Content Standard 1

Complex interrelationships exist between Earth’s structure and natural processes that over time are both constructive and destructive.

 

Essential Questions

  1. How do forces inside Earth and on the surface build, destroy, and change Earth’s crust?

  2. How does Earth's surface change over time?

​

Student Performance Outcomes

• Gather, analyze, and communicate an evidence-based explanation for the complex interaction between Earth’s constructive and destructive forces.

 

• Gather, analyze, and communicate evidence from text and other sources that explains the formation of Earth’s surface features.

 

• Use a computer simulation for Earth’s changing crust.

 

 

Content Standard 2

Water on Earth is distributed and circulated through oceans, glaciers, rivers, ground water, and the atmosphere.  

 

Essential Questions

1. How is water cycled on Earth?

2. How does the lack or abundance of water impact human civilizations and populations?

3. How do your daily decisions impact the quality of water in the water cycle?

 

Student Performance Outcomes

• Gather and analyze data from a variety of print resources and investigations to account for local and world-wide water circulation and distribution patterns.

 

• Use evidence to model how water is transferred throughout the earth.

 

• Identify problems, and propose solutions related to water quality, circulation, and distribution – both locally and worldwide.

 

• Identify the various causes and effects of water pollution in local and world water distributions.

 

• Describe where water goes after it has been used in houses and buildings.

 

 

Content Standard 3

Earth’s natural resources provide the foundation for human society’s physical needs. Many natural resources are nonrenewable on human timescales, while others can be renewed or recycled.

 

Essential Questions

1. What resources are found and used in our community?

2. How can natural resources be identified and classified?

3.  How can we make responsible choices about the resources we use on a daily basis?

 

Student Performance Outcomes

• Research and evaluate data and information to learn about the types and availability of various natural resources, and use this knowledge to make evidence-based decisions.

 

• Identify and evaluate types and availability of renewable and nonrenewable resources.

 

• Use direct and indirect evidence to determine the types of resources and their applications used in communities.

 

• Research and critically evaluate data and information about the advantages and disadvantages of using fossil fuels and alternative energy sources.