Download Plate Tectonics - Arlington Public Schools

Science
Curriculum
Unit Planner
Grade: 5
Strand: Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change
SOL: 5.7 (Part 2 of Earth’s surface)
The student will investigate and understand how Earth’s surface is constantly changing.
Key concepts include
a) identification of rock types;
b) the rock cycle and how transformations between rocks occur;
c) Earth history and fossil evidence;
d) the basic structure of Earth’s interior;
e) changes in Earth’s crust due to plate tectonics;
f) weathering, erosion, and deposition; and
g) human impact.
Time: 3-4 weeks
1. Desired Results
Enduring Understandings (BIG Ideas)
Earth’s geological features have changed over time.
Essential Questions
•
What are the major layers of the Earth?
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How has the Earth’s structure and composition changed its geological features over time?
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How are earthquakes and volcanoes similar and different?
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How have fossils helped scientists understand Earth’s geological history?
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How might the Earth appear a million years from now?
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How does the changing of the Earth’s surface affect the economy and the development of residential communities?
(Social Studies integration.)
Understanding the Standard
Essential Knowledge, Skills and Processes
Students will:
Scientific evidence indicates that Earth is composed of
four concentric layers — crust, mantle, outer core, and
• Describe the structure of Earth in terms of its major
layers — crust, mantle, and outer core and inner core
inner core — each with its own distinct characteristics.
— and how Earth’s interior affects the surface.
The outer two layers are composed primarily of rocky
material. The innermost layers are composed mostly of
• Differentiate among the three types of plate tectonic
iron and nickel. Pressure and temperature increase with
boundaries (divergent, convergent, and transform)
depth beneath the surface.
and how these relate to the changing surface of Earth
and the ocean floor (5.6).
Earth’s thermal energy causes movement of material
within Earth. Large continent-size blocks (plates) move
• Compare and contrast the origin of earthquakes and
slowly about Earth’s surface, driven by that thermal
volcanoes and how they affect Earth’s surface.
energy.
• Describe how people change Earth’s surface and how
Most earthquakes and volcanoes are located at the
negative changes can be controlled.
boundaries of the plates (faults). Plates can move
•
•
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together (convergent boundaries), apart (divergent
boundaries), or slip past each other horizontally
(transform boundaries, also called strike-slip or sliding
boundaries).
•
Geological features in the oceans (including trenches
and mid-ocean ridges) and on the continents (mountain
ranges, including the Appalachian Mountains) are
Arlington Public Schools 2013
Science Vocabulary
Shaded words are found in the vocabulary card section in
the Teaching Resources book. Starred (*) words are
mentioned in the Curriculum Framework for the SOL.
*Boundary, *convergent boundary (move together), *crust,
caused by current and past plate movements.
*divergent boundary (move apart), *earthquake, *fault,
*fossil, *inner core, lava, magma, *mantle, *outer core,
• Humans have varying degrees of impact on Earth’s
*iron, *nickel, *sliding boundary, also known as strike-slip
surface through their everyday activities. With careful
or transform boundary (slip past each other horizontally),
planning, the impact on the land can be controlled.
*tectonic plates, *volcano, *pressure, *temperature,
*thermal energy, *mid-ocean ridges, *mountain ranges,
*Appalachian Mountains, *human impact
2. Assessment Evidence
Prior Knowledge
Throughout the Unit
•
Virginia’s natural resources include minerals, rocks, ores,
and energy resources and they are limited.
•
Fossil fuels are found in the ground and include coal, oil,
and natural gas.
•
Soil is a natural resource that is important to plants and
animals and should be conserved.
•
Weathering and erosion occur on the Earth’s surface.
•
Types and components of soil.
•
Fossils are evidence of creatures that lived long ago.
Water is necessary for life.
•
River waters flow into the oceans.
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Tides are a basic cycle occurring in nature.
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Water cycle.
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Food chains begin with the sun.
•
Animals have life needs and specific physical
characteristics.
