Earth's Changing Surface Worksheets

Grade 4 Science 12 Printable Worksheets 100% FREE

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Earth's surface is always changing, but some changes are slow and some are very fast. In Grade 4 science (NGSS 4-ESS1 and 4-ESS2), you learn that slow changes include weathering, when wind, water, and ice break rocks into smaller pieces, and erosion, when those pieces are carried away by streams, glaciers, or wind. The pieces finally settle in new places through a process called deposition, building up landforms like deltas, beaches, and sand dunes over thousands or even millions of years. Fast changes can reshape land in seconds or days. Earthquakes shake the ground when stuck rock suddenly slips, volcanoes send out hot lava and ash, landslides drop tons of rock down a hill, and floods carry away soil and trees. Scientists read rock layers and fossils like a history book: older layers sit below newer ones, and ocean fossils on mountains show that the land was once under the sea. All of these changes are powered by Earth's tectonic plates, giant moving slabs of rock that push together to build mountains, pull apart to form rifts, and slide past each other to cause earthquakes along faults like the San Andreas.

Worksheet Preview

Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. When wind, water, or ice breaks rocks into smaller pieces, the process is called

2. Tiny moved pieces of rock and soil are called

3. When a river drops sediment at its mouth, the process is called

4. A slow river of ice that scrapes the land as it moves is a

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Earth's Changing Surface

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A sudden shaking of the ground caused by moving rock under the surface is an

2. Hot melted rock that flows out of a volcano is called

3. When a river overflows its banks and covers the land with water, it causes a

4. An opening in Earth's surface where lava and ash erupt is a

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Earth's Changing Surface

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. When water freezes inside a rock crack, it expands and causes

2. Acid rain reacting with limestone to dissolve it is an example of

3. Tree roots pushing into stone cracks is called

4. All weathering processes work to break down rocks into smaller pieces called

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Earth's Changing Surface

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A river cutting deeper into its channel is an example of

2. Sand dunes in deserts are shaped mostly by

3. A slowly moving sheet of frozen water that carves valleys is called a

4. When loose rocks slide down a steep slope, the agent of erosion is

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Earth's Changing Surface

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. In undisturbed rock layers, the

2. The preserved remains or traces of ancient living things found in rocks are called

3. A deep, narrow valley cut by a river over a long time is called a

4. Finding fossils of sea creatures on a mountain is evidence the area was once under the

5. A natural feature on Earth's surface, like a hill, valley, or mountain, is called a

6. Mountains that form when two of Earth's plates push together and squeeze rock upward are called

7. When sediment piles up at the mouth of a river, the flat fan-shaped landform is called a

8. A scientist who studies rocks, layers, and Earth's history is called a

9. Layers of rock that form when sediment is pressed and stuck together are called

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Canyon

→

Triangle-shaped landform of dropped sediment at a river's mouth

Volcano

→

Preserved trace of an ancient plant or animal in rock

Fossil

→

Mountain that forms when lava and ash pile up and harden

Delta

→

Deep, narrow valley carved by a river over a long time

Earth's Changing Surface

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A large sheet of slowly moving ice that can carve valleys is called a

2. When a glacier melts and leaves behind piled-up rock and dirt, the pile is a

3. Most layers of sedimentary rock formed at the bottom of an ancient

4. Footprints of dinosaurs preserved in rock are called trace

5. When the surface shakes because two plates suddenly slide past each other, the ground motion is an

6. Mountains that form when lava and ash pile up are called

7. Sand dunes are made when

8. When water freezes inside a crack in a rock, it pushes the rock apart. This is called

9. A river that slowly cuts deeper into the land creates a steep-sided valley called a

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Moraine

→

Mound of sand built up by blowing wind in a desert or beach

Sand dune

→

Footprint or burrow of an ancient animal preserved in rock

Ice wedging

→

Pile of rock and dirt left behind by a melted glacier

Trace fossil

→

Rock cracking when water freezes inside it and expands

Earth's Changing Surface

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The rule that older rock layers lie below newer ones is called the Law of

2. A preserved trace or remains of an ancient organism in rock is called a

3. If a fossil fish is found in a desert rock layer, that area was once likely a

4. Rock layers made from squeezed sand, mud, and shells are called

5. In an undisturbed cliff, the very bottom layer is the

6. Tiny pieces of broken rock that get pressed into layers are called

7. Fossils of tropical plants in cold Antarctica show climate has

8. Layers that were tilted by movement of Earth's plates are no longer

9. A scientist who studies fossils to learn about ancient life is a

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Law of Superposition

→

Older layers lie below newer layers

Fossil

→

Trace or remains of an ancient organism

Sedimentary rock

→

Forms from squeezed layers of sediment

Tilted layers

→

Sign that plate movement disturbed the rock

Earth's Changing Surface

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The Grand Canyon was carved over millions of years mostly by the Colorado

