School Administrative District #4

Unity of purpose

CORE CURRICULUM: SCOPE AND SEQUENCE

Department: Science

CONTENT STANDARD: EARTH-AND-SPACE SCIENCE

 

Performance Indicators: The learner will·

Kindergarten

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Describe the way weather changes

á         Record the weather daily (e.g., sky conditions)

3.        Analyze the relationship between observable weather patterns and the cycling of the seasons

á         Compare, and contrast what people do and what they wear during each season

4.        Observe changes caused by water, snow, and ice

á         Participate in water-, snow-, and ice-related activities

5.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of the cycles of day and night and of the seasons

á         Illustrate the differences between day and night

á         Sequence the seasons

6.        Demonstrate that shadows of objects change, based on where light is coming from

á         Physically simulate the changing shadows of objects, based on where the light is coming from

7.        Demonstrate an initial understanding that the sun is one of many stars in the universe and that it is the star closest to the Earth

á         Model various stars, including the sun, in terms of their positions in relation to one another and to the Earth

Grade 1

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Describe the way weather changes

á         Record the weather for one month (e.g., temperature and wind speed and direction)

3.        Analyze the relationship between observable weather patterns and the cycling of the seasons

á         Describe weather changes associated with seasonal changes

4.        Observe changes caused by water, snow, and ice

á         Record observations made at one selected place for an extended period of time

5.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of the cycles of day and night and of the seasons

á         Explain the cycle of day and night

á         Explain the cycle of the seasons

6.        Demonstrate that shadows of objects change based on where light is coming from

á         Observe and record the shadow of an object placed in sunlight at various times of the day

7.        Demonstrate an understanding that the sun is one of many stars in the universe and that it is the star closest to the Earth

á         Identify stars as objects that give off light and that are a great distance away

Grade 2

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Describe the way weather changes

á         Analyze and interpret weather reports from the newspaper, radio, and television and compare local weather with that from another state

3.        Analyze the relationship between observable weather patterns and the cycling of the seasons

á         Identify how people, animals, and plants change when the seasons change

4.        Observe changes caused by water, snow, and ice

á         Identify and provide examples of water, snow, and ice conditions that are helpful and harmful to people, animals, and plants

5.        Explain the cycles of day and night and of the seasons

á         Demonstrate how the Earth's rotation on its axis causes day and night

6.        Demonstrate that shadows of objects change based on where light is coming from

á         Identify conditions that affect the length of a shadow (e.g., size of object, position from sun)

7.        Demonstrate an understanding that the sun is one of many stars in the universe and that it is the star closest to the Earth

á         Describe the sun and illustrate regions of the world by the amount of sunlight each receives

Grade 3

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Recognize that many things about the Earth (such as climate) occur in cycles that vary in length and frequency

á         Model and explain the water cycle

á         Explaining how various weather systems are formed

á         Thunderstorms

á         Hurricanes

á         Tornadoes

3.        Describe the change in position of the continents over time

á         Illustrate and explain what the continents looked like millions of years ago and compare their appearance then with their appearance today

4.        Describe differences among minerals, rocks, and soils

á         Compare samples of different minerals, rocks, and soils and describe their characteristics

5.        Illustrate the relative positions of the sun, moon, and planets

á         Create models and arrange planets in relation to one another

6.        Trace the sources of the Earth's heat and light energy to the sun

7.        Describe the Earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun

á         Model the Earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun

8.        Explore the relationship between the Earth and its moon

á         Explain the lunar cycle

Grade 4

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Recognize that many things about the Earth (e.g: tides, climate) occur in cycles that vary in length and frequency

á         Illustrate how substances in addition to water go through a cyclic process of change in the environment

3.        Describe differences among minerals, rocks, and soils

á         Given a collection, describe differences between and among minerals, rocks, and soils

4.        Describe the Earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun

á         Apply previous knowledge in order to explain the Earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun

5.        Explore the relationship between the Earth and its moon

á         Describe how the relationship between the Earth and its moon explains tides

