Participant Developed Units - Summer 2007
 

GRADE 5-7 – Earth and Space Science: The student will apply process skills to explore and develop an understanding of the structure of the earth system, earth’s history, and earth in the solar system

 GRADE 8-12-Earth and Space Science: The student will develop an understanding of energy in the earth system, geochemical cycles, the formation and organization of the earth system, the dynamics of the earth/moon/sun system, and the organization of development of the universe

 G = Grade Level (57,812), B= Benchmark, I = Indicator

  
  • 1A: G57B1I2 – Models earth cycles, constructive and destructive processes, and weather systems
     
  • 1B: G812B1I1 – Understands constructive and destructive processes including weathering, erosion and deposition, dynamically reshape the surface of the earth
 
  • 2A: G57B2I1 – Understands that earth processes observed today (including movement of lithospheric plates and changes in atmospheric conditions) are similar to those that occurred in the past; earth history is also influenced by occasional catastrophes, such as the impact of  a comet or asteroid
     
  • 2B: G812B2I1 – Understands geological time is used to understand the earth’s past
 
  • 3A: G812B1I2 – Understands the theory of plate tectonics explains that internal energy drives the earth’s ever changing structure: *Movable continental and oceanic plates make up earth’s surface; the hot convecting mantle is the energy source for plate movement. *Essentially all energy on earth originates with the sun, is generated by radioactive decay in earth’s interior, or is left over from the earth’s formation. *Convection circulation in the mantle is driven by the outward transfer of earth’s internal heat.
     
  • 3B: G812B1I2 – Understands the theory of plate tectonics explains that internal energy drives the earth’s ever changing structure: *Systems on earth’s surface are powered principally by the sun and contain an essentially fixed amount of each stable chemical atom or element. *Rocks, water, CO2/O2, carbon and other nutrients cycle through different forms as a result of cycle biological and geologic processes
 

  • 4A: G812B1I4 – Understands the processes of water cycling through surface water (oceans, lakes, streams, glaciers, ground water (aquifers), and the atmosphere (hydrological cycle). *Processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, runoff, and filtration move water through the water cycle. *Ground water is stored in aquifers and moved through underground streams.
     

  • 4B: G812B1I4 – Understands the processes of water cycling through surface water (oceans, lakes, streams, glaciers), ground water (aquifers), and the atmosphere (hydrological cycle): *Weather in the troposphere redistributes water on the surface of the earth through the water cycle. *Water in the atmosphere is in the form of water vapor and clouds
 

  • 5A: G57B1I1 – Identifies the properties of solid earth, the oceans and fresh water, and the atmosphere: *Classifies rocks, minerals, and soil by properties. * Creates a concept map of earth materials using links to show connections such as water causing erosion of solid rock, wind, evaporating water, etc (glaciers!!)
     

  • 5B: G57B1I1 – Identifies the properties of solid earth, the oceans and fresh water, and the atmosphere: *investigates water’s major role in changing the solid surface of earth, such as effect of oceans on climates and water as an erosion force. *maps major climate zones and relates to ocean currents. *compares heating and cooling over land and water. *compares the densities of fresh and salt water
 

  • 6A: G812B1I3 – The ultimate source of atmospheric and oceanic energy comes from the sun.  Energy flow drives global climate and weather.  Climate and weather are influenced by geographic features, cloud cover, and the earth’s rotation: *Energy from the sun heats the oceans and the atmosphere, and drives oceanic and atmospheric circulation. *Weather patters and seasonal weather change are multi-variable phenomena. *Weather in the troposphere redistributes water on the surface of the earth through the water cycle. *Concepts and skills include basic weather forecasting, weather maps, fronts, pressure systems, severe storms, and safety precautions.
     

  • 6B: G812B1I3 – The ultimate source of atmospheric and oceanic energy comes from the sun.  Energy flow drives global climate and weather.  Climate and weather are influenced by geographic features, cloud cover, and the earth’s rotation: *Human activity impacts global climate.  Example: burning fossil fuels produces ground level ozone that hinders plant growth. * The composition and structure of the earth’s atmosphere is a factor in the earth’s suitability to support life. *The ozone layer in the upper stratosphere filters UV radiation which is harmful to living things. *Gamma radiation and other high energy radiation from the sun is filtered in the upper atmosphere. *Biogeochemical cycles are an example of the integration of earth, physical, and biological science concepts
 

  • 7A: G57B3I1 – Compares and contrasts the characteristics of stars, planets, moons, and asteroids: *creates a graphic organizer to visualize comparisons of planets. *identifies characteristics of asteroids and comets.
    + G57B3I2 Models Spatial relationships of the earth/moon/planets/sun system to scale.
    + G812B3I3 Understands the relative sizes of objects in the solar system
    AND AS APPROPRIATE:     +G812B4I3 Understands how the tools of astronomy have revolutionized the study of the universe
    WITH G57B3I3 Identifies past and present methods to explore space

  • 7B: G57B3I1 – Compares and contrasts the characteristics of stars, planets, moons, and asteroids. *Identifies the sun as a star and compares its characteristics to those of other stars. *Classifies bright stars visible from earth by color, temperature, age, apparent brightness, and distance from earth
    + G812B4I1 Understands stellar evolution
    AND AS APPROPRIATE    : +G812B4I3 Understands how the tools of astronomy have revolutionized the study of the universe
    WITH G57B3I3 Identifies past and present methods to explore space
 

  • 8A: G57B4I1 Demonstrates and models object/space/time relationships that explain phenomena such as the day, the month, the year, seasons, phases of the moon, eclipses and tides
    + G57B4I2 Describes how the angle of incidence of solar energy striking earth’s surface affects the amount of heat energy absorbed at earth’s surface
    +G812B3I2 Understands the relationship between the earth, moon, and sun explains the seasons, tides, and moon phases
    AND AS APPROPRIATE:     +G812B4I3 Understands how the tools of astronomy have revolutionized the study of the universe
    WITH G57B3I3 Identifies past and present methods to explore space
     

  • 8B: G812B3I1 Understands gravitational attraction of objects in the solar system keeps solar system objects in orbit:
    +G812B3I4 Understands the sun, earth and other objects in the solar system formed from a nebular cloud of dust and gas
    +G812B4I2 Understands the current scientific explanation of the origin and structure of the universe
    AND AS APPROPRIATE:     +G812B4I3 Understands how the tools of astronomy have revolutionized the study of the universe
    WITH G57B3I3 Identifies past and present methods to explore space