EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK GRADES K–12 • WCCUSD/UCMP EARTH AS a SYSTEM Theme/Questions K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12

EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK GRADES K–12 • WCCUSD/UCMP EARTH AS A SYSTEM Theme/Questions K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12

How is the Earth part The Earth is part of a bigger system The Earth is part of the Solar System. The Earth is part of the Solar System. The Earth is part of the Solar System. of a larger system? called the Solar System.

How do the four The Earth’s position in relation to the The relative positions of Earth and The tilt of the Earth’s axis and the spheres (lithosphere, Sun changes what happens on Earth. Sun affect the dynamics of the Earth. Earth’s orbit affect Earth’s seasons, cli- atmosphere, hydro- mate belts, and global wind and ocean sphere, biosphere) currents. interact? The gravitational forces of the moon, What evidence is sun, and all other celestial bodies infl u- there of this interac- ence the Earth. tion? The planet Earth has a distinct inter- The planet Earth has distinct layers The planet Earth is made of layers dis- The planet Earth is made of layers dis- nal structure composed of the crust, (crust, mantle, and core) that look tinguished by composition, structure, tinguished by composition, structure, mantle, and core. and act differently. and temperature. and temperature.

Earth is made up of land, water, air, Earth is composed of land, water, air, The planet Earth is composed of the The planet Earth is composed of litho- and living things. and living things. lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, sphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and and biosphere. The boundaries of biosphere. The boundaries of these these spheres are not fi xed. spheres are not fi xed.

Land is solid and is made of rocks, The properties of rocks and minerals The lithosphere is composed of oce- The lithosphere is composed of oceanic soils and living things. There are dif- in the crust refl ect processes that form anic and continental plates that move and continental plates that move along ferent kinds of rocks. Land has differ- them. Different landforms result from along the plate boundaries as a result the plate boundaries as a result of con- ent shapes called landforms. wind, water, and earth movements. of convection currents in the Earth’s vection currents in the Earth’s mantle. mantle. Plate movements, along with Different landforms result from plate weathering, erosion, and deposition movements, weathering, erosion, and are responsible for many of Earth’s deposition. Minerals and rocks have landforms. The properties of rocks physical and chemical properties that and minerals in the crust refl ect pro- provide evidence of the processes cesses that form them. through which they were formed.

Water forms rivers, lakes, and oceans. Water exists on the Earth’s surface Water cycles among the lithosphere, Water cycles among the lithosphere, Water can also exist as ice, mist, (oceans, rivers, ice) and in the air (at- biosphere, and atmosphere. biosphere, and atmosphere. Water, in clouds, and steam. mosphere). Water acts as an important agent of its various states, acts as an agent of Water is an important agent of change change on the Earth’s surface and change on the Earth’s surface. on the Earth’s surface. lithosphere.

We live on Earth, along with all other All four spheres interact with one an- All four spheres interact with one The interaction of the four spheres living things (other plants and ani- other. These interactions are refl ected another. These interactions are impor- shape the Earth’s surface, weather, and mals). in the different biomes and ecosys- tant in determining the Earth’s sur- ecosystems. People, other animals, and plants tems. face, weather, and ecosystems. need air, food water, and a place to live.

Draft of Earth Science Conceptual Framework for Grades K–12 developed by WCCUSD/AK teachers. © 2004 UC Museum of Paleontology and West Contra Costa Unifi ed School District. EARTH SCIENCE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK GRADES K–12 • WCCUSD/UCMP CHANGE Theme/Questions K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

In what ways does the The Earth changes over time. Some The Earth changes over time. Some The Earth is always changing. There The Earth is always changing. There Earth change? changes are fast and some are slow. changes take a long time (climate), are short-term and long-term, large- are short-term and long-term, large- Some changes are big and some are some changes happen more quickly scale and small-scale changes. scale and small-scale changes. Rates of What causes change small. (weather). There are large-scale change are dependent upon the agent in the Earth? changes (earthquakes, tsunami, vol- of change. cano) and more ordinary changes What is the evidence (weathering, erosion, glaciation). that change has oc- curred? Earth’s surface is always changing. Some changes build land features There are constructive and recon- There are constructive and reconstruc- Rocks break down into smaller pieces. (mountain building), some changes structive changes. tive changes, sometimes occurring con- tear them down (mountains/rocks/ currently (e.g., volcanic eruption). sand—rock cycle). There are many kinds of energy at work: heat, chemical, kinetic, potential, radioactive. Land changes as a result of earth- Water, wind, ice, temperature changes Changes occur due to the transfer of Changes occur due to the transfer of quakes, volcanoes, and wind and wa- and vegetation are forces that change energy. energy. ter activity. the Earth’s surface and crust.

