This will definitely be a work in progress for the course you are about to take with me. In my 42 years of doing this, I have never taught juniors or seniors, so be kind. The course will evolve into what you want it to be. For now, I need a "comfort zone," so this curriculum map is it. As of now, I have September and October more or less set. November, etc. will evolve as I learn more about what you want.
|
Month |
Essential Question |
Skill |
Assessment |
Resources |
Framework |
|
|
September 2 days |
How do scientists study the physical world? |
You should be able to identify the difference between a fact, hypothesis, theory, and law. You should be able to identify each in all of the labs we do. |
Ongoing throughout the year. In each lab we do they will be asked to identify the role played by each of those terms. |
|
Science may be described as the attempt to give good accounts of the patterns in nature. The result of scientific investigation is an understanding of natural processes. Scientific explanations are always subject to change in the face of new evidence. Ideas with the most durable explanatory power become established theories or are codified as laws of nature. Overall, the key criterion of science is that it provide a clear, rational, and succinct account of a pattern in nature. This account must be based on data gathering and analysis and other evidence obtained through direct observations or experiments, reflect inferences that are broadly shared and communicated, and be accompanied by a model that offers a naturalistic explanation expressed in conceptual, mathematical, and/or mechanical terms. | |
| The major reason why I took this course is because I've always wanted to know . . . | You should have brought a question with you to this course that you want answered. This project will be your vehicle for answering that question. | Poster Presentation |
? |
|||
|
Ongoing - 13 days |
What is that, and how did it get there? | You should be able to select a feature common to most Atlantic Shore beaches and describe in a PowerPoint presentation the origin of the feature, its composition, and how long it should last. | PowerPoint Presentation |
Varies |
|
|
|
September 3 days |
"There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on the Earth." How do they know that? |
You should be able to design a lab to determine how big 200 billion (the typical number of stars in a galaxy) really is. |
Lab Report | Live from the Sun - Billions and Billions | ||
|
September 2 days |
Speaking of salt, what is the percentage of salt in the ocean? Is that percentage the same everywhere? | You should be able to find the percentage of salt in Scituate sea water, and compare it to the percentages from around the world. | Lab Report | |||
|
September 1 day |
I have brought in four rocks from a beach in Scituate. Hopefully one is igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. The fourth is a rock of my choosing. How was each rock created? Why does it look like this? Where did it come from? How did it get here? What will eventually happen to it? | You should be able to bring back four rocks from a local beach during our field trip. The rocks should be of their choosing. You should be able write a paragraph for each sample describing where the sample came from, and why you selected the sample. If possible, include an image of the sample in-situ, and an image of the beach. Over the course of the semester you will do a series of labs to answer those five questions. | Lab Reports | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | ||
| September 3 days |
How did the Earth, and other terrestrial planets form? | After watching the film "The Earth is Born" from the NOVA series - "Origins" you should be able to describe the steps in the formation of the Earth, Moon, and other terrestrial objects. | Quiz | NOVA - Origins website | Describe the influence of gravity and inertia on the rotation and
revolution of orbiting bodies. Explain the Sun-Earth-moon relationships
(e.g., day, year, solar/lunar eclipses, tides).
|
|
| September 2 days |
What are the physical characteristics of minerals? | Given an assortment of minerals, you should be able to find the specific gravity, hardness, streak, color, luster, and transparency of each mineral | Lab Report | Mineral Classification | ||
| September 2 days |
What is the relationship between the physical characteristics of the mineral and its origin? | Given the physical characteristics of an assortment of minerals, you should be able to form an hypothesis as to the relationship between the minerals. | Lab Report | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | ||
|
September 1 day |
Can I take a digital image of my four rock samples? | Given a digital camera, you should be able to take a scientifically accurate image (including scale) of your four rock samples. | Digital Image | |||
|
September 1 day |
Can I clean up my rock images and publish them to a website? | Given their images, you should be able to create a clean image using Adobe Photoshop, save the image and paste it into a webpage of your creation. | Completed Webpage | |||
|
October 1 Day |
What is the mineral composition of one of my rock samples? | After selecting one of your four samples for analysis using a thermal emission spectrometer (TES), you should be able to mail your sample to Arizona State University for evaluation | Spectral Analysis Graph from ASU | Rock Around the World | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | |
|
October 1 Day |
Why are we doing this? | After watching the film "Galileo was Right!" you should have an appreciation for why the study of geology is important | HBO - "From the Earth to the Moon" series - Galileo was Right! worksheet | From the Earth to the Moon | ||
|
October 2 Days |
All rocks, with the exception of those formed from organic material, begin their "lives" as igneous rocks. What physical characteristics do igneous rocks have? | Given an assortment of igneous rocks you should be able to detect unique characteristics that identify the rock as being igneous. | Lab Report | Igneous Classification | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | |
| October 2 Days | Once a rock is placed on the surface of the planet, it starts to break down. These particles may ultimately be cemented into sedimentary rocks. What physical characteristics do sedimentary rocks have? | Given an assortment of sedimentary rocks you should be able to detect unique characteristics that identify the rock as being sedimentary. | Lab Report | Sedimentary Classification | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | |
| October 2 Days | Instead of being placed on the surface, a rock maybe subjected to heat and pressure creating a metamorphic rock. What physical characteristics do metamorphic rocks have? | Given an assortment of metamorphic rocks you should be able to detect unique characteristics that identify the rock as being metamorphic. | Lab Report | Metamorphic Classification | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | |
| October 2 Days | Every feature on the surface of the earth can be explained by plate tectonics. How does plate tectonics create the three major rock types? | After reviewing the three major types of plate movement, convergence, divergence, and transformation, you should be able to describe the general origin of the different rock types. | Test | Plate Tectonics | Trace the development of a lithospheric plate from its growth at a
divergent boundary (mid-ocean ridge) to its destruction at a convergent
boundary (subduction zone). Recognize that alternating magnetic polarity
is recorded in rock at mid-ocean ridges. |
|
| October 1 Day | How was each of my rocks formed? | After going through the three rock labs, and reviewing the role of plate tectonics in the rock cycle, you should be able to identify your sample as being igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, and describe the process that created it. | Test | Describe the rock cycle, and the processes that are responsible for the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Compare the physical properties of these rock types and the physical properties of common rock-forming minerals. | ||
| How has the Earth changed over time? | PowerPoint Presentation | Geologic Time Project |
|
|||
| What causes Ice Ages? |
|
|||||
| How did Scituate get its shape? | Given a geologic feature found in Scituate, you should be able to describe how it came to be. | PowerPoint Presentation |
|
|||
| How and why do the physical characteristics of sand change as you go from Maine to Florida? | Given a sample of Atlantic coast sand you should be able to sort the sample into its various size categories using a sieve, analyze that sample and determine the percentage of each size grain, identify the various minerals in the sample, and calculate their percentage. | Lab Report | Atlantic Coast Sand Lab |
|