General Earth Science Curriculum Guide

Harrisonburg High School2013

Pacing Guide Overview 2

Units:

Unit 1: Introduction 3

Unit 2: Maps and Models 5

Unit 3: Astronomy 7

Unit 4: Minerals and Rocks 10

Unit 5: Natural Resources12

Unit 6: Plate Tectonics 14

Unit 7: Surface Processes and Groundwater16

Unit 8: Meteorology18

Unit 9: Oceanography 21

Unit 10: Historical Geology 24

Unit 11: Virginia Geology26

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General Earth Science Pacing Guide Overvieiw

Unit TopicMatching SOLES.1 & ES.2 match all units

Blocks Allowed

1 Introduction ES.1, ES.2 42 Maps and Models ES.1 53 Astronomy ES.3, ES.13 12

1st Benchmark Exam covering Units 1-3

4Minerals and Rocks ES.4, ES.5 8

5 Natural Resources ES.6 4

6Plate Tectonics ES.7 10

7 Surface Processes and Groundwater

ES.7, ES.8 10

2nd Benchmark Exam covering Units 4-7

8Meteorology ES.11, ES.12 8

9Oceanography ES.10 3

10 Historical Geology ES.9 5

11Virginia Geology

ES.5, ES.6, ES.7, ES.8, ES.9

2

3rd Benchmark Exam—all content will be tested

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SOL Review 4

SOL Testing, Remediation, Retesting

15

*71 days have been allotted for content teaching, with another 4 days budgeted for SOL review. The 15 days at the end of the semester are to be used to for SOL testing, SOL remediation, and retesting as necessary. These final 15 days can also include additional units, projects and exams. A final exam is required for Honors Earth Science.

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Unit 1 Introduction to Earth ScienceMatching SOL’s ES.1, ES.2Time Allowed 5 blocksLabs/Activities Density Measurement

Graphing Making Objective Observations Safety in the Science Lab

Materials Needed

Balances Metric Rules Calculators Graduated Cylinders Beakers Density sets

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… making a graph in two variables safe habits in the lab

Key Understanding

Students will understand… the ways of thinking and acting that are inherent to the

practice of science that scientists make hypotheses based on existing

knowledge and objective observations, including measurements, and test their hypotheses with experiments

scientific laws describe patterns and relationships, which are observed facts

scientific theories are best efforts to explain observations, have been rigorously tested and validated by repeated experiments, but can be modified by new evidence

there are a variety of tools (including balance and graduated cylinder) used to make measurements, that they all have limits to precision and accuracy, and the metric system is used for most scientific study

that repeated trials are required to be certain of experimental outcome

density is an intensive physical property relating the mass to unit volume ratio of different substances

data and information may be shared and interpreted using charts, tables, and graphs

safety is the most important part of the lab experience, and we all must be familiar with and follow safe practices and procedures

Vocabulary observationvolumemassdensitybalance

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graduated cylinderscientific lawhypothesisscientific theoryevidenceexperiment/experimentaltrialvariabledatainformationgraphtablechartanalyze/analysislogicconclusionpredictiontestableinference

Cross references

Maps Unit (scale, latitude and longitude, topographic maps, profiles)All subsequent units will build on these concepts and skills.

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Unit 2 Maps and ModelsMatching SOL’s ES.1Time Allowed 5 BlocksLabs/Activities Plotting Latitude & Longitude

Map and model reading Map Scale Making a Topographic map Making topographic profiles

Materials Needed

Directional Compasses Drafting Compasses Globes Road maps Topographic Maps 7.5 minute series quadrangle Raised relief maps, bathymetric maps, false color

images, globes, physiographic maps, GPS receivers

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… measurements compass directions, reading horizontal/vertical

Key Understanding

Students will understand… how maps and globes are read and interpreted

(landforms, water features, map scale, distances, and elevation)

grid systems of latitude and Longitude topographic map skills (constructing profiles) pros and cons of different projections

Vocabulary modelsmapglobeEquatorPrime Meridianlatitudelongitudescalelandformbenchmarkdistortiontopographytopographic mapcontour linecontour intervalslopeelevationtopographic profile

