---
title: "S6E5: Earth's Surface Formation (Georgia Science standard)"
code: S6E5
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, S6E5
subject: science
grades:
  - grade-6
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/S6E5
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/S6E5.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/S6E5.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/grade-6.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# S6E5: Earth's Surface Formation

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth's surface is formed.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: Grade 6, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/grade-6.md

## Expectations

- **S6E5.a**: Ask questions to compare and contrast the Earth's crust, mantle, inner and outer core, including temperature, density, thickness, and composition.
- **S6E5.b**: Plan and carry out an investigation of the characteristics of minerals and how minerals contribute to rock composition.
- **S6E5.c**: Construct an explanation of how to classify rocks by their formation and how rocks change through geologic processes in the rock cycle.
- **S6E5.d**: Ask questions to identify types of weathering, agents of erosion and transportation, and environments of deposition.
- **S6E5.e**: Develop a model to demonstrate how natural processes (weathering, erosion, and deposition) and human activity change rocks and the surface of the Earth.
- **S6E5.f**: Construct an explanation of how the movement of lithospheric plates, called plate tectonics, can cause major geologic events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- **S6E5.g**: Construct an argument using maps and data collected to support a claim of how fossils show evidence of the changing surface and climate of the Earth.
- **S6E5.h**: Plan and carry out an investigation to provide evidence that soil is composed of layers of weathered rocks and decomposed organic material.

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.