5th Grade exploring changes in landforms and oceans

Scope and sequence

Suggested Time Frame: 5th Grade Science Curriculum Map

• 2nd Nine Weeks- Consult the 5th Grade Science Curriculum Map for specific details.

The 5th Grade Science Curriculum Map outlines the following information:

• 1. Recommended pacing, scope, and sequence for each unit.

  2. Alignment with standards, conceptual understandings, and performance indicators

  3. Links to Unit Concept Storyboard Maps, Content and SEP Support Documents, and Curriculum Guides

  4. Details for Evidence of Understanding, Essential Learning Experiences, and Suggested Learning Engagements

  5. Where appropriate, alignment with specific FOSS, DSM, GEMS, and STC kit Activities and Investigations

Learning goals, skills, and concepts

Learning Goals

• • Students will gather data using maps, stream tables, and observations to construct explanations for how different landforms result from the movement of water across the Earth’s surface.

  • Students will gather information from various sources, including maps, satellite images, pictures, and models, to develop models that illustrate the characteristics and locations of landforms and ocean floor features. These include:

    • Landforms: Valley, Canyon, Volcano, Mountain Range, Plain

    • Ocean Floor Features: Rift Zone, Trench, Seamount, Volcanic Island, Midocean Ridge, Abyssal Plain, Continental Shelf, Continental Slope

      • Models can include but are not limited to: 3-D models, pictures, drawings, charts, diagrams

  • Students will gather data from various sources, including investigations, observations, measurements, and research, to describe and predict how natural processes shape the Earth’s surface. Natural processes include:

    • Investigations using stream tables: Weather, Erosion, Deposition

    • Information gathered from research: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes, Storms

  • Students will gather information from various sources, including stream table investigations, pictures, satellite images, and maps, to develop models that illustrate the effects of waves, currents, and tides on beaches, barrier islands, estuaries, and inlets.

  • Students will gather evidence to construct scientific arguments to support claims regarding how human activities impact the Earth’s land and oceans.

• Students will use their data about natural processes and human activities to define problems and design solutions.

Skills and Concepts

• Analyze and Interpret Data- SEP Support Document

• Develop and Use Models- SEP Support Document

• Construct Scientific Arguments- SEP Support Document

• Construct Explanations- SEP Support Document

• Define Problems and Design Solutions- SEP Support Document

• Location and Movement of Water- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Landforms and Ocean Floor Features- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Natural Processes- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Waves, Currents, and Tides- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Human Impact- Essential Knowledge Support Document

• Problems Caused by Natural and Human Activities- Essential Knowledge Support Document

Science Concept Storyboard

This link will take you to a print-friendly version of the science concept storyboard

Lessons and activities

Landforms Unit Planning Support Doc

Instructional Strategies and Lessons

• 5.E.3A Some of the land on Earth is located above water and some is located below the oceans. The downhill movement of water as it flows to the ocean shapes the appearance of the land. There are patterns in the location and structure of landforms found on the continents and those found on the ocean floor.

• 5.E.3A.1 Construct explanations of how different landforms and surface features result from the location and movement of water on Earth’s surface through watersheds (drainage basins) and rivers.

  • Landforms (FOSS Kit) Investigations 2, 3

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Earth Science

    • Modeling Rivers

    • River Run

  • Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

    • Lesson 2: What are erosion and deposition? (p.110 - 115)

    • Quick Labs: (p.111 and p.117)

• 5.E.3A.2 Develop and use models to describe and compare the characteristics and locations of the landforms on continents with those on the ocean floor (including the continental shelf and slope, the mid-ocean ridge, the rift zone, the trench, and the abyssal plain).

  • Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook:

    • Quick Labs: (p.111 and p.117)

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Earth Science

    • Charting the Ocean Depths

    • Coastal Profiles

    • Down on the Ocean Floor

    • Features Here and There

• 5.E.3B Earth’s oceans and landforms can be affected by natural processes in various ways. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards caused by these processes but can take steps to reduce their impacts. Human activities can affect the land and oceans in positive and negative ways.

