impact
Niagara Falls, specifically
Horseshoe Falls, erodes at a rate
of about one foot per year!!
How do constructive and
destructive forces shape and
reshape the Earth?
The Grand Canyon
• The Grand Canyon is one of the most well
known landforms that exists due to the
erosion of the Colorado River.
• The water from the river shaped The
Grand Canyon into what it is today!
• The Grand Canyon is still changing and
reshaping over time.
What other forces do you think
helped to shape The Grand
Canyon?
• Weathering: The natural process in which
actions such as rain, snow, temperature
and wind physically change the Earth’s
landforms.
• Erosion: The wearing away of land surface
by wind or water.
Deposition
• The natural process of material being
added to a landform.
Let’s Write!!
• In your Science Journals:
• Add the topic “How the Ocean Shore
Changes” and today’s date
• Write a journal entry explaining:
“What affect do waves, currents, tides
and storms have on the shoreline?”
George wants
you to explore!
Let’s go to the back of the
room and work on the
erosion experiment!
Complete the chart for your
group and let’s share our
data with one another!
Wait on your teacher for
further instructions!
Erosion Observations
Answer the following questions about your groups experiment and
record the answers beside your group number.
1. How has your sand changed since you added water to it?
2. What effect did the amount of books have on how your sand
changed?
Group Number Question Answers
Group 1 (no books)
Group 2 (no books)
Group 3 (1 book)
Group 4 (1 book)
Group 5 (2 books)
Group 6 (2 books)
Return to your Science Journal
• Return to your journal topic entitled
“What affect do waves, currents, tides
and storms have on the shoreline?”
• Since completing our experiment, write
how you have changed your mind on the
affects waves and storms have on the
shoreline. If your mind has not changed,
what evidence do you now have that
supports the way you think?