2. The Himalayas formed when two of Earth's huge

3. The Hawaiian Islands rose from the ocean because of underwater

4. Old Faithful in Yellowstone is a famous

5. When the Colorado River carries sand and pebbles away, the process is called

6. Earthquakes near the Himalayas happen because plates slide along a

7. The slow movement of huge slabs of Earth's crust is called

8. Sand dropped by a river at its mouth builds a flat landform called a

9. Lava that cools and hardens above the ocean creates new

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Grand Canyon

→

Carved by long-term river erosion

Himalayas

→

Built by colliding tectonic plates

Hawaiian Islands

→

Formed by underwater volcanoes

Old Faithful

→

Geyser powered by underground heat

Earth's Changing Surface

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Earth's outer layer is broken into large pieces that slowly move. What are these pieces called?

2. What usually happens when two tectonic plates push directly into each other on land?

3. What forms when two plates pull apart from each other on land?

4. California's San Andreas Fault is famous because two plates ___ each other along it, often causing earthquakes.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. The large moving pieces of Earth's outer layer are called

2. When plates push together and one bends down under the other, the deep crack underwater is called a

3. A long crack in Earth's crust where plates can move past each other is called a

4. Mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes are mostly caused by the slow motion of Earth's

5. When melted rock from inside Earth pushes up through a plate boundary and erupts, it builds a

Earth's Changing Surface

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Which type of plate boundary is MOST likely to build a tall mountain range on a continent?

2. Why are scientists confident that Earth's surface has changed over time?

3. Which list shows ONLY fast changes to Earth's surface?

4. Two plates pull apart under the ocean. What is MOST likely to form there?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. When one ocean plate slides beneath another plate, the process is called

2. The Ring of Fire is a zone around the Pacific Ocean famous for many

3. Layers of rock that have been bent or wrinkled by plate pushing are said to be

4. A scientist who studies how plates move and shape Earth is studying plate

5. Volcanic islands like Hawaii are built when lava cools and hardens above a hot

Earth's Changing Surface

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. A deep, narrow canyon with a river at the bottom most likely formed from

2. A wide U-shaped valley high in the mountains is best explained by

3. Tall, curved sand dunes in a hot, dry region were most likely shaped by

4. A tall mountain range with frequent earthquakes is most likely the result of

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. A landform with smooth, rounded boulders piled at the foot of a melted glacier is a

2. Layers of sediment fanning out where a river meets a lake show

3. A long, straight crack in the ground after an earthquake is most likely a

4. A cone-shaped mountain that erupted lava in the past is a

5. Sharp jagged peaks above a U-shaped valley were carved by

Earth's Changing Surface

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. Building a new dirt road on a steep hill most likely causes

2. Planting trees along a bare hillside helps protect the land because roots

3. A jetty is a long stone wall built into the ocean to

4. In earthquake zones, engineers design buildings that can

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. Cutting down forests for farms often increases soil

2. Sea walls and

3. Adding plants whose roots hold soil is one way humans can prevent

4. Buildings in California are designed to be flexible because of

5. Studying past floods and quakes helps engineers

Earth's Changing Surface

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering earth's changing surface

Complete Answer Key for easy grading

Printer-Friendly Format in black & white

Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged

Common Core Aligned grade 4 standards

Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These earth's changing surface worksheets help grade 4 students develop essential science skills through engaging activities.

How to Use These Worksheets

Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Mixing up weathering (breaking rocks) with erosion (moving the broken pieces).
Thinking earthquakes and volcanoes are slow changes when they actually happen in seconds, minutes, or days.
Forgetting that the bottom layer of undisturbed rock is the OLDEST, not the newest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is weathering?

Weathering is the slow breaking down of rocks by wind, water, ice, and living things. It does not move the rock pieces; it just breaks them into smaller bits over a long time.

How is erosion different from weathering?

Weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces. Erosion is when those pieces are carried away to a new place by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Weathering breaks; erosion moves.

Why do scientists study rock layers and fossils?

Rock layers and fossils are like a history book of Earth. Older layers sit below newer ones, and fossils tell scientists what plants and animals lived in that place and what the environment was like long ago.

What causes earthquakes and most volcanoes?

Most earthquakes and volcanoes are caused by Earth's tectonic plates moving. When plates push, pull, or slide, they can suddenly slip (earthquake) or let hot melted rock rise to the surface (volcano).

Can Earth's surface change in just one day?

Yes. Fast changes like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods can reshape the land in seconds, minutes, or days, while slow changes like weathering and erosion take much longer.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

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Earth's Changing Surface Worksheets

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What's Included in This Download

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