Grade Four Unit 2: Earth Processes First Marking Period Unit Focus Essential Questions Next Generation Standards Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) In this unit of study, students apply their knowledge of natural Earth processes to generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans. In order to describe patterns of Earth’s features, students analyze and interpret data from maps. The crosscutting concepts of patterns, cause and effect, and the influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world are called out as organizing concepts for these disciplinary core ideas. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, and constructing explanations and designing solutions. Students are also expected to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas. 1. Is it possible to engineer ways to protect humans from natural Earth? 2. What are tectonic plates? 3. What causes many of Earth’s surface features and where do these features tend to exist? 4. How do earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis form? 5. How are the earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis monitored? 6. How does earthquake engineering create earthquake resistant buildings? 4-ESS2-2: Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features. 4-ESS3-2: Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural processes on humans. ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and System Interactions *The locations of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, ocean floor structures, earthquakes, and volcanoes occur in patterns. Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur in bands that are often along the boundaries between continents and oceans. Major mountain chains form inside continents or near their edges. Maps can help locate the different land and water features areas of Earth. ESS3.B: Natural Hazards A variety of hazards result from natural processes (e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions). Humans cannot eliminate the hazards but can take steps to reduce their impacts. ETS1.B: Designing Solutions to Engineering Problems. *Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of likely conditions.
Unit 1: Earth Processes Approximate Days: 10 Standard(s): E-SSE2-2; E-SSE3-2 Student Outcomes Inquiry Based Learning Activities Materials/Resources Students will know that: *Cause-and-effect relationships are routinely identified, tested, and used to explain change. *Engineers improve existing technologies or develop new ones to increase benefits, decrease risks, and meet societal demands. *A variety of hazards result from natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions). *Humans cannot eliminate the hazards, but they can take steps to reduce their impacts. *Research on a problem should be carried out before beginning to design a solution. *Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of likely conditions. *At whatever stage, communicating with peers about proposed solutions to a problem is an NJCTL – EARTH PROCESSES SMART NOTEBOOK LEARNING ACTIVITIES The following are activities that can be found within the above link from NJCTL. (All activities include Smart Notebook Presentation, Homework, Labs, Quizzes and Assessments) -Modeling Chemical Weathering -Earth’s Systems Walk LABS *Ice Breaks Rocks *Water Weathers * Chemical Weathering * Erosion Materials Needed: Computers Science Journal Pencils Markers Homework Handouts Paper Scissors Resources: The following resources are from the Model Curriculum : This activity helps to demonstrate the importance of rocks, soils, and minerals in engineering and how using the right material for the right job is important. The students build 3 different sand castles composed of varying amounts of sand, water, and glue. The 'buildings' in this lesson are made of sand and glue, sand being a soil and glue being composed of different minerals. They then test them for strength (load bearing), and resistance to weathering. The students will then compare possible solutions and