Download Unit 1 - Formation of Earth - Troup County School System

TCSS Earth Systems
Unit 1 – Formation of Earth Information
Georgia Performance Standards:
SCSh3. Students will identify and investigate problems scientifically.
a. Suggest reasonable hypotheses for identified problems.
b. Develop procedures for solving scientific problems.
c. Collect, organize and record appropriate data.
d. Graphically compare and analyze data points and/or summary statistics.
e. Develop reasonable conclusions based on data collected.
f. Evaluate whether conclusions are reasonable by reviewing the process and checking against other available
information.
SCSh4. Students use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating scientific
equipment and materials.
a. Develop and use systematic procedures for recording and organizing information.
b. Use technology to produce tables and graphs.
c. Use technology to develop, test, and revise experimental or mathematical models.
SES1. Students will investigate the composition and formation of Earth systems, including the Earth’s
relationship to the solar system.
a. Describe the early evolution of the Earth and solar system, including the formation of Earth’s solid layers
(core, mantle, crust), the distribution of major elements, the origin of internal heat sources, and the mechanism
by which heat transfer drives plate tectonics.
b. Explain how the composition of the Earth’s crust, mantle and core is determined and compare it to that of
other solar system objects.
c. Describe how the decay of radioactive isotopes is used to determine the age of rocks, Earth, and solar system.
d. Describe how the Earth acquired its initial oceans and atmosphere.
Purpose/Goal(s): Students will be able to explain the formation of Earth
 In this unit we will focus on the “Nature of Science” and reading maps.
 In this unit we will discuss the “Formation of Earth, “Atmosphere, and “Oceans.”
 In this unit we will discuss “Matter.”
Content Map: Unit 1 – Formation of Earth Content Map
Prerequisites: Unit 1 – Formation of Earth Middle School Standards
Unit Length: Approximately 35 days
Click on the links below for resources by Concept:
Concept 1: Nature of Science and Maps
Concept 2: Formation of Earth, Atmospheres, and Oceans
Concept 3: Matter
TCSS Earth Systems Formation of Earth Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 1: Nature of
Science and Maps
EQ1: What specific
methods do Earth
scientists use to
investigate Earth and
Beyond?
EQ2: How are GPS and
GIS technologies used to
investigate and describe
the world?
Vocabulary
Essential*
Conclusion
Data
Hypothesis
Procedure
Statistics
Supplemental**
Control
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Scientific Method
SI Units
Scientific Law
Model
Theory
Cartography
Equator
Latitude
Longitude
Prime Meridian
Topographic Map
Contour Line
Contour Interval
Global Positioning
System
Geographic Information
System
SCSh3. Students will
identify and investigate
problems scientifically.
a. Suggest reasonable
hypotheses for identified
problems.
b. Develop procedures
for solving scientific
problems.
c. Collect, organize and
record appropriate data.
d. Graphically compare
and analyze data points
and/or summary
statistics.
e. Develop reasonable
*Essential vocabulary
conclusions based on data listed in the GPS
collected.
Standards
f. Evaluate whether
Resources [Back to Top]
PowerPoints:
 Latitude and Longitude PowerPoint
 Data Tables and Graphing PowerPoint
 Introduction to Earth Science
 Introduction to Topographic Maps
 Climograph
 Climograph Summarizer
 Scientific Method
Animations and Videos:
 Latitude and Longitude One Direction Parody (time 3:53)
 Topography (time 9:59)
Handouts and Activities:
 Scientific Method in Action: This handout serves as a review
of the scientific method and allows the students to practice the
steps in order to solve a problem.
 Experimental Design Practice: Allows the students to practice
the elements of experimental design specifically focusing on
identifying the independent and dependent variable.
 3D Topographic Map Activity: This activity allows students to
read topographic maps and plug in the data to create a 3D
graph. This activity should serve as a lab. Borrowed from
Spring Valley High School.
 Climograph Activity: This activity allows students to practice
reading a climograph and build their own. This activity will
require an Atlas to help identify. Borrowed form Garret at Big
Walnut School District.
 Latitude/Longitude Map Activity Basic: Basic mapping
activity that allows students to identify specific cities based on
their latitude and longitude.
