Wind & Water Shape the LandGrade 2 Science for Kids

How wind and water move rocks and soil and change the land.

Wind & Water Shape the Land lets second graders pour water down slopes to see erosion, test how plants hold soil in place and watch wind build a sand dune. Earth science that shows how land slowly changes.

  • Grade 2 · Ages 7–8
  • 3 lessons
  • 3 experiments
  • 12 practice questions
  • About 25 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Water Moves Land
  • Slope Test
  • Plants Hold Soil
  • Rain Storm Race
  • Wind Builds Dunes
  • Make a Dune

Science lab course · Grade 2

Wind & Water Shape the Land · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Pour water down slopes to see erosion, test how plants hold soil in place, and watch wind build a sand dune.

  • Moving water carries soil away. Steep slopes lose the most.
  • Plant roots hold soil in place and help stop erosion.
  • Wind carries sand and piles it up into dunes.

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • Land changes

    Kids learn that wind and water slowly shape hills, beaches and canyons.

  • Plants protect soil

    Seeing roots hold soil explains why people plant trees on hillsides.

  • Engineering thinking

    Kids think about how to stop erosion, a first step in solving real problems.

Inside Wind & Water Shape the Land

How the Course Works

Each level has a short read-aloud lesson, an interactive experiment and a mini quiz.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Water Moves Land

    Moving water carries away bits of soil and rock. This is called erosion.

  2. Step 2 · Experiment

    Slope Test

    Let's pour the same cup of water down a sand hill. We'll make the hill steeper each time.

  3. Step 3 · Lesson

    Plants Hold Soil

    Plant roots spread through the soil like a net.

  4. Step 4 · Experiment

    Rain Storm Race

    Two trays of soil, one bare and one with grass. Let's make it rain. Which soil washes away first?

  5. Step 5 · Lesson

    Wind Builds Dunes

    Wind can carry sand, too. This is also erosion.

  6. Step 6 · Experiment

    Make a Dune

    Deserts and beaches have huge sand hills. Put the steps of how a dune grows in order.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Water Moves Land

Moving water carries away bits of soil and rock. This is called erosion.

Rivers carve valleys and canyons over many, many years.

Water flowing down a steep slope moves faster and carries more.

Plants Hold Soil

Plant roots spread through the soil like a net.

The roots hold the soil so water can't wash it away.

Bare soil with no plants washes away fast!

Wind Builds Dunes

Wind can carry sand, too. This is also erosion.

When the sand bumps into something, it drops and piles up.

Over time the pile grows into a hill of sand called a dune.

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Build two small hills of soil in trays, one with grass or leaves pressed in. Pour water on both and compare what washes away.

Slope Test

  1. Pile damp sand on a tray, one end raised on a book.
  2. Pour a cup of water at the top.
  3. Add a second book and try again. What changed?

Moving water carries soil away. Steep slopes lose the most.

Rain Storm Race

  1. Grow grass seeds in one tray for 2 weeks.
  2. Put bare soil in another tray.
  3. Tilt both and sprinkle water. Which stays put?

Plant roots hold soil in place and help stop erosion.

Make a Dune

  1. Put a little dry sand on a tray outside.
  2. Stand a small stone in the middle.
  3. Blow gently with a straw. Where does the sand pile up?

Wind carries sand and piles it up into dunes.

Practice

Grade 2 Science Practice Questions

Real questions from Wind & Water Shape the Land. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    What is erosion?

    • A.Rocks growing
    • B.Plants sleeping
    • C.Wind or water carrying away soil and rock
    Show answer

    Wind or water carrying away soil and rock

  2. Question 2

    How do plants stop erosion?

    • A.Their roots hold the soil
    • B.They drink all the rain
    • C.They move the soil
    Show answer

    Their roots hold the soil

  3. Question 3

    What is a dune?

    • A.A river
    • B.A hill of sand
    • C.A cave
    Show answer

    A hill of sand

The full course has 12 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Wind & Water Shape the Land · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Wind & Water Shape the Land is a grade 2 science course for kids ages 7–8. That is Year 3 science in the UK and Year 2 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Pour water down slopes to see erosion, test how plants hold soil in place, and watch wind build a sand dune. Along the way they practice: Moving water carries soil away. Steep slopes lose the most; Plant roots hold soil in place and help stop erosion; Wind carries sand and piles it up into dunes.

How long does the course take?

About 25 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Wind & Water Shape the Land is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

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