• 5.E.3B.1 Analyze and interpret data to describe and predict how natural processes (such as weathering, erosion, deposition, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, or storms) affect Earth’s surface.

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Physical Science

    • Learning About Layers

    • Weathering Activity Cards

    • Modeling Rivers

    • River Run

• 5.E.3B.2 Develop and use models to explain the effect of the movement of ocean water (including waves, currents, and tides) on the ocean shore zone (including beaches, barrier islands, estuaries, and inlets).

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Physical Science

    • Sandy Beaches

    • Horizontal Ocean Currents

• 5.E.3B.3 Construct scientific arguments to support claims that human activities (such as conservation efforts or pollution) affect the land and oceans of Earth.

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Physical Science

    • A-salting the Environment

    • Teddy Bears Fight Pollution

    • Help Save the Birds

    • Water Island

  • http://cwsec-sc.org/wp-content/uploads/education/lessons_activities/lifeinafishbowl.pdf

• 5.E.3B.4 Define problems caused by natural processes or human activities and test possible solutions to reduce the impact on landforms and the ocean shore zone.

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Physical Science

    • Teddy Bears Fight Pollution

    • Help Save the Birds

    • Water Island

  • Oceans (DSM Kit) Investigations 4, 7

  • AIMS Activities: 2005 SC Science AIMS 5th Grade Earth Science Master List

    • Modeling Rivers

    • River Run

    • Charting the Ocean Depths

    • Coastal Profiles

    • Down on the Ocean Floor

    • Features Here and There

    • Learning About Layers

    • Weathering Activity Cards

    • Sandy Beaches

    • Horizontal Ocean Currents

    • A-salting the Environment

    • Teddy Bears Fight Pollution

    • Help Save the Birds

    • Water Island

• Can You Catch the Water (5.E.3A.1, 5.E.3B.3 and 4)

  • This activity, from the TeachEngineering website, describes how students will make a model of a watershed and use the model to demonstrate what a watershed is, how water moves through it, and how pollution added in one area can move downstream to affect other areas.

• Glaciers, Water, and Wind, Oh My! (5.E.3B.1)

  • This activity, from the TeachEngineering website, describes how students will investigate different forms of erosion at different stations.

    • Note- it is not essential to do the chemical or heat erosion activities for this standard.

Additional Resources

• Landforms and Oceans Grade 5 LiveBinder

  • Includes various lesson planning ideas and activities

• ReadWorks.org Moutnains & Oceans - The World’s Oceans

  • Integrates ELA and gives information on oceans

• SlideShare Ocean Powerpoint Presentation

  • Includes descriptions of oceanic landforms

  • Includes lesson plan idea

  • Includes A-Z of Ocean Creatures

• Mapping the Ocean Floor (full documentary)

  • This is a link to the entire documentary. However, smaller sections can be used to show specific indicators.

• Watershed

  • This website provides an explanation for how different landforms and surface features result from the location and movement of water on Earth’s surface through watersheds (drainage basins) and rivers.

• Mirriam Webster Visual Dictionary

  • Visual Model of Ocean Floor

• Weather Wiz Kids (5.E.3B.1)

  • I know what you are thinking- we don't teach weather in 5th grade. This site not only includes weather information presented in student-friendly language, it also include a link to other non-weather related natural disasters, such as landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Great background information for students to access.

• South Carolina- Naturally!

  • This website provides information about the geology of South Carolina by different regions. This may be used to provide teachers with background information to include in lessons or, depending on reading level, might be something your students could access as a informational text.

• Learning Geology Blog

  • This blog has an abundance of background information about geology and might be of use for teachers who are looking to gather information in the planning of this unit.

• National Geographic Video Resource:

  • As with any video resource, teachers should carefully preview and vet any videos before showing them to students.

Possible Field Studies:

• Blue Marble Science

  • Dr. Doug offers in-school field studies and other standards related activities

• Capers Island Heritage Preserve

  • Possible Field Trip

• WED Song:

  • A student led song on processes (weathering, erosion, deposition)