Summary
<i>I carry rocks far and wide, down a slope or with the tide. By wind or water, off they go, from mountain high to valley low</i>. What am I? Erosion! Slowly, this process moves rock bit by bit, shaping the land over time. Water, wind, and gravity carry pieces of rock, or sediment, over vast distances, eventually carving out landforms like canyons. The journey ends with deposition, when sediment is dropped off in a new place. That's how beaches and all sorts of other landforms are born. Rocks move around a whole lot more than you might think. Press "play" to see some rocks in action!
Viewer safety
Ages 7+
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Erosion and Deposition:
- What is one new thing you learned about erosion and deposition?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining erosion and deposition.
- Draw or give one example of your own.