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Global Positioning Systemsatellite imageryMercator projectionRobinson projectionOther projection types (conic, polar)

Cross references

Ocean Floor TopographyGeologic FeaturesChanges in Geologic time

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Unit 3 AstronomyMatching SOL's ES.3, ES.13Time Allowed 12 blocksLabs/Activities Modeling eclipses

Modeling moon phases Scale model of moon/earth/sun system Scale model of solar system How Big/How Far/ How Old? Circumpolar star modeling Rotation vs Revolution Compare atmopsheres of all eight planets Planet line-up (planet comparison) Plotting and reading the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

Materials needed

Lamp/Light Source Insolation model Balls, 4:1 diameter ratio; Earth and Moon Globes, to

scale Measuring tape (at least 40 feet long) Adding tape Hand lenses or simple telescope/ binoculars Orrery (Mechanical Model of Earth/Moon/Sun system Star charts for Honors

Prerequisites Before this unit, students should understand… shape and size of Planet Earth gravity, inertia, and orbits characteristics of electromagnetic radiation axial tilt of Earth’s rotation

Key Understanding

Students will understand… the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun and how they

move through space the effects of the movement of Earth, Moon and Sun;

seasons, tides, eclipses characteristics of the sun, planets (terrestrial and gas

giant), moons, comets, meteors, and asteroids, and how they all travel

characteristics of the planets atmospheres the history and contributions of space explorations and

the Hubble Telescope observed evidence for the Nebular Hypothesis of solar

system formation the sun as a star; structure, processes, variations and

their effects on Earth evidence which supports the Big Bang theory and its

implications. the evolution and life cycles of stars, and how to

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interpret an H-R diagram the structure and development of star systems and

galaxies.Vocabulary orbit

revolutionrotationseasonssolsticeequinoxmoonsatellitetelescopephasetideeclipse (lunar, solar)aphelion/apogeeperihelion/perigeeplanetellipse/ellipticalsolar nebula theorygas giantterrestrialdwarf planetasteroid, asteroid beltmeteor/meteorite/meteoroidcometstar (main sequence, blue giant, red giant, neutron star, dwarf, black hole)constellation electromagnetic radiation/spectrumfusionHertzsprung-Russell diagramabsolute magnitudeapparent magnitudenebulasun layers (core, convective zone, radiative zone, chromosphere, photosphere, corona)solar flaresolar prominenceuniversebig bang theorydoppler effect (red shift, blue shift)galaxy (spiral, elliptical, irregular)interstellar Milky WayKuiper beltlight-yearAstrononical Unit (AU)

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Hubble TelescopeCross references

Seasons (axial tilt) with climateTides Rocks and Minerals ie. Lunar rocks, meteoritesErosion, or lack thereofAtmosphere, Weather and Climate, possible origins of water, atmospheric evolution

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Unit 4 Minerals and RocksMatching SOL’s ES.4, ES.5Time Allowed 8 blocksLabs/Activities Test and identify the physical properties of minerals

Identify common rock forming and ore minerals Classify and identify rocks by their mineral content and

texturesLab materials Balances

Graduated cylinders Streak plates Glass plates Magnets Hand lens Copper pennies Steel file Hydrochloric acid UV Lamp Goggles (acid goggles and UV goggles) Minerals to include: quartz, feldspar, calcite (to include

optical- Iceland spar), mica, pyrite, magnetite, hematite, galena, graphite, sulfur, and fluorescent minerals

Rocks to include: pumice, obsidian, basalt, granite, sandstone, conglomerate, shale, limestone, rock salt, slate, schist, gneiss, marble, quartzite

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… that atoms are the building blocks of matter how to recognize elements present in a chemical

formula density and measurements

Key Understanding

Students will understand… the difference between minerals and rocks; that most

rocks are made of one or more minerals the major elements found in Earth’s crust are oxygen,

silicon, aluminum, iron; and the most common minerals are silicates, oxides, and carbonates

how to recognize major rock-forming minerals and ore minerals

that minerals and their uses are important to human wealth and welfare

how to observe and test the physical properties of minerals

that rocks are classified by how they were formed that rocks can be identified by their mineral content

and texture how to classify rocks as igneous intrusive or extrusive,

sedimentary clastic or non clastic, and metamorphic

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foliated or non foliated. that the processes of the rock cycle form and recycle

