What Causes Changes in the Earth's Surface?

School for the Creative & Performing Arts (SCAPA)

STEVE FLAIRTY, PATTY LIAUPSIN, CAMMY BAXTER, BRENDA HOLMES

 

ORGANIZER: How do changes in the earth’s surface influence our lives?

 

STANDARDS:

2.19 Students recognize and understand the relationship between people and geography.

2.20 Students understand, analyze, and interpret events, and conditions to develop a historical perspective.

2.6 Change over time.

1.11 Students communicate ideas and information for different purposes through writing.

 

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS:

(2.19) Examine the interaction between people and their environment.

(2.19) Explain the influence of geographic factors.

(2.19) Use geographic sources of information and data for a purpose.

(2.20) Examine cause-and-effect and multiple causation.

(2.20) Patterns emerge as humans move, settle, and interact on Earth’s surface.

(2.6) Investigating variables that influence change over time.

(2.6) Identify and predict small and large scale changes.

(1.11) Use research tools to access and synthesize information.

(1.11) Observe to obtain information.

(1.11) Write for a variety of purposes.

 

Essential Questions:

1. What exactly is a change in the earth’s surface?

2. How do people change the earth?

3. Why do you live in a certain  place?

4. What natural landmark(s) would you like to visit and why?

5. How does the earth change naturally?

 

CULMINATING PERFORMANCE:

 

          Research and create a written  portfolio piece about a  natural landmark.    The written document will contain:

·        Name and location of the landmark including latitude and longitude.

·        Describe the past, present, and future of this landmark.

·        Describe how people have interacted with this landmark.

·        What patterns are developing which might change our present landmarks or might develop new ones?

 

ASSESSMENT:

LEVEL 1

Name and location.

Describes just one of past, present, and future

No description of interaction.

No mention of patterns.

LEVEL 2

 Name, location, latitude and longitude.

Describes 2 of the ideas of past, present and future.

Superficial interaction. Vague description.

Some descriptions of patterns.

 

LEVEL 3

Name, location, latitude, longitude and various facts listed about location.

Describe all aspects of the past, present and future.

In depth description of human interaction.

In depth description of patterns.

 

CONTENT KNOWLEDGE:

·        Erosion

·        Weathering

·        Volcanoes, earthquakes, and slides

·        Fossils

·        Rivers, bodies of water

·        Climate factors

·        Human migrations

·        Constructive and destructive forces

·        Survival needs

·        Natural landmarks

·        Patterns

·        Variables

 

SKILLS/PROCEDURES

·        Basic writing skills.

·        Synthesize information from multiple sources.

·        Make predictions based on passed events

·        Research skills

·        Use of the Internet to gain information.

·        Science process skills.

 

ACTIVITIES:

1.        Internet search on Natural Landmarks.

2.        Lab experiments on erosion and depositions.

3.        Reading of books/stories on settlement (e.g. Native Americans).

4.         Acquiring information by requesting (letters, e-mail, etc.) materials on certain National Landmarks.

5.        Comparing and contrasting information obtained on landmarks.

6.        Possible field trip to McConnell Springs.

7.        Guest speaker (Geologist, Civil Engineer, etc.).

8.        Presentation creation of land mark using Kid’s Pix Studio.

9.        Clay “Plate Tectonics” activity emphasizing earthquakes and volcanoes.

10.  Student-created posters on landmark information.

 


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