UC A-G Earth Science Grman Learning Center (052344) Basic Curse Infrmatin Title: UC A-G Earth Science Transcript abbreviatins: A-G Earth Sci / A-G Earth Sci Length f curse: Full Year Subject area: Labratry Science ("d") / Earth and Space Sciences UC hnrs designatin? N Prerequisites: Algebra 1 (Recmmended) C-requisites: Nne Integrated (Academics / CTE)? N Grade levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Curse learning envirnment: Classrm Based Curse Descriptin Curse verview: This is a high schl earth science curse geared twards cllege bund students. Thrugh textbk, websites, prjects, activities, investigatins, cursewrk and labratry exercises, students will develp an understanding f: Earth s cmpsitin, ersin, weathering, weather patterns, climate, ceans, tectnic plates, gelgical histry and the fssil recrd, Earth s resurces, and space. Labratry and field exercises will help students develp critical thinking skills, perfrm cllectin and analysis f data prficiently, and understand prper labratry prcedures. Students will develp critical thinking skills necessary t nt nly understand key cncepts, but be able t apply, analyze, and synthesize these cncepts. This curse is created t give ptins t students wh learn in different ways while ensuring that all students will be able t ask questins, define and slve prblems thrugh investigatins, analyze and interpret data and use it t create mdels, argue using evidence, and verall think critically abut earth science. By curse end, students will be expected t ask gd questins, evaluate surces fr credibility, use prir knwledge t supprt theries, and think critically in rder t cmmunicate scientific infrmatin effectively.
Curse cntent: Unit 1 - The Nature f Science, Intr t Earth Science, and Maps Define earth science and identify the benefits and imprtance f studying it. Learn and use the scientific methd in rder t cnduct research and labs fr the entire curse. Understand that earth science, as all sciences, takes inquiry and investigatin. Students will learn t hypthesize and investigate using the scientific methd. This will be used thrughut the labs the entire year. Learn t critically analyze the data frm labs and apply the cncepts being learned t the data and results f the labs. Practice reading graphs in rder t btain infrmatin and cmmunicate with thers Learn hw t read maps and be able t lcate specific places using latitude and lngitude Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 1: Lab Optin: Design and Investigate a Hypthesis Students will frm a simple hypthesis abut smething they can bserve and test in the span f ne class perid They will bserve, test, and recrd data based n the scientific methd A lab reprt will be written as an intrductin t writing lab reprts Activity Optin: Lcate Places n Earth Students will be given a list f crdinates and asked t find the lcatins n a map Students will als chse a few lcatins and write the crdinates Students can trade crdinates and find each ther s map lcatins
Unit 2: Cmpsitin f Earth Learn the structure and functin f matter and atms Understand hw matter interacts with ther matter (eg. chemical reactins, mixtures, etc.) Identify a mineral based n its characteristics Learn the difference between igneus, sedimentary, and metamrphic rcks Understand hw the rck cycle wrks and hw change is created Differentiate between weathering, ersin, and depsitin Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 2: Lab Optin: Mdel Crystal Frmatin Students will bserve the prcess f crystal frmatin using alum slutin Warm alum slutin will be pured int a petri dish Each grup will chse their wn lcatin fr the slutin t cl Observatins will be made fr a predetermined time and students will recrd data Activity Optin: Make a Field Guide f Rcks Using a chart, students will classify rcks int either igneus, sedimentary, r metamrphic categries Students will have numerus rck samples Based n their knwledge f the characteristics fr each type f rck, students will recrd bservatins and place each rck in a categry Unit 3: Surface Prcesses n Earth Differentiate between weathering, ersin, and depsitin
Describe hw weathering, ersin, and depsitin cause changes t Earth s surface ver time Learn the different methds f weathering and ersin based n climate and tpgraphy Explain the different mass mvements and hw they affect peple Understand hw Earth recycles materials, such as rcks and water, thrugh predictable patterns Make inferences abut why changes t Earth s surface are imprtant Learn the imprtance f surface water and grundwater fr bth peple and ecsystems Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 3: Lab Optin: Predict Stream Velcity Students will use a rain gutter t mdel a stream They will recrd the velcity f the stream at different elevatins and cnstant water flw Based n the data cllected, students will create a graph that depicts the relatinship between slpe and stream velcity Activity Optin: Examine Tpgraphy fr Mass Mvements Students will be given examples frm different climates Based n their knwledge f mass mvements, they will make predictins f mass mvements that culd ccur in that area After predicting, students will research the area fr past mvements They will cmpare their hypthesis with the research and explain any similarities and/r differences Unit 4: The Atmsphere and Oceans Learn what the atmsphere is, what it is cmpsed f, and what purpses it serves Understand hw the atmsphere plays a vital rle in the water cycle Differentiate between the types f cluds and what they mean Determine the frces f weather such as air masses, frnts, the Crilis Effect, etc. Use tls t measure atmspheric data and make interpretatins Classify climates accrding t their characteristics