Earth materials over time

Vocabularymineralcrystalinorganic/organicsilicatecarbonateoxidehardnessstreaklustercleavagefracturefluorescencerockrock cycletextureigneous rockcrystallizationintrusivemagmaextrusivelavasedimentary rockclastic/nonclasticfossilmetamorphic rockfoliated/nonfoliatedhomogenous texture

Cross references

DensityNatural resourcesPlate tectonicsSurface processesOceanographyGeologic time

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Unit 5 Natural ResourcesMatching SOL’s ES. 6 Time Allowed 4 blocksLabs/Activities What resources do you use?

Carbon Footprint calculation Mapping Virgina Resources

Lab Materials --VA mineral resource maps and samples Specimens and examples; coal, wallboard, pipes, make-

up, etc.Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand…

rocks and minerals unitKey Understanding

Students will understand… natural resources are limited. They are either

renewable or nonrenewable advantages and disadvantages of using energy sources renewable and nonrenewable sources support the

modern living standard extraction and use of resources has an environmental

cost as well as economic benefits renewable resources include water, vegetation,

sunlight (air). nonrenewable resources include coal, oil, minerals

(natural gas) Virginia has many natural resources, including coal,

crushed stone, silica, zirconium, uranium, kyanite, and titanium.

the use of clean water is renewable, but easily polluted Past, present and future sources of resources and

energy in Virginia. Vocabulary natural resources

renewablenonrenewablefossil fuelsnatural gashydrofrackingpetroleumcoalstrip-miningradioactivityuraniumnuclear reactorfissionfusionsolar powerphotovoltaic cellswind energy

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hydroelectric powertidal energygeothermal energybiofuels/biomassgeneratorturbinesustainabilitycarbon footprintconservationgreenhouse gas/effect

Cross references

CoalGeologic HistoryBiologic and Atmospheric changesFusionPollutionRunoffMeteorology; wind, greenhouse effectCarbon cycleKarstGeysers, igneous bodies

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Unit 6 Plate TectonicsMatching SOL’s ES.7Time Allowed 10 BlocksLabs/Activities Reconstruction Pangaea

Sea Floor Spreading Rock Densities Earthquake location plotting Epicenter Location “Geoblox” (plate boundary models) Folding/faulting

Materials Needed

Continental & Oceanic rock samples Wooden fault models Foam folding models Visuals of plate boundaries and geologic features

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… rocks and minerals unit density maps and models

Key Understanding

Students will understand… Earth’s internal structure and proof properties of lithospheric crusts evidence of plate tectonics continental drift tectonic boundaries geologic processes (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain

building) geologic features tectonic activity in North America including Hawaii, San

Andreas, Mt. St. Helens, Applachian Mountains tectonic volcanic/geothermal activity worldwide

including Himalayas, Deccan Traps, Iceland, Tambora, and Yellowstone

current and an ancient plate boundaries of Japan, California, New Madrid, Missouri, Appalachian system, Iceland, and Tonga

Vocabulary inner coreouter coremantleasthenospherecrustlithosphereconvection currentboundaries [convergent (collision/subduction), divergent, transform]continental driftPangaea

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plate tectonicsdeep sea trenchseafloor spreadingmid-ocean ridgeriftingRing of Fireearthquakeearthquake zoneepicenterfocusseismic waves (p, s, surface)temblortsunamifault (normal, reverse, thrust, strike/slip)volcanic eruptionsviscositylavamagmaflood lavasvolcanic featuresvolcanic island arcvolcano types (shield, cinder cone, fissure, stratovolcano/composite) hot spotigneous intrusionmountain chainmountains (folded, fault-block, dome, volcanic)physiographicmagnetic field

Cross references

Virginia Geology Sea Floor Geologic Processes & Topography Earth’s Atmosphere/Climate changes due to Geologic Activity Relative and Absolute Rock datingGeologic time scaleFossil evidenceRock CycleTerrestrial Planets“Moon” formation, composition, geologic activityComposition of planets interiors

