High School, Geoscience Curriculum Map
Enduring Understandings:
· Earth systems are dynamic and interacting, and no feature on Earth is permanent. A change to the Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes in other Earth systems.
· The processes that changed the Earth billons of years ago are still at work today and are responsible for the current condition of the planet.
· Earth Systems have both internal and external sources of energy that continually generate new energy providing the primary source of heat that drives conduction, convection, and radiation.
· Materials are cycled within the Earth System.
· The geological time scale was developed using sedimentary rocks and the principle of superposition revealing that life has become more complex over time. This time scale helps scientists to organize time to help communicate Earth’s history.
· Scientists analyze and interpret evidence to make inferences and generalizations that lead to solving problems and making decisions.
· Scientists recognize and analyze spatial relationships in order to see the relationships of Earth’s systems and how they change over time.
· The mechanisms of geology, physics, chemistry and biology interact to create emergent processes of systems.
· Physical and chemical principles are unchanging and drive both gradual and rapid changes in the Earth system.