Download Earth and Space Science Unit Outline Welcome to High School

Earth and Space Science Unit Outline
Welcome to High School Science
What is Science
1. The four traditional branches of Earth and Space Science are:
2. These branches are all interconnected. If one of these branches fails, the Earth will no longer be a
suitable place to live. This implies that Earth is a _____________________________.
3. What are the three main ingredients of science?
4. Give five specific examples of doing science and explain why it is science.
5. Give five specific examples of things that are not science and explain why they are not science.
Unifying Themes of Science
6. Compare direct and indirect observations and give an example of each.
7. Describe the correct way to classify objects in science.
8. Explain why we use models in science.
9. What is the benefit of patterns in science?
Math and Science
10. Why is it difficult to accurately show the size of the planets and the distances between them at the
same scale on a model of the solar system?
11. How does the distance between planets compare to the actual size of the planets?
12. Compare accuracy and precision.
13. D=
14. The actual density of a rock is 1.53 g/ml. You measured and calculated the density as 1.62 g/ml.
How accurate was your answer?
15. What kind of graph should you use to compare the test grades of every student in the class?
16. What are five things to make sure you include on your graph?
17. Convert the following to scientific notation:
a. 602,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
b. 0.000000123
Literacy and Science
18. Why are reading and writing important skills for scientists?
19. Give three tips for writing a good paper.
Doing Science
20. How are theories, laws, and hypotheses related?
21. A theory ______________ be proven.
22. ______________ describe. ____________________ explain.
23. Compare the scientific method with science skills
24. Use the 4-Question strategy to design an experiment about raindrops.
STEM
25. What does the acronym STEM stand for?
26. Summarize CTE’s role in a STEM-based economy.
27. Why is the study of STEM fields important?
Biography of the Earth
Holding It All Together
1. Explain the two factors that affect the force of gravity
2. What is Density?
Formation Theories
3. Currently, what is the best accepted theory for the formation of the Universe? Describe that theory
and summarize the evidence for that theory.
4. What are the possible fates for the Universe and on what do these fates depend?
5. Currently, what is the best accepted theory for the formation of the Solar System? Describe that
theory, being sure to emphasize the role gravity played in the formation of the Solar System.
6. Currently, what is the best accepted theory for the formation of the Moon? Describe that theory.
7. Describe the origin and evolution of the atmosphere.
8. Describe the origin and evolution of the oceans.
9. Describe why the Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean, and Sun all have layers.
10. Compare the composition of the layers of the Earth, Atmosphere, Oceans, and Sun
11. Compare the structure of the layers of the Earth, Atmosphere, Oceans, and Sun
12. Compare the processes that occur with the layers of the Earth, Atmosphere, Oceans, and Sun
Stellar Lifecycles
13. How do gravity and the nuclear processes involved in a star’s energy production relate to the lifecycle
of stars?