 Latitude/Longitude Map Advanced: Mapping Activity that
Assessment
SCSh3a,b,c,d,e,f:
Sample Assessment
Items
SCSh4a,b,c:
Sample Assessment
Items
TCSS Earth Systems Formation of Earth Unit Information
conclusions are
reasonable by reviewing
the process and checking
against other available
information.
SCSh4. Students use
tools and instruments
for observing,
measuring, and
manipulating scientific
equipment and
materials.
a. Develop and use
systematic procedures for
recording and organizing
information.
b. Use technology to
produce tables and
graphs.
c. Use technology to
develop, test, and revise
experimental or
mathematical models.
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document


goes into more depth in regards to determining the latitude and
longitude of cities as well as asking higher order questions.
Topographic Map Activity: This activity from the USGS
allows students to both read and practice making topographic
maps.
Graphing Activity: A review and practice of making graphs
and or data tables.
TCSS Earth Systems Formation of Earth Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 2: Formation of
Earth, Atmospheres, and
Oceans
Vocabulary
Resources [Back to Top]
Essential*
Atmosphere
Core
Crust
EQ1: Describe the early
Evolution
concepts of the structure
Heat Transfer
of the solar system and
Mantle
the Earth’s relationship to Ocean
the solar system.
Plate Tectonics
PowerPoints:
 Formation of Earth PowerPoint: This PowerPoint covers the
material from 28.1 and 22.1-22.3.
EQ2: How did the oceans
and atmosphere form and
life begin during the three
eons of the Precambrian?
Handouts and Activities:
 Activator for Beginning of the Solar System: This activator
displays how the Universe formed in a much simple scale.
 Layers of the Earth Foldable: This foldable helps create a
visual representation of the layers of the Earth.
 Early Earth Student Study Guide: Review questions over
section 22.1 in textbook and describes how the Earth possible
formed
 Layers of the Earth Project: In class project where students
model the Earth’s crust and its formation
 Formation of Atmosphere and Oceans Student Study Guide:
Review questions over 22.3 in textbook and evaluates student
knowledge over the hypotheses of the formation of the
atmosphere and ocean.
SES1. Students will
investigate the
composition and
formation of Earth
systems, including the
Earth’s relationship to
the solar system.
a. Describe the early
evolution of the Earth
and solar system,
including the formation
of Earth’s solid layers
(core, mantle, crust), the
distribution of major
elements, the origin of
internal heat sources, and
the mechanism by which
heat transfer drives plate
Supplemental**
Asteroid
Meteorite
Zircon
Canadian Shield
Craton
Differentiation
Laurentia
Microcontinent
Planetesimal
Retrograde Motion
Ellipse
Astronomical Unit
Eccentricity
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
Animations and Videos:
 Formation of Earth (time 2:31)
 Formations of Atmosphere and Oceans (time 3:00)
 Plate Tectonic Video (time 5:16)
 Chapter 22 Quizlet
Assessment
SES1a,b,d: Sample
Assessment Items
TCSS Earth Systems Formation of Earth Unit Information
tectonics.
b. Explain how the
composition of the
Earth’s crust, mantle and
core is determined and
compare it to that of other
solar system objects.
d. Describe how the Earth
acquired its initial oceans
and atmosphere.
TCSS Earth Systems Formation of Earth Unit Information
Concept, Essential
Question(s), and
Standard(s)
Concept 3: Matter
EQ1: How can rocks tell
us the age of things like
fossils, the Earth, and the
Solar System?
SES1. Students will
investigate the
composition and
formation of Earth
systems, including the
Earth’s relationship to
the solar system.
c. Describe how the
decay of radioactive
isotopes is used to
determine the age of
rocks, Earth, and solar
system.
Vocabulary
Essential*
Carbon Cycle
Decay
Geochemical Cycles
Hydrologic Cycle
Radioactive Isotope
Rock Cycle
Supplemental**
Isotopes
Carbon Dating
*Essential vocabulary
listed in the GPS
Standards
**Supplemental
vocabulary listed in the
state frameworks and/or
other state document
Resources [Back to Top]
PowerPoints:
 Matter PowerPoint
Animations/Videos:
 How does radiocarbon dating work? (time 2:10)
Handouts and Activities:
 Half-life Lab: Lab allows for teachers to use various materials
to demonstrate half-life.
 Radioactive Dating Game Online Lab: Students can observe
half-life and decay rates of carbon-14 and uranium-238.
Students may also date objects.
Assessment
SES1c,e: Sample
Assessment Items