Earth Science

Grade 7 Science Curriculum

Unit of Study: EARTH
Suggested Time: 7 Weeks

 

Content Standard 7.3 Landforms are the result of the interaction of constructive and destructive forces over time.

  • Volcanic activity and the folding and faulting of rock layers during the shifting of the Earth’s crust affect the formation of mountains, ridges and valleys.
  • Glaciation, weathering and erosion change the Earth’s surface by moving earth materials from place to place.
Essential Question: How do external and internal sources of energy affect the Earth’s systems?

 

Focus Question #1 How does the shifting of the Earth’s crust create volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains, ridges and valleys?

Expected Performances (C20) The student will be able to:

a. identify and describe the layers of the Earth (crust, mantle, core).

b. explain how the boundaries of tectonic plates can be inferred from the location of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Required Activities:

  1. Navigate way through CD-Rom of Plate Tectonics. (CINQ. 2, T)

Optional Activity:

  1. Make a model/illustration of the Earth’s internal structure. (CINQ. 10)
  2. Convection currents and motion. pg. F 37
  3. Modeling Seafloor Spreading. pg. F30
  4. Map/Biome project that illustrates lithospheric plates, plate boundaries, locations of earthquakes and volcanoes. (CINQ. 10)
  5. Analyze a map which illustrates plate boundaries and predict the location of possible earthquakes and volcanoes.

Assessments:

Plate Tectonics CD-Rom Quiz (C20)

 

Focus Question #2 How can we draw conclusions about the Earth’s history by examining rock layers?

Expected Performances (C18) The student will be able to:

a. describe how faulted and folded rock layers provide evidence of the gradual up-and-down motion of the Earth’s crust.

Required Activities:

  1. Directed reading comprehension strategies to help students make meaning of text. All-In-One Resource book

Optional Activities:

  1. Modeling movements along faults lab. Prentice Hall Inside Earth pg. 62 (CINQ. 10)

Assessments:

Analyze different illustrations/photos of folded and faulted rock layer formations and explain how they were formed. (C18)

 

Focus Question #3 How does glaciation, weathering and erosion change Earth’s surface by moving materials from place to place?

Expected Performances (C19) The student will be able to:

a. explain how glaciation, weathering and erosion creates and shapes formations on the Earth’s surfaces such as valleys and floodplains.

Required Activities:

  1. Directed reading comprehension strategies to help students make meaning of text. All-In-One Resource book

Optional Activities:

  1. Rock shake pg. 116, All In One “Earth’s Changing Surface”. (CINQ. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
  2. Stream tables outdoors (catch water and sand in tray to recycle). (CINQ. 5, 8, 9, 10)
  3. Soil testing (percolation). PH 40 H Earth’s Waters
  4. Observe slide show (or pictures) of various land features and have students explain their origins.

Assessments:

Chapter test on glaciation, weathering and erosion and their effect on land formations. (C19)

Resources Needed:

Maps, pH meter

Student:

Inside the Earth, Prentice Hall

Earth’s Changing Surfaces, Prentice Hall

Plate Tectonics Interactive CD Rom

Teacher Resources:

Inside the Earth, Prentice Hall with ancillary materials

Earth’s Changing Surfaces, Prentice Hall with ancillary materials

Internet Resources:

See Science resources on LMS home page

 

Bold face indicates CORE expected performances to be assessed by CMT

Ledyard Public Schools
Revised 5/20/05
Approved by Instructional Council May 20, 2005