Strand

The learner will be able to…

Benchmark

Atmosphere: Layers/Recognize

Recognize the criteria science uses for classifying the layers of the atmosphere.

Draw a model of the atmosphere.

Atmosphere: Components

Understand that a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace

gases that include water vapor make up the atmosphere.

Create a graph of the gases found in air.

Atmosphere: Changes

Understand the probable alterations to the makeup of the atmosphere due to human, biologic, and geologic activity.

Explain the causes of the greenhouse effect.

Earth and Sun: Energy

Understand that the sun is the Earth's major source of external energy.

Describe how the external heat from the sun drives ocean currents and the water cycle.

Earth & Sun: Air/Ocean Current Patterns

Know that the heating of the earth's surface and atmosphere by the sun drive convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.

Earth, Moon & Sun: Relate/Motion

Explain how the motion of the Earth, moon and sun relate.

Create a model of the earth, sun, moon system and explain the relationship they have.

Earth, Moon & Sun: Eclipse/Compare

Find the similarities and differences between solar and lunar eclipses.

Create a model of the earth-sun-moon system and explain the relationships between the them.

Earth, Moon & Sun: Tides/Talk

Talk about the impact of the sun and moon on tides.

Earth: Plates

Understand that convection currents in the mantle are one of the causes of tectonic plate motion.

Liken the internal heat source in the earth to a pot of hot soup. The currents in the soup move crackers on top as the mantle moves continents.

Earth: Energy/Internal

Discuss how the decay of radioactive elements drives the convection currents within the earth's mantle according to some theories.

Earth: Energy/Internal and External

Know that the movement of matter through the solid earth,

oceans, and atmosphere is driven by the earth's internal and external sources of energy.

Earth: Energy/Rock Cycle

Describe the physical and chemical changes that occur at

the different stages of the rock cycle.

Compare the three main rock types. Draw the rock cycle and label its parts.

Earth: Energy/Internal and External

Understand that the Earth has internal energy (e.g., decay

of radioactive isotopes) and external energy (e.g., the sun).

Draw a cut-away version of the earth and describe the processes involved in each layer.

Earth: Energy/Internal

Know that the two primary sources of internal energy are

the decay of radioactive isotopes and gravitational energy from the earth's original formation.

Earth: Energy/Transfer/Global Climate

Understand that the transfer of energy from the sun at and near the earth's surface determines the global climate.

Draw a cut-away version of the earth and describe the processes involved in each layer.

Earth: Geology/Layers

Understand the layers of the Earth: lithosphere, mantel, and core.

Describe the limitations within a closed system.

Geochemical Cycles

Understand that the Earth's system contains a fixed amount of chemical atoms and elements.

Earth: Geology/Analyze

Analyze the geology of the Earth on the basis of uniformitarianism.

Describe how the processes of erosion and deposition are constant forces and how they relate to rock formation.

Earth: Geology/Analyze

Analyze the geology of the Earth on the basis of the principles of superposition.

Earth: History

Understand the Earth's history.

Construct a timeline of the history and physical development of the earth from its’ formation to present.

Earth: History/Explain

Explain the history of the Earth.

Describe how the processes of erosion and deposition are constant forces and how they relate to rock structure and formation.

Earth: History/Influences

Understand how Earth's history has been influenced by catastrophes, such as the impact of a comet.

Name at least three events that scientists believe may have influenced features and life on earths surface.

Earth: Evolution

Understand how the Earth is continually evolving due to

the interaction between the solid Earth, oceans, the atmosphere, and organisms.

Create a series of world globes showing the changing positions  of continents over time.

Earth: History/Relative Time

Differentiate between relative and absolute time.

Describe how an unstable radioactive isotope will decay at a constant rate.

Earth: History/Carbon Dating

Explain how radio carbon dating is done.

Earth: Organisms

Understand how living organisms have affected the Earth and how the earth's changing environment has affected living organisms.

List the biomes of the world and an example of an animal that has adapted to each area

Energy: Sun Light

Understand that the sun's energy arrives at earth in the form of light.

Describe how the external heat from the sun drives ocean currents and the water cycle.

Energy Resources:  Alternative

Describe emerging technologies that have led to alternatives to fossil fuels.

Create a chart comparing and contrasting alternative and fossil fuel sources.

Energy Resources:  Fossil Fuels

Define fossil fuels and their role in today’s environment and economy.

Gravity: Description

Understand that gravity is a force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth.

Create a data table that uses the students’ weight and their weight as it would be if they traveled throughout out solar system.

Gravity: Orbit

Recognize that gravity is responsible for the orbits of the

Planets and moons.

Use a ball at the end of a string to illustrate how gravity holds us in orbit.