The sun affects changes in tempera- The sun is the source of temperature The sun is the external source of en- The sun is the primary external source ture, weather, and the seasons. change. Temperature changes affect ergy driving changes on the Earth’s of energy driving changes on the Water can change into different forms weather and distribution of organ- surface. Earth’s surface, hydrosphere, and at- when the temperature changes. isms. mosphere.

The Earth’s interior is the internal The Earth’s interior contains sources of source of energy driving large-scale heat energy driving large-scale changes changes in the lithosphere (plate tec- in the lithosphere (plate tectonics) and tonics) and Earth’s surface. Earth’s surface. Internal and external convection cur- Internal and external convection currents are caused by an unequal distri- rents are caused by an unequal distribu- bution of heat. tion of heat. Convection currents drive movements Convection currents drive movements within the lithosphere, hydrosphere, within the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. and atmosphere. The transfer from potential to kinetic energy is responsible for changes in the Earth’s surface.

Life has changed through time. Fos- Life has changed through time. Fos- Life has changed through time. Life has changed through time. There sils provide evidence that life has sils provided evidence that life has There are multiple lines of evidence are multiple lines of evidence for evolu- changed. changed. for evolution: fossils, anatomy, mol- tion: fossils, anatomy, molecules, devel- ecules, development, and geology. opment, geology, geographic distribution, and experimentation. The biosphere infl uences and is infl u- enced by both internal and external energy transfers.

How are materials in Rocks break down into smaller pieces. Rocks are recycled from one type to Rocks are recycled from one type to All materials on Earth, including water, the Earth conserved When rocks get hot enough, they another. another (the rock cycle). rock, carbon, and nitrogen, are con- and recycled? melt. served and recycled through the four spheres. What is our evidence that materials are con- Magma is a source of new rocks. Cooling of magma near the Earth’s Plate tectonics is an essential force Formation, weathering, sedimentation, served and recycled? surface creates rock in the Earth’s that drives the rock cycle. New rock and reformation constitute a continuing crust. is created at divergent boundaries by “rock cycle” in which the total amount Where do rocks come magma pushing up from the mantle. of material is conserved and recycled. from? At subduction zones, existing rocks Plate tectonics and weathering drive the can be melted and recycled. Heat and rock cycle. What are the respon- pressure associated with plate interac- sibilities of humans tion can change existing rock. toward natural resources? Rocks break down into smaller pieces Surface rocks break down as a result as a result of the action of waves, of the action of waves, wind, water, wind, water, and ice (weathering). and ice (weathering) and are then Once rocks are broken down, they are carried by gravity, wind, and water carried by wind and water (erosion) (erosion) and deposited elsewhere and deposited elsewhere (deposition). (deposition).

There are different kinds of rocks. We group rocks based on the way We classify rocks based on the way Properties of rocks are determined by We group rocks based on their char- they were formed. There are three they were formed: igneous, metamor- the physical and chemical conditions acteristics. types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, phic, and sedimentary. Properties of under which they formed. and metamorphic. rocks are determined by the physical Rocks are classifi ed by the processes and chemical conditions under which that formed them. they formed.

Water freezes when it is very cold. Water exists on Earth as liquid (lakes, Water exists on Earth as liquid (lakes, There are different physical forms of Ice/snow melts when it gets warmer. oceans, rivers), as solid (ice, glaciers, oceans, rivers), as solid (ice, glaciers, water in the atmosphere, lithosphere, Rain comes from clouds. Rain pud- polar cap), and as gas (water vapor in polar cap), and as gas (water vapor in hydrosphere, and biosphere. Water cy- dles dry up (evaporate). Hot water atmosphere). atmosphere). cles during both organic and inorganic makes steam. processes.

Water changes form (water cycle). Water circulates through the litho- The amount of change is related to sphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. the rate of change in the temperature. Water occurs as a solid, liquid, or The sun is important in the water gas and changes state as it absorbs or cycle. releases heat. The sun is the primary source of heat.

There are different physical and chemical forms of carbon in the Earth’s spheres. Carbon cycles during photo-

synthesis and respiration, combustion of fossil fuels, and organic decay.

There are different physical and chemical forms of nitrogen in the Earth’s spheres. Nitrogen cycles during organic and inorganic processes.

