--- title: S6E5 description: S6E5 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth’s surface is formed. image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # S6E5 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth’s surface is formed. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse S6E5 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(32).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) ## [The Rock Cycle In this unit, students use what they know about the relationship between energy and matter to investigate phenomena of how energy powers the cycling of Earth materials. They begin with this lesson on modeling the Earth processes that form different kinds of rock. This page provides an overview of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(32).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) ## [Renewable Energy In this unit, students explore the natural processes that cause Earth’s surface to change over time, analyzing how energy causes Earth’s matter to transform and cycle from one form to another. In this lesson, they trace phenomena of how energy is transferred in chemical reactions, which allows scientists to produce ethanol to use as an alternative energy source. This page showcases each component of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-08-2023-08-40-05-8079-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/weathering-and-erosion) ## [Weathering and Erosion In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of processes that change Earth’s surface over time. This lesson has students modeling how Earth’s landforms can be created and then broken down by weathering and erosion. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/weathering-and-erosion) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/weathering-and-erosion) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-08-2023-08-40-03-9553-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials) ## [Earth Materials In this unit, students focus on the processes that cycle Earth materials, connecting the movement of water in the water cycle and wind with changes to Earth’s surface through weathering and erosion. In this lesson, students explore the science phenomena of how convection in Earth’s mantle causes the tectonic plates to move, creating many of Earth’s landforms. This page showcases key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/landforms-book1.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) ## [Earth's Geologic History In this unit, students explore phenomena that change Earth’s surface over time, analyzing how weathering, erosion, and convection in the mantle are three phenomena that help to cycle Earth materials. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it. ![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo") Quick Links Resources Sign Up for Our Blog ### Sign Up for Our Blog Connect with Us - - - - © 2026 KnowAtom LLC  •  10 Brady Drive Unit 3   •  Ipswich MA •   01938 USA [DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION](https://www.knowatom.com/do-not-sell-my-personal-information) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.knowatom.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.knowatom.com/terms-of-use) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Salem", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "01970", "streetAddress" : "27 Congress Suite 410" }, "alternateName" : "KA", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "+42.5182274", "longitude" : "-70.8877569" }, "geoRadius" : "150 km" }, "description" : "Next Generation Science STEM Curriculum", "email" : "fvigeant@knowatom.com", "image" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KA-GSD.png", "logo" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Knowatom-2017/Image/logo-1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.knowatom.com/s6e5", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "S6E5 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth’s surface is formed." }, "name" : "KnowAtom", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KnowAtom", "https://twitter.com/KnowAtom", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0rbN0RfqaU1xaISrdVpTA", "https://plus.google.com/110709105138117096940" ], "telephone" : "(617) 475-3475", "url" : "https://www.knowatom.com" } ```