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Unit 7 Surface Processes and GroundwaterMatching SOL’s ES.7, ES.8Time Allowed 10 blocksLabs/Activities Effects on chemical weathering rates

Soil profile investigation pH Mapping watersheds Groundwater model River dynamics

Lab materials Thermometers Beakers/cups Stopwatches Alka-Seltzer tablets pH paper Watershed map of Virginia Groundwater model Food coloring Stream table Sediments/sand Buckets Sediment traps

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… rocks and minerals

Key Understanding

Students will understand… how water, wind and ice alter Earth’s landscape

through the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition

how soil is formed from the weathering of rocks and organic activity

karst topography, its formation from carbonate rocks, and features like caves and sinkholes

the hydrologic cycle and freshwater sources groundwater zones how humans depend on and can affect fresh water

supplies watersheds of Virginia (Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of

Mexico, North Carolina sounds) location of deposition and landforms created

Vocabulary weathering (chemical and physical/mechanical)erosionglacierdepositionsoilgroundwaterzone of saturationzone of aeration/unsaturated

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water tableaquiferpermeableimpermeablehydrologic cycleevaporationcondensationprecipitationrunoffwatershedkarstcavesinkholedeltaalluvial fan

Cross references

Rocks and mineralsMars topographyMeteorological eventsRock cycleClimate change Geologic time

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Unit 8Meteorology

Matching SOL's ES.11, ES.12

Time Allowed8 blocks

Labs/Activities Air Pressure Effects (crush soda can) Examining Pressure and Temperature data vs. Altitude,

inferring presence of layers Heat Transfer Mechanisms (Radiation, Convection,

Conduction) and heating of surface materials Measuring properties of Air –temperature, determination

of dew point, estimating wind speed and direction, identifying clouds

Plotting weather data on a map and making predictions Maintaining and interpreting a weather log Hurricane Tracking (Plot paths, lat/long)

Lab Materials Hot Plate, tongs, aluminum can Dark Earth materials and Light Earth materials,

thermometers Candle Carousel/radiometer Barometer/ Barograph Sling Psychrometer Weather Station

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… graphing recording data understanding of latitude Photosynthesis oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gases feedback mechanisms

Key Understanding

Students will understand… the structure (layers) and composition of Earth’s

atmosphere how the atmosphere has changed over time how natural processes and human interactions

influence and alter atmospheric conditions how energy from the sun drives the weather engine how we measure the variable properties of the

troposphere that make up weather how to interpret station models and weather maps how weather patterns can be used to make predictions the causes and effects of severe storms –

thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes the major factors which influence climate (ocean

currents, latitude, seasons, topography, proximity to

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water)

Vocabulary atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, exosphere)pressure (air/barometric)barometerinsolationtemperature thermometerphotosynthesiscyanobacteriaozonegreenhouse/atmospheric effect ultraviolet radiation radiationconductionconvectionalbedoglobal wind patterns Coriolis effectjet streamdoldrums trade winds prevailing westerlieshumidity (absolute/relative)dew pointpsychrometer sea breeze land breezecondensation nucleiicloud (stratus, cumulus, cirrus)precipitation (rain-snow-hail-sleet..)weatherisobarisothermair mass front (stationary, warm, cold, occluded)cyclonetornadohurricanecondensationevaporationwatchwarningclimateclimate zone rain shadowpolartropical

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temperate

Cross references

Radiation, wavelength, etc, if part of AstronomyLatitudeEarth’s Orbit and tiltOcean Currents and climate influence; el NiñoNatural resources-wind, solarNatural disastersSatellite imagery

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Unit 9 OceanographyMatching SOL’s ES. 10Time Allowed 3 blocksLabs/Activities Mapping surface currents

Convection/water density model Calculate salinity from evaporated seawater Buoyancy Lab Graphing thermocline, halocline Estuary stratification demo (layering salt water) Graphing tides Seafloor topography (graphing seafloor features) Wave simulation

Lab Materials Food coloring World maps Salt Bathymetric maps Clear container Hydrometer Graduated cylinder Wave tank Hair dryer Farmer’s Almanac