All resources used by humans come All resources used by humans come Recycling/reuse of natural resources Recycling/reuse of natural resources is ultimately from the Earth. ultimately from the Earth. is a responsibility of humans. a responsibility of humans. Many of these resources are not in Many of these resources are not in Wastes must be handled in a way that Nonrenewable resources can be con- endless supply. endless supply. has the least detrimental effect on the served through careful use, recycling, Earth’s resources must be used with Some of these resources are nonre- environment. and application of energy. care. newable; they cannot be replaced, or The use of natural resources always can only be replaced at extremely slow involves the need for environmental rates. reclamation. Use of renewable resources for energy sources results in a net gain in resources.

How has the Earth The Earth is very old. The Earth is very old. The Earth is ~4.6 billion years old. The Earth is ~4.6 billion years old. changed through The long history of Earth is displayed The long history of Earth is displayed time? in its rocks. The sequence and com- in its rocks. position of rocks gives us their relative Evidence for the age and geologic What is our evi- and absolute ages. activities of the Earth includes: rock se- dence for the Earth’s quence, radioactive isotopes, magnetic changes? reversals, and fossil correlations.

The Earth’s surface changes. The Earth’s surface has changed over The atmosphere, lithosphere, hydro- The atmosphere, lithosphere, hydro- time. sphere and biosphere have changed sphere and biosphere have changed over over time. time.

Landmasses have moved and are still The continents and oceans have not Plate tectonics cause changes in conti- moving. always been in their present positions. nent and ocean confi guration, result- Some changes take a long time. ing in changes in the atmosphere and biosphere.

Geological change and biological evo- Geological change and biological evolu- lution are linked tion are linked.

Life has been on Earth a long time. Life has been on Earth for a very long Life has been on Earth for billions of Life has been on Earth for billions of time. years. years.

Plants and animals have changed Life forms have continued to change Life forms have continued to change through time. and diversify through time. Life forms and diversify over time. Present-day of the past were in some ways very species evolved from earlier species. different from living forms of today, During the course of evolution, only Many animals, like dinosaurs, are now Many life forms have gone extinct. but in other ways very similar. Most a small percentage of species have sur- extinct. species that once lived on Earth have vived to today. gone extinct.

Fossils are evidence of animals and Fossils provide evidence of these Fossils provide evidence for how life Fossils provide evidence for how life plants that lived a long time ago. changes. and environmental conditions have and environmental conditions have changed. changed. The relative age of fossils is refl ected The relative age of fossils is refl ected in in the sequence of the rock layers in the sequence of the rock layers in which which they are found. they are found.

The composition of the atmosphere The composition of the atmosphere has has changed as life forms have changed as life forms have evolved. evolved.

Tectonic plate movement has affected Tectonic plate movement has affected the distribution of living things. the distribution of living things.

We divide Earth’s history into time We divide Earth’s history into time periods based on major biological and periods based on major biological and physical events and changes. physical events and changes.

How does science try Science tries to explain the natural Science tries to explain the natural Science tries to explain the natural Science attempts to explain the natural to explain the natural world using evidence from the natural world using evidence from the natural world using evidence from the natural world using evidence from the natural world? world. world. world. world; this distinguishes science from non-science. How do scientists gather evidence? We learn about the natural world us- We learn about the natural world us- Science assumes that we can learn Science assumes that we can learn ing our senses and extensions of our ing our senses and extensions of our about the natural world using our about the natural world using our sens- senses. senses senses and extensions of our senses. es and extensions of our senses.

Scientifi c ideas and explanations are Scientifi c ideas and explanations are developed through reasoning. Theo- developed through reasoning. Theories ries and hypotheses are central to sci- and hypotheses are central to scientifi c entifi c thinking. thinking.

Science does not prove or conclude; Science does not prove or conclude; science is always a work in progress. science is always a work in progress.

Scientifi c claims are subject to peer re- view and replication.

Scientists work to create and answer Scientists work to create and answer Scientists pose, test, and revise hy- Scientists pose, test, and revise mul- questions. questions. potheses based on research outcomes. tiple hypotheses to explain what they observe.

Scientists work through careful ob- Scientists use only natural causes to Scientists use only natural causes to ex- servations and recording of those explain natural phenomena. plain natural phenomena. observations.

Scientists study rocks. Scientists study rocks and how and Scientists study the long-term and Scientists study the long-term and Scientists study changes in weather. when they were formed. short-term changes in the Earth’s short-term changes in the Earth’s Scientists study living things. Scientists study landforms and how spheres. spheres. Scientists study fossils. and when they were formed. Scientists use multiple lines of evi- Scientists use multiple lines of evidence Scientists study changes in weather dence to study the Earth and its his- to study the Earth and its history. and water systems. tory. Scientists study living things and their environments. Scientists study fossils and how and when they were formed.