14. Describe the life cycles of stars based on their mass.
Building and Wearing Forces
15. Differentiate between building forces and wearing forces that affect the Earth
16. Compare continental crust with oceanic crust.
17. Describe major landforms around the Earth and explain how they formed
Geochemical Cycles and Systems
18. List at least five geochemical cycles.
19. Explain how geochemical cycles move and conserve matter.
20. List at least five systems within the Earth System.
21. Explain how matter moves between the different Earth systems.
22. Describe why the Earth has not cooled down over the last 4.6 billion years.
23. What geochemical systems would be affected if the Earth cooled down?
24. What geochemical systems would be affected if the Sun stopped heating the Earth?
Geologic Time
25. What evidence suggests that the Earth is both very very old and has changed over time
26. What types of processes have changed the Earth over the last 4.6 billion years?
27. How do we “know” that those processes occurred?
28. Describe changes to Earth’s Climate during the last 4.6 billion years.
29. Describe changes to the Earth over the last 4.6 billion years.
30. Describe the absolute and relative dating methods used to measure geologic time
31. Describe the types of information we get by studying fossils
Astrobiology
Gravity and Life
1. What is the relationship between the force of gravity and the mass of a planet?
Properties of Stars
2. List the properties of stars and identify each as a direct observation or indirect observation
3. Explain three ways distance to stars is calculated
4. Describe the study of spectroscopy and how it is used to study the composition and movement of
stars and galaxies
5. Describe the basic characteristics and uses of telescopes
6. Compare and contrast absolute and apparent magnitude
7. Compare the major groups of stars in terms of temperature, size, and location on the H-R Diagram
8. Sketch an H-R Diagram showing the different groups of stars as well as the axis of the H-R Graph
9. Explain how the H-R Diagram is used to compare stars
10. Summarize how the number of stars in the Universe can be calculated
The Solar System
11. Compare terrestrial and Jovian planets.
Characteristic
Composition
Atmosphere
Presence of Water
Density
Rate of Revolution
Size
Relative Number of
Moons
Distance Between
Planets
Distance From Sun
Terrestrial
Jovian
Science of Treasure Hunting
Remote Sensing
1. What are the latitude and longitude of Pocono Summit PA?
2. On what continent or in what ocean is 127°N, 87°W?
3. Describe how latitude can be calculated using the North Star
4. Compare a map that shows topography to a map that does not show topography
5. Explain the importance of scale on a map
6. Explain the uses of remote sensing
7. Compare the topography of the oceans to the topography of land
8. What two physical characteristics are used to describe air masses?
9. What affect does the movement of air masses have on the Earth?
10. How many oceans are there on Earth? Justify your answer.
The Age of Exploration, Science, and Treasure Hunting
11. Compare and contrast the geocentric and heliocentric views of the Universe.
12. Describe the evidence for and result of Earth’s rotation.
13. Describe the evidence for and results of the Earth's revolution around the Sun
14. Describe how inertia and gravity work together to form planetary orbits.
15. Describe Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion.
16. Explain retrograde motion.
17. As a result of the relationship of the Earth, Sun, and Moon, we have:
18. What two factors result in the our seeing the phases of the moon
19. Describe the changes that occur in the observable shape of the moon over the course of a month.
20. Explain why we sometimes see the moon during the day and sometimes do not.
21. For each of the following moon phases, sketch the position of the Earth Sun and Moon and describe
what kind, if any, eclipse is possible
a. Full
b. First Quarter
c. New
d. Last Quarter
22. Explain why we don’t have an eclipse every month.
Density
23. What is density
24. How are density and pressure related
25. Compare the structure of the ocean and atmosphere with respect to temperature, pressure, density, and
composition
26. Explain why the ocean and atmosphere are so similar
Winds and Currents
27. Explain the factors that create surface currents
28. Explain the factors that create density currents.
29. Explain the factors that create local winds
30. Explain the factors that create global winds
31. Describe the major global winds and explain how they affected sailing ships.
32. Explain the factors that impact the speed and direction of atmospheric winds and ocean currents
33. Explain the cause of the Coriolos Effect and what it demonstrates about the Earth.
34. Compare the apparent movement of currents and winds in the northern hemisphere to those in the
southern hemisphere
Waves
35. Explain the formation of ocean waves and describe the factors that affect wave size and speed
36. Explain how tsunamis form
37. Explain how rogue waves form
Tides
38. Describe the motions of tides and identify their causes.
39. Compare and contrast a spring tide and a neap tide
40. Explain the affects wind will have on tides
41. For each of the following moon phases, describe the type of tide experienced on Earth
a. Full
b. First Quarter
c. New
d. Last Quarter
Natural Treasures
42. Give examples of natural treasures that are important to society
43. Give examples of how natural resources drove world exploration.
44. Give examples of how natural resources determined the location of settlements and colonization.
45. List countries that are still important because of their natural resource deposits.
46. Explain how technology is changing how we explore for resources.
The Weather of Sports
Weather vs. Climate
1. Describe the basic elements of meteorology.
2. Explain how basic weather elements are measured.
3. Compare weather and climate
Heat Transfer
4. List the three different types of heat transfer.
5. Explain how each type of heat transfer affects the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and geosphere.
Water in the Atmosphere
6. What is the ultimate source of energy for the hydrologic cycle?
7. Compare dew point, relative humidity, and humidity.
8. Compare clouds, water vapor, and precipitation.
9. As relative humidity increases and the dew point approaches the air temperature, what is likely to
occur?
10. Describe the formation of a cloud, being sure to include the three types of heat transfer.
11. List and describe the basic components of the hydrologic cycle. Explain the role of each component
in maintaining both the atmosphere and the ocean.