Gravity: Solar System

Understand that gravity and inertia are the forces that maintain the orbits of planets around the sun.

Gravity: Tides

Understand that gravity explains the tides phenomena.

Describe the difference between low and high tides.

Gravity: Planets, Stars, Solar System

Understand the function of gravity in the development and preservation of planets, stars, and the solar system.

Explain the big bang theory and how planets developed from nebulae.

Human Activities: Soil/Water/Air

Explain how human activities have impacted soil, water, and air quality.

Human Activities: Resources/Conclusions

Make conclusions about the impact of human activities on

Earth's resources.

List some environmental changes occurring in the last 200 years. Create a graph of human population for a possible correlation.

Weather: Maps/Analyze

Analyze weather maps.

Describe weather conditions at a specific location using station model symbols on a weather map.

Landforms

Understand that constructive and destructive forces create landforms.

Use a topographic map of a mountainous area to illustrate the idea of geologic time and landforms.

Landforms: Constructive Forces

Identify constructive forces, such as crustal deformation, volcanic eruption, or deposition of sediments.

Meteors and Comets: Origins

Compare and contrast the origin of meteors and comets.

Create a list of similarities and differences between meteors, meteoroids, meteorites and comets.

Meteors and Comets: Properties

Compare and contrast the physical properties of meteors and comets.

Meteors and Comets: Describe

Describe the origin of meteorites, comets and asteroids.

Meteors and Comets: asteroids

Find the similarities and differences between comets, meteorites and asteroid

Metric System:  conversion

Convert larger to smaller and smaller to larger metric units of length, volume, and mass.

Determine metric length, volume and mass using laboratory instruments

Metric System:  measurement

Use appropriate tools and instruments to determine metric length, volume, mass and density of objects and materials.

Minerals: Physical Characteristics

Recognize minerals by physical characteristics.

Make several models of crystals out of paper.

Minerals: Test/Recognize

Test minerals by standard means to recognize minerals from unknown samples.

Identify 10 sample of unknown minerals based on characteristics of known minerals.

Minerals: Test/Properties

Test minerals by standard means to recognize properties of minerals from unknown samples.

Identify 10 sample of unknown minerals based on characteristics of known minerals.

Moon: Origin

Compare theories of the origin of the moon.

Use a model of the earth-moon system to compare and contrast possible theories of the origin of the moon.

Moon: Phases/Describe

Describe and define lunar phases.

Natural Phenomena: Humans/Hazards

Understand that some natural phenomena may be a hazard to humans. Such phenomena include earthquakes, landslides, fires, volcanic eruptions, and floods.

Compile a list of several natural phenomena. Discuss how human activity can make the impact of some  natural

Phenomenon worse. Explain the risks involved with each.

Natural Phenomena: Humans/Acceleration

Understand that human activities, such as urban growth or waste disposal, can accelerate natural phenomena.

Natural Phenomena: Humans/Risk Analysis

Understand that risk analysis contemplates the type of

Natural phenomena (e.g., earthquake) and estimates the

number of people that may be affected. The results of such an analysis are used to determine options for reducing risks.

Ocean: Life/Recognize

Recognize the three types of ocean life.

Create a poster of the ocean. List all floor features, currents, organisms, and chemical make up of the water. Present to the class as a research project.

Ocean:  Life/Zones

Describe the three major ocean life zones.

Ocean: Properties/Explain

Explain the properties of the ocean.

Ocean: Composition/Explain

Explain the composition of the ocean.

Ocean: Movement/Explain

Explain the movement of the ocean water.

Ocean: Organisms/Interaction

Explain the interaction between the organisms in the ocean.

Ocean: Movement/Talk

Talk about the movement of ocean water in currents, waves

and tides.

Ocean: Water/Composition

 Identify the chemical and physical makeup of ocean water.

Ocean: Floor/Feature/Explain

Explain the features of the ocean floor.

Planets: Features/Explain

Explain the features of planets.

Create a model (mobile) of the solar system. Be able to describe the unique properties of each planet.

Planets: Properties/Explain

Explain the properties of planets.

Planets: Motion/Explain

Explain the motion of planets.

Crystals: Minerals

Identify crystalline systems of minerals.

Make several models of crystals out of paper.

Resources: Renewable/Nonrenewable/Distinguish

Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Construct a chart comparing renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Resources:  Renewable/Nonrenewable/Examples

Give examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Rocks: Type/Distinguish

Distinguish between various rock types on the basis of origin, texture and composition.

Identify several rock samples based on properties of rocks.

Seasons: Cause

Understand that the tilt of the Earth's rotation on its axis and the length of the day cause the sun's energy to hit the Earth in varying amounts. This phenomenon causes the different seasons.

