Earth and Space Science Overview

Earth and Space Science Overview
OVERVIEW
Welcome to Earth and Space Science. In this course students will demonstrate the ability to use scientific skills and
processes to explain the physical behavior of the environment, Earth, and the universe. This curriculum is a unique
problem/project based curriculum. The learning is student-centered with the teacher acting as a facilitator.
Instruction is woven around one main problem within each unit of study. Minds-on inquiry and hands on
explorations, productive discourse, purposeful reading and meaningful writing will guide the students through this
exciting Science course! Students will be presented a request for proposals (RFP) at the start of each unit. They
will then use a design-folio throughout the quarter to research, develop, design and evaluate their proposal.
Units of Study
Unit
1
Title
Summary Statement
Solar Energy and Fluid
Circulation
Students will investigate how energy and matter transfer affect Earth
systems. They will also investigate how global conditions are affected
when natural and human-induced changes alter the transfer of energy
and matter. Students will consider the implications of locations all
around the world building green. They will be given a location on
Earth to build a home and factor in features addressing wind patterns,
precipitation, local geographic conditions, temperature, sunlight and
severe weather threats.
Students will investigate the role of forces in the formation and
operation of the universe and the role and interaction of revolution,
rotation and gravity on the Sun-Earth-Moon system. The NASA
Kepler Mission will present students with an RFP to choose the best
planet for life among some fictional discoveries. They will present
data to officials at NASA as to which they should fund a mission to
further explore. Students are also requested to provide scale models of
the new solar system.
The student will explain changes in Earth’s surface using plate
tectonics through investigations in Continental drift and sea floor
spreading. The plates move slowly and because the plates are so large,
the average person does not have the opportunity to observe and
experience the dynamic geologic conditions at each type of boundary.
Students will create an interactive brochure highlighting locations of
interesting tectonic environments.
The student will compare the origin and structure of igneous,
metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The student will explain how the
transfer of energy drives the rock cycle. Students will be designing an
Aquatic Center on the school grounds. Prior to construction an RFP
for selecting the best possible construction site within the school
property must be submitted. Information in the RFP will contain the
geotechnical properties of the proposed site as to foresee any potential
problems when constructing the aquatic center.
The student will investigate methods that geologists use to determine
the history of Earth. The student will apply geologic principles used to
date Earth’s geologic and biologic events. The student will compare
events in Earth’s history that have been grouped according to
similarities. The International News Association is interested in having
reporters make predictions about what various locations on Earth will
be like twenty-five to fifty years from now. They are requesting sample
front pages of newspapers that describe what various aspects of life on
Earth will be like between 2035 and 2060.
Astronomy
2
Restless Earth
3
Earth Materials and Processes
3
Earth History-Global Change
5