Air Pressure
12. Compare the factors that affect density and pressure in the atmosphere and ocean
13. Explain how changes in density result in changes in air pressure.
14. Explain how changes in air pressure result in wind.
Fronts
15. Use the concept of density to describe the formation of and to compare the four different fronts.
16. Explain the weather associated with each type of front.
Reporting on Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
1. Describe the evidence for and problems with continental drift theory.
2. Describe the evidence for plate tectonics. Are there any problems with this theory?
3. Continental drift and plate tectonics are both theories. Does this mean they are not true? Explain.
4. Explain density.
5. Describe the composition and structure of the lithospheric plates
6. Compare continental and oceanic crust.
7. Describe the three different types of plate movement.
8. Describe the processes that cause the plates to move.
9. What features form from the divergence of plates.
10. What features form at the convergence of continental plates
11. What features form at the convergence of oceanic plates
12. What features form at the convergence of continental and oceanic plates
13. What processes occur at transform fault boundaries
14. Compare folding and faulting
Volcanoes
15. Compare the three different types of volcano
16. What factors decide the type of volcanic eruption that will occur
Earthquakes
17. Describe the cause of an earthquake.
18. Compare the focus and epicenter of an earthquake
19. Compare seismographs and seismograms
20. Compare P-Waves, S-Waves, and Surface Waves
21. Explain why at least three monitoring stations are needed in order to plot an earthquake's epicenter
22. Compare the Mercalli Scale and the Richter Scale
Playing with Weathering and Erosion
Systems and Cycles
1. Compare systems and cycles.
2. What are the two major energy sources of the Earth?
3. Use the rock cycle to describe building forces and wearing forces.
4. List and describe the eight major processes that make up the rock cycle
5. Describe the major cycles that move matter throughout the Earth system
6. Describe the movement of energy throughout the Earth system
7. Explain why it is important to study the Earth as a system rather than studying each part (i.e.
hydrosphere, atmosphere) independently?
Weathering
8. Compare mechanical and chemical weathering
9. Describe how different environmental factors affect the rate of weathering
10. Describe the formation of soil
11. Differentiate between sand, silt, clay, and loam soils
Erosion
12. Compare erosion and deposition
13. Describe the five agents of erosion
14. Give examples of different methods of erosion control
The Little Ice Age
Climate Zones
1. Differentiate between weather and climate.
2. Compare climate zones and biomes
3. Provide an approximate time of year for each of the following events:
4. What two factors explain the reasons for the seasons?
5. How does the curvature of the Earth contribute to climate?
6. What effects does the ocean have on climate?
7. How does the water cycle affect climate?
8. How does elevation affect climate?
9. Explain how geochemical cycles move and conserve energy.
10. Explain how energy moves between the different Earth systems.
Event
First Day of Spring
First Day of Summer
First Day of Autumn
First Day of Winter
Perihelion
Aphelion
Historical Climates
11. Explain how scientists have learned about historical climates
12. Compare glacial and valley glaciers.
13. Compare environmental conditions during the ice age to present.
14. Compare environmental conditions during the little ice age to present.
Climate Change
15. Describe factors that contribute to global climate change.
16. Describe the movement of carbon through the different systems of the Earth
17. Explain how the ocean dominates the Earth’s carbon cycle.
18. Describe the effects on the environment and the carbon cycle of using both renewable and
nonrenewable sources of energy.
19. Compare natural and human-influences climate change
Date
The Art of Rocks and Minerals
1. Compare and contrast rocks and minerals
2. List and describe the four different processes involved in mineral formation
3. List and describe the six classification groups of minerals
4. List and describe the eight major properties used to describe minerals
5. List and describe the three major rock types of the rock cycle
6. Compare and contrast intrusive and extrusive rocks
7. Explain how the formation of igneous rocks affects rock texture
8. Compare basaltic and granitic igneous rocks
9. Compare contact and regional metamorphism
10. Compare foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rocks
11. Compare clastic, chemical, and biochemical sedimentary rocks
Pocono Earth Science
1. Describe the role of watersheds in maintaining both the atmosphere and ocean
2. Differentiate between the four major aquatic ecosystems
3. Explain how topography relates to stream flow, stream velocity, and stream discharge.
Research Paper: STEM Careers with a CTE Background
1. Explain the key components of a research paper.
2. Explain the importance of citing references in a research paper.
3. Give examples of plagiarism and explain why plagiarism is wrong.
4. Explain how technological progress promotes the advancement of science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM)
5. Explain why a multidisciplinary (STEM) approach to problem solving will yield greater results
Book Reports: The Cay
1. Describe the key components of a book report
2. Explain how technology has improved our understanding of the ocean floor.
3. Compare the different types of islands and their formation.
4. Relate the composition of sand to where it forms.
5. Describe how shells are classified.
6. Describe the processes that result in the formation of tropical storms
7. Describe where most tropical storms form and their general direction of travel
Scientific Investigations
1. Explain the differences between a research paper and a scientific investigation
2. Compare constants, dependent variables, and independent variables.
3. Use Mr. Ruschman to complete the following:
a. Make 3 observations about each
b. Use the 4Q Approach to generate a research idea
c. Write a testable question
d. Write a hypothesis
e. Construct a materials list
f. Construct a procedure
Engineering Projects
1. Explain why the design process requires creativity and consideration of all ideas
2. List the steps of the engineering design process