6.        Observe the patterns of a constellation over four seasons

7.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of factors affecting the flow of ground water

Grade 5

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Discuss how the Earth's tilt on its axis results in the seasons

á         Using models representing the Earth and the sun, explain why the Earth's tilt results in seasons

3.        Describe how soils are formed and why soils differ from one place to another

á         Construct a model of various soil samples found at different sites and describe how they differ

4.        Describe forces that can cause short-term and long-term changes in the Earth's surface

á         Describe forces that can cause short-term changes in the Earth's surface

5.        Identify and classify rocks and minerals based on their physical and chemical properties, their composition, and the processes which formed them

á         Identify and classify rocks and minerals by physical and chemical properties

6.        Describe the many products humans use that are derived from materials in the Earth's crust

7.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of the concept of galaxy, including the size and number of stars

á         Explain the concept of galaxy

8.        Describe scientists' exploration of space and the objects found there (e.g., comets, asteroids, pulsars)

á         Describe the exploration of space by light telescopes and the objects found with light telescopes

9.        Describe the motion of moons, planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies

á         Describe the motions of the moon, planets, and the sun in relationship to one another

Grade 6

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Describe forces that can cause short-term and long-term changes in the Earth's surface

á         Describe forces that can cause long-term changes in the Earth's surface

3.        Identify and classify rocks and minerals based on their physical and chemical properties, their composition, and the processes which formed them

á         Identify and classify the composition of and processes which formed rocks and minerals

4.        Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of the Earth (materials and features) by

á         Demonstrating an understanding that weather conditions and phenomena can be predicted based on known factors and the proper use of meteorological tools

á         Factors

á       Temperature

á       Air pressure

á       Fronts

á       Formation and types of clouds

á       Wind

á       Storms

á         Meteorological tools

á       Barometer

á       Hygrometer

á       Anemometer

á       Rain gauge

á       Thermometer

á         Demonstrating an initial understanding of the factors that affect relative humidity

á         Temperature

á         Absolute humidity

á         Demonstrating an initial understanding of units of measure related to meteorology

á         Temperature

á       Fahrenheit

á       Celsius

á         Air pressure

á       Inches of mercury

á       Centimeters

á       Millibars

á         Wind speed

á       Miles per hour

á       Kilometers per hour

á       Knots

á         Precipitation

á       Inches

á       Centimeters

á         Relative humidity

á       Percent

á         Identifying and describing different types of fronts

á         Warm

á         Cold

á         Occluded

á         Identifying the symbols and lines used on a weather map

á         Wind direction and speed

á         Explaining how the Earth's atmosphere is heated via

á         Conduction

á         Convection

á         Radiation

á         Explaining seasons and their causes

á         Uneven heating of the Earth's surface

á         Variation in the length of day

á         Explaining climate by

á         Describing the factors that determine the precipitation of a region

á          Prevailing winds

á          Mountain ranges

á          Latitude

á         Discussing the effects of local landforms and factors on climate

á          Large lakes

á          Mountains

á          Different rates at which land and water heat and cool

5.        Demonstrate an understanding of what a star is (composition, energy, life cycle) and of how scientists have learned about stars

á         Demonstrate an understanding of a star's composition

á         Demonstrate an understanding of how a star produces its energy

6.        Describe the concept of galaxy, including the size and number of stars

á         Describe the types of galaxies

7.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of distances and the time required to travel those distances on Earth, in the solar system, in the galaxy, and between galaxies

á         Compare and contrast distances between the planets and the sun and the time required to travel those distances

8.        Describe scientists' exploration of space and the objects found there (e.g., comets, asteroids, pulsars)

á         Describe the exploration of space by manned flights, satellites, and space probes

Grade 7

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Describe the many products humans use that are derived from materials in the Earth's crust

á         Compare the pros and cons of the human use of materials from the Earth's crust