Prerequisite knowledge

Before this unit, students should understand… plate tectonics convection meteorology unit erosion and deposition moon phases

Key Understanding

Students will understand… chemical, biological and physical changes of oceans the importance of oceans as a source of food and

mineral resources sea level changes with climate change most surface waves are generated by the wind ocean current systems - convection upwelling tidal changes ocean resources are finite and that human activities

affect ocean resources algae is an important source of atmospheric oxygen heat stored in oceans fuels weather systems and

affects climates sea floor topography the Chesapeake Bay is an important estuary sources of pollution affect the Chesapeake Bay human activities affect water quality of estuaries and

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oceansVocabulary abyssal plain

atollbarrier reefcontinental shelf, rise, slope, and marginguyotseamounttrenchessalinityconvectionCoriolis effectcurrentsupwellingEl Niñowatershedrunoffnutrientspollutant/pollutionestuarysedimentationcarbonatesalgaecoral

Cross references

Coriolis effectEl Niño / La Niñaconvectionglaciersice capsmoon phasesdensitymagnetic reversalstsunaminatural resourcesclimate and climate changehurricane formation and trackingglobal wind patternsrock cycle; plate tectonics, erosion and depositionhistorical geologyalgae blooms and oxygen levelspoint source and non point source pollutionsHydrothermal vents

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Unit 10 Historical GeologyMatching SOL’s ES.9 Time Allowed 5 BlocksLabs/Activities Constructing a geologic time scale

Mold & Cast formation Relative Dating Sequencing Absolute Dating Headsium Lab Fossil identification

Materials Needed

Fossil examples Headsium lab pennies and containers Visuals of rock cross sections

Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand… rocks and minerals plate tectonics

Key Understanding

Students will understand… the age of the earth is 4.6 billion years life forms become more complex over time geologic history and time scale of Earth is based on the

rock and fossil record how to use relative dating methods to establish

geologic sequencing how to identify igneous intrusions within cross sections absolute dating of rocks and fossils depends on

radioactive decay fossil types and formation Virginia has an extensive rock and fossil history

Vocabulary relative datingsuperpositioncross-cutting relationships igneous intrusions (dike, sill, batholith)absolute datingradioactive decayhalf-lifeindex fossilpaleontologyfossiltrace fossiloriginal remainsreplaced remains/petrification/permineralization moldcast geologic time scale [eons, era (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic), period, epochs]evolutionextinct(ions) and mass extinctions

Cross Sedimentary Rocks

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references Fossil FuelsPlate TectonicsVirginia GeologyWeathering and ErosionAstronomy (Asteroid/Comet Impacts)Atmospheric EvolutionBig Bang and Solar Nebula theories

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Unit 11 Virginia GeologyMatching SOL’s ES.5, ES.6, ES.7, ES.8, ES.9Time Allowed 2 blocksLabs/Activities Map Virginia physiographic provinces, watersheds

Virginia fossilsLab materials Maps

Fossils Prerequisite Before this unit, students should understand…

how to read a map formation of minerals and rocks plate tectonic processes weathering, erosion, and depositional processes natural resources

Key Understanding

Students will understand… Virginia’s five physiographic provinces’

topography rock types tectonic history

province locations on a map the rock cycle as it relates to Virginia’s rocks Virginia’s natural resources how Virginia was shaped by geologic (tectonic,

weathering, erosion, and depositional) processes Virginia’s climate Virginia rivers and watersheds Virginia has an extensive rock and fossil history How fossil types in Virginia reveal the state’s geologic

history

VocabularyCoastal PlainPiedmontBlue RidgeValley and RidgeAppalachian PlateauCatoctin Greenstonerock cycleigneous rocksedimentary rocksediment coalfossil metamorphic rocknatural resourcesplate tectonicscontinental collisionriftingfolding

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faultingsubductionvolcanoesweatheringerosionkarstcarbonatecavessinkholes groundwater salt-water intrusiondepositionbasin Paleozoic EraMesozoic EraCenozoic Era

Cross references

Natural resourcesPlate tectonicsSurface processesOceanographyGeologic time

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