In this unit...
Students will understand that...
Earth’s systems and cycles are dynamic and interact in multiple ways to affect Earth’s surface, materials, and processes.
Interactions between matter, energy, and living organisms change Earth’s surface in predictable ways.
Humans have long relied on Earth’s natural resources to provide both energy and materials.
There is a relationship between the consumption and conservation of natural resources.
Patterns in rock formations and fossils provide evidence of the changes in landscape over time.
Engineering and design involve invention and innovation as a thinking and doing process.
Students will keep considering the following questions:
What conditions create a change?
How do humans depend on Earth’s resources?
What effect do people have on the environment?
Students will work on the following skills/concepts:
the Earth’s surface is constantly changing through slow and rapid changes which can cause landforms.
soil is made of tiny pieces of rock, minerals, and decayed plant and animal matter.
the engineering design process is a series of steps that can be used to solve a problem
erosion is the wearing away of earth materials by water, wind, or ice.
models are tools that can be used to test design ideas.
there is no perfect solution to a problem and engineers must find ways to optimize the factors at hand.
Students will be skilled at:
constructing models that show how soils are formed.
developing, using, and comparing models to explain how rapid changes can affect the Earth’s surface.
designing and conducting an investigation.
safely using appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
communicating scientific explanations and valid conclusions.
defining a simple problem and finding solutions.
reading texts and/or using media to obtain information.
Critical Vocabulary
decomposition
weathering
Earth Science Assessment - Thursday, March 30th