<p> Geosphere Unit</p><p>Time required for unit: Four Weeks</p><p>Title of the Unit: Geosphere </p><p>Purpose: Introduce students to the dynamically changing geosphere. They will explore the physical and chemical structure of the Earth, and how that structure creates a geosphere system that constantly changing. Students will gain an understanding of the interaction between the dynamically changing geosphere and human life. </p><p>Big Ideas:  Energy sources influencing the structure of the geosphere. o Radioactive Decay . How it works . How do we know o Formation Energy  Physical and chemical structure of the geosphere o Physical and chemical differentiation o Earth materials and their properties at different pressures & temperatures: elastic, plastic, ductile, brittle o The Earth’s magnetic field: what generates it and how we detect it . How it can be used in navigation  Recycling of rocks (Rock Cycle) o Dynamic Processes o Evolving, changing, renewing . Bulk chemical composition of the geosphere is not changing but the rock cycle can change the chemical and physical properties of a rock o Identifying properties of minerals and basic rock types (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary)  Evolution of the geosphere structure (plate tectonics) o Process for creating rocks and mountains o Regions of plate creation and destruction o Critical elements of plate tectonics and how their expression on the surface of the geosphere impact our daily lives</p><p>Connections to the real world: Humans are dependent on the Earth’s interior heat, the magnetic field, the use of Earth materials, and are affected by the volcanoes and earthquakes that result from plate tectonics. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. Describe the physical and chemical structure of the Earth. 2. Explain the processes of the two main energy sources for the Earth: residual heat of formation and radioactive decay. 3. Explain how the Earth’s magnetic field is generated and why it is important to humans. 4. Classify rocks and minerals based on their properties. 5. Describe how variations in rock and mineral properties make them useful for different things. 6. Critically examine evidence that is pertinent to the theory of plate tectonics. 7. Identify tectonically hazardous regions on Earth and describe the risk associated with those regions.</p><p>Assessment: Students will be assessed on the various tasks throughout the unit. There will be a total of three quizzes on the material covered in the lessons as well as the individual and group activities. There will be continuing checks for understanding throughout the unit, this will allow for any misunderstandings, misconceptions and any unclear topics to be readdressed allowing for clearer understanding by the student. A unit exam will ultimately be given, in this the students will be asked to associate the material learned in the unit with their immediate surroundings, this will test the students’ complete comprehension of the topics and how it affects them directly. There will also be a research project where in students will report on a topic of interest they have chosen and report to the class their findings.</p><p>Outline of Unit Activities: Day Big Idea Learning Lesson Title Outcome 1 & 2 Physical and chemical Interior Structure of the structure of the geosphere: 1 Earth Physical and chemical differentiation. 3 Physical structure of the Behavior of Earth geosphere: Earth materials Materials and their properties at different pressures & 1 temperatures. 4 Energy sources influencing The Earth’s Energy the structure of the Sources geosphere: Radioactive 2 Decay and Heat of Formation. 5 The Earth’s magnetic field: Earth’s Magnetic Field: what generates it and how we 3 Declination Dilemma detect it: How it can be used in navigation. What rocks are made of: 6 & 7 Identifying properties of 4 & 5 An introduction to minerals. identifying mineral properties 8 Identifying properties of 4 & 5 Rock Cycle: Focus on igneous rocks. igneous rocks 9 & 10 Identifying properties of 4 & 5 Rock Cycle: Focus on sedimentary rocks. sedimentary rocks 11 Identifying properties of 4 & 5 Rock Cycle: Focus on metamorphic rocks. metamorphic rocks Evolution of the geosphere The Moving Continents structure (plate tectonics): Critical elements of plate 12 tectonics and how their 6 expression on the surface of the geosphere impact our daily lives. Evolution of the geosphere Seafloor Spreading 13 & 14 structure (plate tectonics): 6 Regions of plate creation and destruction. Evolution of the geosphere Surfing for Earthquakes structure (plate tectonics): and Volcanoes Process for creating rocks and mountains, regions of 15 - 19 plate creation and 6 & 7 destruction, critical elements of plate tectonics and how their expression on the surface of the geosphere impact our daily lives.</p><p>Materials:  Computers with internet access  Refer to each individual lesson plan for additional materials</p>