Rock types, weathering, erosion, and deposition are central to understanding how Earth's surface forms and changes. This Grade 7 Science worksheet explores igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks alongside the processes that break down, transport, and deposit Earth's materials. Students use scientific evidence and rock cycle models to explain how rocks change over time, making this resource suitable for Alberta Planet Earth lessons.

Explore the Processes That Shape Earth's Surface

Students investigate how rocks form and how geological processes connect. They distinguish between physical and chemical weathering, explain how erosion moves material through water, wind, ice, and gravity, and describe how deposition occurs when transported sediment settles. The rock cycle provides a framework for tracing possible pathways between rock types without assuming every rock follows one fixed sequence.

The worksheet also develops evidence-based reasoning. Students consider rock layers, mineral grains, cracks, sediment deposits, and changes along a streambank to determine what observations can reveal about geological processes. They connect scientific models with local environments and evaluate which evidence would best support an explanation.

What Students Practise

• Identify igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by their formation processes.
• Distinguish weathering from erosion and deposition using realistic geological situations.
• Sequence the changes that can turn loose sediment into sedimentary rock.
• Explain how heat, pressure, melting, and cooling contribute to different rock cycle pathways.
• Evaluate observations and measurements as evidence of erosion or sediment deposition.
• Communicate scientific explanations using relevant vocabulary and observable evidence.

Question and activity formats include a reading passage, multiple-choice questions, true-or-false statements, short-answer responses, a labelled diagram, a categorization activity, and a short note. Together, these tasks move students from recalling geological concepts to applying them, interpreting evidence, and explaining changes to Earth's surface.

Included with Your Resource

• Student worksheet covering rock formation, weathering, erosion, deposition, and the rock cycle.
• Separate PDF answer key for checking student responses.
• Student Notes lines at the bottom of the worksheet for recording key ideas.
• Teacher Guide in the answer key PDF, including Learning Objectives, Teaching Tips, Discussion Questions, and Common Mistakes.

Practical Uses in the Science Classroom

Use this Grade 7 Earth science practice as guided classwork after introducing rock types and surface processes, independent practice during a Planet Earth unit, a review before an assessment, or a follow-up to observations of local rocks and streams. The evidence-focused questions also support classroom discussions about how scientists investigate changes in the natural environment.

The separate answer key and included teacher guidance support lesson preparation and response checking, while the student note space gives learners room to record useful ideas. For Alberta Science teaching, this resource provides focused practice on the supplied Planet Earth topic without claiming alignment to a specific curriculum outcome that has not been identified.