3.        Describe scientists' exploration of space and the objects found there (e.g., comets, asteroids, pulsars)

á         Describe the exploration of space using radio telescopes and the objects found with radio telescopes

4.        Compare and contrast distances and the time required to travel those distances on Earth, in the solar system, in the galaxy, and between galaxies

á         Compare and contrast the distance and time required to travel within the galaxy

Grade 8

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Explain the evidence scientists use when they give the age of the Earth

3.        Describe factors that affect the flow of ground water

4.        Demonstrate an understanding of characteristics of the ocean environment

á         Geological characteristics (continental shelf, slope, rise)

á         Physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents)

á         Biological characteristics (ecosystems)

5.      Demonstrate an understanding of what a star is (composition, energy, life cycle) and of how scientists have learned about stars

á         Demonstrate an understanding of the life cycle of a star and of how scientists have learned about stars

6.      Describe the concept of galaxy, including the size and number of stars

á         Describe galaxies and their relationship to the universe

7.      Compare and contrast distances and the time required to travel those distances on Earth, in the solar system, in the galaxy, and between galaxies

á         Compare and contrast the distance and time required to travel between galaxies

8.      Describe scientists' exploration of space and the objects found there (e.g., comets, asteroids, pulsars)

á         Compare and contrast data scientists gather using the tools of an astronomer

9.     Describe the motion of moons, planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies

á          Describe the motion of the stars and galaxies

10. Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of the Earth (materials and features) by

á         Identifying and describing the major types of air masses

á         Maritime polar

á         Maritime tropical

á         Continental polar

á         Continental tropical

á         Explaining how a front forms

á         Identifying and describing different types of fronts

á         Stationary

á         Describing how fronts change over time

á         Explaining how various weather systems are formed

á         Cyclones

á         Anti-cyclones

á         Describing ways in which weather information is obtained

á         Local weather observers

á         Balloons

á         Satellites

á         Local weather stations

á         Identifying the symbols and lines used on a weather map

á         Isotherms

á         Isobars

á         Precipitation types

á         Fronts

á         Cyclones

á         Explaining how a weather map is used to describe weather conditions

á         Identifying the factors in the Earth's atmosphere that interact to cause weather

á        Explaining the causes of rain associated with warm air reaching its dew point

á         Explaining seasonal weather systems created by

á         Prevailing westerlies

á         "Nor'easters"

á         Bermuda High

á         Relating seasonal weather systems to

á         Coastal erosion

á         Coastal sand deposition

á         Charting weather systems and movement of weather systems by locating the position of storms in relationship to fronts

á         Explaining climate by

á         Describing the factors that determine climate

á          Temperature

á          Precipitation

á         Describing the factors that affect the temperature of a region

á          Latitude

á          Altitude

á          Ocean currents

á         Classifying and describing the Earth's three major climate zones

á          Polar

á          Temperate

á          Tropical

á         Comparing marine and continental climates

á         Discussing the effects of local landforms and factors on climate

á          Seasonal winds

á          Large paved areas

á          Towns and cities

á         Describing the factors that affect relative humidity

á         Temperature

á         Absolute humidity

á         Using units of measure related to meteorology

á         Temperature

á          Fahrenheit

á          Celsius

á          Kelvin

á         Air pressure

á          Inches of mercury

á          Centimeters

á          Millibars

á         Wind speed

á          Miles per hour

á          Kilometers per hour

á          Knots

á         Precipitation

á          Inches

á          Centimeters

á         Relative humidity

á          Percent

11. Analyze the potential effects of change in the earth's oceans and atmosphere by

á         Explaining how human activities influence air quality, including

á         Sources of pollution

á         Methods of control

á         Acid rain

á         Air-born particulates

á         The greenhouse effect and its effects upon the Earth and human activity