References to Adopted Materials:
Formative Assessment:
• Teacher observation of students engaged in
cooperative learning investigations.
• KWL
• Class created science rubric
• Science notebook (questions, summaries, charts,
drawings)
• Informal assessment through observation of
students’ participation in hands-on activities and
use of vocabulary in classroom discussions.
Summative Assessment:
• Test/assessment
• Successful and accurate completion of model of the
Earth’s major layers.
3. Learning Plan
• Science Fusion – Unit 8 Changes to Earth’s Surface
Lesson 1 – “How do weathering and erosion shape Earth’s surface?”
Lesson 2 – “How does water change Earth’s surface?”
Lesson 3 – “How do movements of the crust change Earth?”
Lesson 4 – “How do plates move?”
Suggested Activities:
See VDOE ESS sample lessons (weblink below)
Review Activities:
• Bingo with related vocabulary
• Matching – light vocabulary words with their definitions and/or pictures
• http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/resources/elementary/5science.htm
Outdoor Connections:
• Erosion in the sandbox (on the playground): Have students use the sandbox at your playground to make a model of
erosion/weathering. Challenge them to find materials that would aid in the slowing of weathering or erosion.
4. Resources
Trade books:
• None specified
Web Sites:
Arlington Public Schools 2013
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VDOE Science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/science/
VDOE Science Enhanced Scope/Sequence Sample Lesson Plans:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/science/2010/lesson_plans/index.shtml
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www.brainpop.com
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www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/plates1.html (Information on boundaries, )
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www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml (Shows continental drift, Earth’s
Crust, and has activity web links, also has volcano information )
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http://kidscosmos.org/mars/kids/kids_volcanoes.php (Volcanoes of Mars and Washington, geology terms, what’s inside a
volcano?
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http://kidscosmos.org/mars/kids/kids_earthquakes.php (Earthquake section of above link.)
Videos:
• Earthquakes (Bill Nye the Science Guy), Disney Educational Productions, c1996
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Volcanoes (Bill Nye the Science Guy), Disney Educational Productions, c2005
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Living Rock: An Introduction to Earth’s Geology, Alpha DVD, c2002
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Continents Adrift: An Introduction to Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics, Rainbow Educational Media, c1995
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Inside Hawaiian Volcanoes, Smithsonian Videos, c1989
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Earth Science in Action: Volcanoes, Schlessinger Media, c2006
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Volcano, DK Vision, c1996
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Volcano!, National Geographic Society, c1989
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Earth Science in Action: Earthquakes, Schlessinger Media, 2006
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All about Earthquakes, (Earth Science for Children), Schlessinger Media, c2005
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Forces of Nature, National Geographic Society, c2004
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Earthquakes, Seismic Sleuths, Discovery Channel, c2000
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Natural Disaster, DK Vision, c1997
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Explosive Earth (Amazing Planet Series), National Geographic Kids Video, c1996
Discovery Education:
• TLC Elementary School: Geological Processes. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 24:36. Download sections include: The Rock Cycle (7
min.), Discovery Channel School.
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Moved to 5.7a
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Geologist’s Notebook: Digging Through Earth. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 10:00. United Learning.
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Geologist’s Notebook: Why Land Goes Up and Down. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 11:00. United Learning.
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The Living Earth. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 27:00. Discovery Channel School.
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Standard Deviants School Geology: Plate Tectonics. (Gr. 6-8). Run time: 25:00.
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A Closer Look at Space: Earth (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 21:00.
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Junior Geologist: How Does the Land Build Up? (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 9:01.
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Planet Earth: Mountains. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 40:44.
Arlington Public Schools 2013
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Volcanoes: Mountains of Fire. (Gr. 3-5). Run time: 27:00.
Field Trips:
• None specified
Other:
• Sally Ride Science Career Books (see your science lead teacher for more information)
• Project WET: K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide
• Project WILD: K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide
• Project WILD – Aquatic: K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guides
• Environmental Education Activity Guide: PreK-8, Project Learning Tree
Arlington Public Schools 2013