Geology: Earth and Space Science Essential Questions: 1. How is science different from other disciplines in the way it approaches questions? 2. How do rocks and minerals cycle through our environment and how do rocks and minerals change over time? 3. How do Earth s systems interact to shape and reshape the Earth s surfaces? 4. How are Earth s present geological processes a key to understanding the geological past? Earth s Place in the Universe Anchor Standard 1: Students will describe and explain what the universe is, and what Earth s place is in it. HS-ESS1-1: Students will evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system. different types of rocks plate tectonics convection current oceanic plate continental plate density convection currents in the mantle drive the action of lithospheric plates. plate tectonics is a unifying theory that explains current and past movement of rocks on the earth s surface. ages of oceanic crust increases with distance from mid-ocean ridges. identify convection currents in the mantle as the driving force of plate tectonics. evaluate geological events associated with plate tectonics.
Earth s Systems Anchor Standard 2: Students will investigate, describe, and explain why and how the Earth is constantly changing. HS-ESS2-1: Students will develop a model to illustrate how Earth s internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features. construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales. tectonic boundaries shear, compression, and tension forces constructive and destructive mechanisms of surface processes rock cycle mineral formation lithification earthquakes tectonic boundaries are shaped by tectonic forces. weathering and erosion are destructive surface processes. volcanism, tectonic uplift, and orogenics are constructive surface processes. minerals are formed by various agents of plate tectonics and surface processes. the three types of rocks are formed differently. earthquakes are a result of tectonic forces. illustrate tectonic boundaries and the forces associated with each. explain weathering and erosion influences on a surface contour. identify areas of active volcanism and orogenics. identify minerals based on formation,composition and observable characteristics. identify rocks based on type of formation and observable characteristics. identify factors that result in earthquakes.
HS-ESS1-2: Students will apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth s formation and early history. give examples of earth s major events that could range from being very recent to very old. Nebular Theory Uniformitarianism Catastrophism the difference between relative and absolute dating half-life of radioactive isotope principles of relative dating isotopes half-life fusion the nebular theory explains the origin of the Solar System. uniformitarianism explains that the present is the key to the past. relative dating compares two objects to each other. absolute dating uses radioactive isotope halflives. use the idea of uniformitarianism and the principles of relative dating to date the age of hypothetical rock layers. date hypothetical objects using half-lives of radioactive isotopes. create a geologic time line. compare and contrast the ideas of uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism.
HS-ESS2-2: Students will analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems. develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process. biosphere atmosphere lithosphere hydrosphere all four spheres are interrelated. each sphere is made of cycles. identify cycles in each sphere. construct a model demonstrating the interrelations of the 4 spheres. HS-ESS2-5: Students will plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes. collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions. chemical weathering mechanical weathering porosity permeability there are many agents of mechanical weathering. chemical weathering changes the composition of a material. water plays an integral role in both mechanical and chemical weathering. water plays an integral role in the erosion of material. identify factors that influence mechanical and chemical weathering. compare and contrast porosity and permeability.
Earth and Human Activity Anchor Standard 3: Students will explain how Earth s surface processes and human activities affect each other. HS-ESS3-1: Students will construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity. emphasize how resources are limited and typically non-renewable, and how their distributions are significantly changing as a result of removal by humans. natural resources natural hazards Earth s natural resources are limited. natural hazards must be addressed to minimize human and environment disasters. identify earth s natural resources. explain ways in which humans have adapted to potential natural disasters.
Matter and Its Interactions Anchor Standard 1: Students will state, explain, and analyze changes in matter that are accompanied by changes in energy. HS-PS1-1: Students will use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms. develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules. atomic structure covalent bonds ionic bonds there are three major sub atomic particles. electrons influence the type of bond. predict the type of bond in a molecule using the periodic table. HS-PS1-2: Students will construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties. analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. dissolution hydrolysis oxidation dissolution, hydrolysis and oxidation are agents of chemical weathering. products are new sedimentary rocks. predict products based on the reactants of a chemical equation. explain weathering processes and products based on the type of rock reactants.