á          The gases responsible for the greenhouse effect

á         Explaining that human events may exaggerate climatic change

á         Explaining the effects of non-human-induced climate changes

12. Demonstrate an understanding of solid earth processes (crust and interior) by

á         Demonstrating an understanding of volcanic activity by

á         Explaining the structure and behavior of volcanoes

á          Types

á          Cinder cone

á          Composite

á          Shield

á         Explaining the processes that create volcanoes

á         Describing how ocean floors and continents are altered as a result of volcanic activity

á         Locating zones of present and past volcanic activity

á         Describing the impact of volcanic activity on humans

á         Becoming acquainted with the technology used to monitor and predict volcanic activity

á         Demonstrating an understanding of seismic waves by

á         Describing the three types of seismic waves

á          P-waves

á          S-waves

á          L-waves

á         Explaining the importance of seismic waves in models of the Earth's interior

á         Demonstrating an understanding of seismic activity by

á         Explaining what earthquakes feel like

á         Explaining what damage earthquakes produce

á         Explaining where earthquakes occur

á         Mapping the occurrence of earthquake zones and major faults

á          Mapping epicenter, over time

á         Explaining the nature of earthquakes along fracture zones with

á          Cross-sectional illustrations of strata

á          Superficial materials at faults

á         Showing similar location of earthquake zones

á         Demonstrating an understanding of plate tectonics by

á         Explaining how convection currents move plates

á         Explaining what happens in sea floor spreading

á         Explaining the evolution of the hypothesis of plate tectonics

á          Continental shape

á          Origin of ocean basins

á          Volcanic zones

á          Folded mountains

á          Ocean floor features

á          Rift zones

á          Earthquakes

á         Explaining the movement of lithospheric plates

á         Explaining the distribution and relationship among igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and tectonic features

á         Explaining the formation of mountains by

á         Listing common characteristics of mountains

á          Elevation

á          Folding

á          Faulting

á          Occurrence in belts and clusters

á         Describing the forces which deform or elevate rock

á         Extrapolating as to the tectonic forces in the Earth's crust and the location of where they are concentrated

á         Discussing the rate mountains form with the geologic time scale

á         Demonstrating an understanding of rock formation by

á         Describing a relationship between rock type and tectonic processes

á          Describing a relationship between rock type and weathering, erosion, and deposition

á          Inferring that collision of large rock masses must have produced metamorphic rocks

13. Demonstrate an understanding of how rocks and minerals are used to determine geologic history

á         Explaining the evolution of landscape caused by erosion

á         Explaining how various landforms provide evidence of glacial activity

14. Describe ways that scientists measure long periods of time and determine the ages of very old objects by

á         Explaining how radioactive elements help provide the absolute ages of rocks

á         Demonstrate an understanding of half-life as it relates to dating rocks

á         Explaining how carbon-14 is used for dating relatively recent rocks and fossils

15. Demonstrate an understanding of hydrological processes by

á         Describing the effects of sea-level rise on coastal erosion by

á         Diagramming and graphing the impact upon populations and upon the shape of the new coastline

á         Explaining that coastal erosion is a continual process which can be modified by humans, but is for the most part beyond human control

á         Describing the impact of geographic areas sinking or rising in relationship to coastlines

16. Describe how scientists gather data about the universe by

á         Describing two ways research on other planets has been conducted

á         Light/spectra examinations

á         Space-craft missions

á         Discussing the different space-based techniques of mapping by remote sensing which isolate different wavelengths of the spectrum

á         Surface and climate property maps

á         Mineral distribution

á         Temperature

á         Ozone distribution

17.  Explain how astronomers measure interstellar distance

18.  Research current explanations for phenomena such as black holes and quasars

á         Discuss the current hypotheses about the solar system's origin, concerning the condensation of gas and aggregation of particles

á         Discuss the age of the solar system

Grade 10

1.        Review and extend prior learning

Grade 11

1.        Review and extend prior learning

Grade 12

When a fourth year of science becomes a requirement for graduation, seniors will have one of three program options: Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, or Advanced Physics. For content standards and performance indicators, see SUPPLEMENTAL PAGES: SCIENCE PROGRAM.

07/16/98

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