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Matter and Minerals (return to top) |
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1. Matter is composed of atoms and molecules that combine to form the basic minerals of our Earth. (AKSci - A.1) |
• Make a Bohr model of an atom. • Demonstrate the difference between minerals and rocks. |
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2. Minerals and rocks have worldwide use and economic importance. (AKSci - D.1) |
• List economic resources and where they may be found. |
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3. Currently, the Big Bang theory is the most widely accepted theory to explain how the Universe may have begun. (AKSci - C.1) |
• Write a story describing what you might have seen from the perspective of watching the formation of the Universe at the time of the Big Bang. |
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Earth History (return to top) |
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1. The origin of planets and how they formed including the sources for the atmosphere and oceans. (AKSci - A.4, C.1) |
• Act out a skit illustrating the formation of protoearth. |
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2. Geologic time scale including the continual changes in the biotic and abiotic environments. (AKSci - A.4) |
• Build a time line. |
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Dynamic Earth (return to top) |
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1. Heat is the power source for natural processes. (AKSci - A.8a, A.8b) |
• Conduct an experiment showing convection. |
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2. Major portions of the materials of the crust have been recycled over and over many times. (AKSci - A.4) |
• Illustrate or model the different plate boundaries and interactions between them. • Make a concept map of the rock cycle. |
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3. The Earth is composed of layers. (AKSci - A.4) |
• Construct a model of Earth showing the inner structures. |
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4. The crust sections move very slowly. (AKSci - A.7) |
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5. The crust of the earth, including both the continents and the ocean basins, consist of separate plates that ride on a denser layer of the earth. (AKSci - A.7) |
• Design a model that illustrates sea floor spreading and explains the idea that continents are older than ocean basins. |
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6. The material of the continents is generally older than that of the ocean floors. (AKSci - A.4) |
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7. Volcanoes form over unusually hot spots in the interior of the earth, along separating plate boundaries, or near descending plates. (AKSci - A.7) |
• Construct models of different types of volcanoes. |
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8. Earthquakes occur primarily along plate boundaries. Volcanoes and earthquakes can have a significant impact upon human activities. (AKSci - A.7) |
• Construct models of different types of faults. • Locate the epicenter and estimate preliminary magnitudes given 3 seismograms. • Write an earthquake preparedness or hazard preparedness document for their family. |
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Reshaping the Earth's Surface (return to top) |
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1. Rocks formed by internal processes are unstable at the earth's surface and are susceptible to processes of weathering and erosion. (AKSci - A.7) |
• Model the transport of materials from the mountains to the oceans. |
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Atmosphere (return to top) |
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1. Winds/aircurrents/mixing of gases are caused by the action of gravitational force and the effect of the earth's rotation on regions of different densities which causes them to rise and fall producing circulation. (AKSci - A.4) |
• Discuss the importance of greenhouse effect (gases) and sources. |
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2. The processes of weather (formation of clouds, snow, rain, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) are short-term changes involving the transfer of energy in and out of the atmosphere. (AKSci - A.8a, A.8b) |
• Read a weather map. • Predict or forecast the next day's weather. |
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Oceans (return to top) |
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1. Ocean currents are caused by the action of gravitational force and the effect of the earth's rotation on regions of different densities, which causes them to rise and fall producing circulation. (AKSci - A.1, A.4) |
• Draw a map of major currents and up wellings. • Predict the effects of El Nino and La Nina on our weather patterns. |
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2. Gravitational attraction and the effect of the earth's rotation are the cause of tides. (AKSci - A.4) |
• Show why there are two tides a day for most places. |
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Climate (return to top) |
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1. Global cooling and global warming are long term changes involving the transfer of energy in and out of the atmosphere. (AKSci - A.9) |
• Model a glacier. • Differentiate between natural variations versus the role of man-made pollutants. |
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