Use a globe and a light source to illustrate the idea of incoming solar radiation and the changing of seasons.

Seasons: Revolution

Explain how the revolution of the Earth creates the seasons.

Soil: Components

Understand that soil consists of weathered rocks and decomposed organic material.

Create a series of soil horizons in a mason jar and grow a plant in it.

Soil: Layers

Understand that soil is often found in layers. Each layer of soil has a different chemical composition and texture.

Solar System: Components

Understand the components of the solar system: the sun, nine planets and their moons, asteroids, and comets.

Discuss the evidence behind the formation and current properties of the solar system.

Solar System: Sun

Understand that our solar system is centered around the sun.

Compare the sun-centered solar system to the earth-centered model.

Solar System: Earth's Position

Understand that the Earth is the third planet from the sun

in the solar system.

Liken the motion of the solar system to that of a spinning disk, the earth being part of that disk.

Solar System: Motion

Understand that most objects in the solar system, such as planets, are in regular and predictable motion.

Solar System: Models

Develop a model of our solar system.

Create a model of the solar system out of balls and wire

Solar System: Motion and Phenomena

Understand that the motions in the solar system explain certain phenomena, such as eclipses or phases of the moon.

Draw a model of the solar system, listing all planets and the evidence supporting the collapse of a spinning nebula.

Solar System: Origin/Theory/Understand

Understand that, according to current theory, the solar system, including the sun and the earth, was formed from a nebular cloud of dust and gas.

Celestial Bodies: Compare/Contrast

Compare and contrast the celestial bodies within our own solar system.

Create a chart that compares the physical properties of the nine planets.

Space: Information

Explain the process by which information is gathered about space.

Make a timeline of NASA achievements and state the purpose and function of some satellites and space probes.

Space: Program/History

Explain the history of the space program.

Stars: Recognize

Recognize stars and/or star groupings.

Draw a constellation on paper. Explain how it got its name

Stars: Galaxy/Explain

Explain galaxy types.

Draw a picture of the three types of galaxies explaining the differences of each.

Stars: Galaxies/Understand/Life History

Understand the life history of galaxies.

Stars: Life Cycle

Explain the life cycle of stars.

Identify several different stages of the life of a star.

Stars: Diagram

Analyze a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

Locate the sun in the main sequence.  List the four characteristics of the sun that can be determined from the H-R diagram

Systems: Weather/Solar/Ocean/Explain

Explain the interactions of solar, weather and ocean systems.

Describe how the sun is the source of all energy on earths’ surface.

Technology:  Personal and Social Perspectives

Understand the difference between science and technology and how one complements the other.

Give an example of how science has led to a new technology.

Universe: Expanding/Doppler

Know that the universe is constantly expanding and explain how the Doppler shift of light from distant galaxies is used by scientists to provide evidence that the universe is expanding.

Explain the difference between red shift and blue shift, and what the differences mean to theories of our universe.

Universe: Characteristics/Understand

Understand the characteristics of the universe.

Universe: Light Year

Describe the use of light years to explain distances in the universe.

Explain why the immense distances in space require the use of a large measure such as light year.

Universe: Relationship of Components

Define the components of the universe and their relationship to one another.

Define the word universe and attempt to make a list of items both inside and outside of it.

Universe: Origin/Theories

Recognize other theories on the origin of the universe.

Universe: Origin/Theory/Explain

Explain theories on the origin of the universe.

Discuss the scientific evidence supporting and contradicting the big bang theory.  Compare and contrast any other ideas of the origin of the universe.

Universe: Big Bang Theory

Understand that some scientists use the Big Bang Theory to describe the origin of the universe. This theory claims

that 10-20 billion years ago, the universe began in a hot dense state and has continued to evolve ever since.

Water: River System

Explain the creation of a river system.

Use a stream table to describe the changes to a river over time.

Water: Quality/Explain

Explain the distribution and quality of Earth's fresh water.

Create a circle graph identifying the distribution of fresh water on Earth.

Water Cycle: Definition

Understand that the water cycle moves water from the Earth's surface, to the atmosphere, and back to the Earth's surface.

Draw the water cycle on a poster and label all of the components.

Weather: Air Masses/Liken

Liken the basic types of air masses.

On a weather map, identify the different fronts and air masses.

Weather: Climate/Micro/Define

Define microclimate.

Locate and identify several microclimates in the local area.

Weather: Climate/Energy

Know that global climate is determined by energy transfer

from the sun at and near the earth's surface.

Draw a picture of the globe and identify the different climates and where they are located.

Weather: Climate/Ocean/Connect

Connect the role of the oceans to changes in climate.

Locate several cities near the coast and correlate their climate with geographic location.

Weather: Clouds/Recognize