Understand hw climates get their specific traits based n wind patterns, tpgraphical features, etc. Learn prperties f the ceans Determine hw the shreline is shaped by ceanic mvement and weathering Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 4: Lab Optin: Read a Weather Map Students will be given a weather map with frnts, temperatures, radar, and ther pertinent data Using their knwledge f the wind systems and weather frmatin, students will predict the weather fr the next tw days fr tw different lcatins At the end f thse tw days, students will cmpare their predictins with the actual weather Students will explain any similarities and/r differences Activity Optin: Mdel Water Masses Students will use pipettes t transfer water frm ne beaker t the next t bserve what happens Each beaker cntains smething different: warm salt water, cld salt water, warm freshwater, r cld freshwater Each will als have a different clr fd dye added in rder t see what happens when they are mixed Students will recrd bservatins and explain which type f water has the greatest density based n their data Unit 5: Plate Tectnics Understand the thery f plate tectnics and what drives it Differentiate between plate tectnics, bundaries, fault lines, etc. Cnnect tectnic mtin with surface prcess such as vlcanes and earthquakes Explain the type f plate mtin and magma cmpsitin that cause different vlcanic eruptins
Calculate the epicenter f an earthquake using P and S-wave time differences Determine the type f plate bundaries invlved in muntain building Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 3: Lab Optin: Mdel Isstatic Rebund Using a cup and crn syrup, students will bserve hw isstasy wrks A plastic cup will be pushed ¾ f the way t the bttm f a beaker with crn syrup Students will let g f the cup and recrd the cm change every five secnds Activity Optin: Predict the Safety f a Vlcan Students will brainstrm factrs that are imprtant in assessing a vlcan (eg. eruptin intervals, type f eruptin, surrunding ppulatins, etc.) These factrs will be used t create a data table Students will research three vlcanes and determine their relative safety based n the data table they created Unit 6: Gelgic Time and Histry Understand hw the rck recrd give us a histry f Earth Study fssils t determine histrical events Learn the scientific supprt fr and argument against abslute-age dating Trace the path f Earth s histry frm the beginning thrugh the Cenzic Eras Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 6: Lab Optin: Interpret Fssils
Students will create their wn histrical events using items in the classrm and plaster f paris Grups will trade fssil recrds and attempt t piece tgether the stry Each grup will cmpare their guesses t what the actual stry was Students will explain why it may have been difficult t crrectly guess the entire stry Activity Optin: Gelgical Time Scale Timeline Students will make a scaled timeline that depicts the majr histrical events Unit 7: Earth's Resurces Learn the difference between renewable and nnrenewable resurces and be able t classify bjects as such Identify the ways peple use air, water, and land as resurces Cmpare and cntrast the efficiency f energy resurces Determine the effect peple have n Earth s natural resurces and energy resurces Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 7: Lab Optin: Mnitr Daily Water Usage Students will calculate the amunt f water they use t shwer and flush a tilet n a daily basis fr 5 days Data will be recrded daily and cmpared n the fifth day Students will evaluate their water usage and cme up with ideas t minimize water usage
Activity Optin: Mdel Oil Migratin Students will pur cking il int the bttm f a graduated cylinder They will add sand, gravel, and water After five minutes f bservatin, students will recrd their findings and explain the result Unit 8: Space and the Universe Learn hw the Sun-Earth-Mn system wrks t create tides, seasns, days, mnths, years, etc. Understand the structure f ur slar system Learn hw stars emit light and heat Cmpare stars using brightness and luminsity Understand what causes stars t change thrughut their life cycle Knw that ur slar system is ne f many slar systems in the Milky Way Galaxy, which is ne f billins f galaxies Classify galaxies accrding t their characteristics Example Lab and Activity Assciated with Unit 8: Lab Optin: Explring Eccentricity Students will use cardbard and pins t mdel an ellipse Pins will be placed in an val shape thrughut the cardbard and string is lped arund the pins The eccentricity is calculated using the majr axis and the distance between pins This mdels the way that the planets rbit the sun
Activity Optin: Make a Field Guide f the Slar System Students will gather data abut each f the planets and create a flip chart that rganizes the data They will create a scaled mdel f the distance between the planets, asterid belts, sun, and ther majr bjets Curse Materials Textbks Title Authr Publisher Editin Website Primary Earth Science: Gelgy and the Universe Brrer, Hess, Hsu, Kunze, Leslie, Letr, Manga, Sharp, Snw, and Zike Glence 2013 and 2017 cnnected.mcgrawhill.cm Yes