Weathering: The Rocky Hill Trail
Mia and Lily hike up the Rocky Hill Trail. Little trees grow out of cracks in big boulders, a stream has rubbed its stepping stones smooth and round, and wind and rain have carved a rock arch.
Remember: Weathering is when rock is broken into smaller pieces or worn down right where it is. Water, ice, wind and plant roots all do it. Water gets into a crack and freezes; ice takes up more room than water, so it pushes the crack wider. Weathering is very slow: it takes many, many years.
Magic trick: Weathering breaks, erosion takes. Weathering breaks rock into bits; erosion carries the bits away.
Seek and Find
Look carefully at the picture of the Rocky Hill Trail and find:
- 🌳 Find the 3 boulders with trees in their cracks. Growing roots push the cracks wider, little by little.
- 🪨 Find the 5 stepping stones. Water tumbling over them for years made them smooth and round.
- 🌈 Find the rock arch. Wind, rain and ice wore the hole through it over a very long time.
- 🐱 Millie and her kitten Biscuit are hiding in every picture. Can you spot them?