Embedded Files
Grade(s): 11-12
Length: one semester
Credit: 0.5
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation or one semester of Chemistry or Physical Science
Course Overview:
Course Overview:
Geology is designed to provide students with a better understanding of geology; it provides an introduction to current events related to geology, and explore the multiple career pathways in the field. Over the course, students will discuss careers, employment, and current issues related to geology. Geology teaches fundamental science techniques and concepts through an exploration of the world around us. Physical concepts, such as density and heat transfer, will be explored through an in-depth study of rocks, geological formations, minerals, volcanoes, earthquakes, aquifers, groundwater pollutants, glaciers, petroleum and natural gas, metals, and mining.
Adopted Textbook: None at this time.
Adopted Textbook: None at this time.
Units
Units
(Recommended Order)
Aquifers and Pollutants in Groundwater
Rock Forming Minerals
Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
Volcanoes
Metals and Mining
Petroleum and Natural Gas
Glaciers
Independent Student Research Project
Unit 1: Aquifers and Pollutants in Groundwater
Unit 1: Aquifers and Pollutants in Groundwater
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Identify metals and non-metals on the periodic table.
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.
Identify an aquifer and determine criteria for sustainability.
Show how pollutants can move into and through an aquifer.
Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one-change to the Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Flinn Lab Safety Contract and Test.
Lab safety scavenger hunt.
Table-top demo of sand, water, and food coloring to show
movement of groundwater.
pH & D.O. measurements.
Septic system design and calculations.
Arsenic in Fairbanks water.
Sulpholane in North Pole water.
DEC (SPAR) plume mapping and predicting.
Superfund sites.
Standards List: PS1.A: Structure & Properties of Matter: HS-PS1.1; ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems: HS-ESS2.1, HSESS2.2;
ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in the Earth’s Surface Processes: HS-ESS2.5
Unit 2: Rock Forming Minerals
Unit 2: Rock Forming Minerals
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Identify common rock forming minerals.
Identify common rocks.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Lab: Mineral Identification
Mineral chemical formula matching
Minerals vs. gems
Mineral mines
Standards List: ESS2.a: Earth Materials & Systems: HS-ESS2.3; ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes: HSESS2.5;
ESS3.A: Natural Resources: HS-ESS3.1, HS-ESS3.2
Unit 3: Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
Unit 3: Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
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 a model to illustrate how Earth's internal and surface processed operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.
Develop a model based on evidence of Earth's interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrance of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Phet plate tectonics.
Examine geologic maps.
Contact/visit the Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC).
Standards List: ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth: HS-ESS1.5; ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions:
HS-ESS2.1; ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems: HS-ESS2.3; ESS3.A: Natural Resources: HS-ESS3.1
Unit 4: Volcanoes
Unit 4: Volcanoes
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
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 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.
Develop a model based on evidence of Earth's interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.
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.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Map the Ring of Fire and explain its origin.
Compare and contrast shield, composite, and cinder volcanoes.
Yellowstone history.
Volcanology on other planets.
Contact/visit the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO).
Standards List: ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth: HS-ESS1.5; ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics & Large-Scale System Interactions:
HS-ESS2.1; ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems: HS-ESS2.3; ESS3.A: Natural Resources: HS-ESS3.1
Unit 5: Metals and Mining
Unit 5: Metals and Mining
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
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.
Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Identify metals on the periodic table.
Uses of metals.
Mines in Alaska.
Price of gold history.
Prices of other traded metals.
Recycling costs of metals.
Mining standards in the U.S. vs. other countries.
Standards List: ESS3.A: Natural Resources: HS-ESS3.1, HS-ESS3.2
Unit 6: Petroleum and Natural Gas
Unit 6: Petroleum and Natural Gas
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
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.
Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Geologic Formations: Folds, faults, anticlines, and cynclines.
Source, reservior, and trap rocks.
Stratigraphy/fence mapping
Standards List: ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics & Large-Scale System Interactions: HS-ESS2.3; ESS3.A: Natural Resources: [HSESS3.1]
[HS-ESS3.2]
Unit 7: Glaciers
Unit 7: Glaciers
Suggested Pacing: 2 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that ne-change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth's systems result in changes in climate.
Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regianla climate change and associated future impacts to earth systems.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Identify glacial features using topographic maps and aerial photos.
Glacier ice cream terminology.
Mapping changes in glacier extents.
Standards List: ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems: HS-ESS2.1, HS-ESS2.2, HS-ESS2.3; ESS1.B: Earth & the Solar System: HSESS2.4;
ESS3.D: Global Climate Change: HS-ESS3.5
Unit 8: Independent Student Research - Paper and Poster Project
Unit 8: Independent Student Research - Paper and Poster Project
Suggested Pacing: 3 weeks
Textbook Chapters/Lessons: N/A
Key Objectives:
Key Objectives:
Choose a research topic appropriate to grade level.
Review scientific articles and develop background research.
Write a paper or develop a poster using multple teacher/mentor-reviewed drafts.
Present the results of research to the public as scientific paper/poster and oral presentation.
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Suggested Activities & Resources:
Invite UAF grad students to share their research with the class.
Develop a list of interests.
Draft proposal for teacher’s review.
Students conduct research inside and outside the classroom.
Multiple peer revisions in class.
Research poster presentations.
Standards List: ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions: HS-ESS3.2, HS-ESS3.4
Page updated
Report abuse