Earth Science: Embedded Inquiry
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
Trace the historical development of a scientific principle or theory, such as plate tectonics, evolution of the cosmos, and global change.
Inq.1
About Darwin - dedicated to the life and times of Charles Darwin Continental Drift - Wikipedia article Development of Kepler's Laws - this Wikipedia article traces Kepler's work Evidence for the Big Bang - extremely long [55 pages if printed ] well detailed background Galileo Project - hypertextual information about Galileo and the science of his time to viewers of all ages and levels of expertiseGregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics - an exhibit from Chicago's Field Museum Historical Development of Chemistry - three case studies of significant chemical progress History of Science - Wikipedia article History of Science and Technology - a Wikipedia article including links History of Science Sourcebook - a subset of texts derived from three major online sourcebooksIsaac Newton - Wikipedia article tracing the development of Newton's laws Johannes Kepler - His Life, His Laws and Times Mendel's Experiment - an animation describes Gregor Mendel's experiment as presented in his Experiments in Plant Hybridization Modeling Mendel's Pea Experiment - lesson plan from Access Excellence Person of the Century: Albert Einstein - from Time’s 100 Scientific Method - this Wikipedia article illustrates how scientific principles or theories are developed Voyage of the Beagle - index of trwenty-two chapters detailing the historic voyage of discovery When the Earth Moved - Copernicus and his Heliocentric System of the Universe
Conduct scientific investigations that include testable questions, verifiable hypotheses, and appropriate variables to explore new phenomena or verify the experimental results of others.
Inq.2
Excite Education Curriculum Module - lesson plan about scientific method from CDC Experimenting, Testing, & Challenging the Hypothesis - the degree of challenge to your hypothesis will depend on the type of problem and its importance Falsifiability – [Wikipedia article ] the logical possibility that an assertion can be shown false by an observation or a physical experiment
General Procedures for All Experiments - general procedures for each experiment are briefly outlined - variations between experiments are noted How to Formulate a Hypothesis Using the Scientific Method - eight steps are outlined Introduction to the Scientific Method - An explanation on what the scientific method is and does. From Frank Wolfs, University of Rochester
Reasoning in Science - Learning about the scientific method is almost like saying that you are learning how to learn [from Biology4Kids ] Scientific Method - from Elmer's Soup-to-Nuts science fair site Scientific Method - includes a test of your powers of observation Scientific Method Lab - an interactive lab that teaches what the scientific method is, and how scientists and others follow this method Scientific Method Quiz - [this link opens on a new page ] Solving Problems with the Scientific Method - posted by Study Guides and Strategies Steps of the Scientific Method - from a science fair project idea site Studying Cells - how the scientific method is applied in biology Writing Hypotheses: a student lesson - the purpose of this lesson is to learn when and how to write hypotheses
Select appropriate tools and technology to collect precise and accurate quantitative and qualitative data.
Inq.3
Determine if data supports or contradicts a hypothesis or conclusion.
Inq.4
Basic format of any hypothesis test - from Skills4Study Designing Science Experiments - from Crystal Clear Science Fair Projects Experiment - Wikipedia entry How to Use the Scientific Method to Test a Hypothesis - six steps are listed Hypothesis Test - from Cool Science Projects.com Hypothesis test 1: an experiment on telepathy - used as an example of the process Hypothesis test 2: the shuffle test - using statistical analysis Practicing Scientific Processes - from Glencoe Science Statistical hypothesis testing - Wikipedia entry Test Your Hypothesis - from Lane Libraries Science Fair Zone
Compare or combine experimental evidence from two or more investigations.
Inq.5
Recognize, analyze, and evaluate alternative explanations for the same set of observations.
Inq.6
Evaluate the accuracy and precision of data.
Inq.7
Analyze experimental results and identify possible sources of bias or experimental error.
Inq.8
Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence.
Inq.9
Earth Science: Embedded Technology & Engineering
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
Distinguish among tools and procedures best suited to conduct a specified scientific inquiry.
T/E.1
Apply the engineering design process to construct a prototype that meets developmentally appropriate specifications.
T/E.2
Evaluate a protocol to determine the degree to which an engineering design process was successfully applied.
T/E.3
Explore how the unintended consequences of new technologies can impact human and non-human communities.
T/E.4
Evaluate the overall benefit to cost ratio of a new technology.
T/E.5
Present research on current bioengineering technologies that advance health and contribute to improvements in our daily lives.
T/E.6
Design a series of multi-view drawings that can be used by other students to construct an adaptive design and test its effectiveness.
T/E.7
Earth Science : Standard 1 - The Universe
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
Identify the components of the universe: black holes, galaxies, nebulae, solar systems, stars, planets, meteors, comets, and asteroids.
1.1
Compare explanations for the origin of the universe: Big Bang, nucleosynthesis, galaxy, and star formation.
1.2
Construct a solar system model that illustrates ratios and proportions of distance and size of planets.
1.3
Explain the evolution of a star through stages of its development.
1.4
Classify galaxies according to shape.
1.5
Explore the role of astronomical events in the earth’s history: asteroid/meteor impacts, solar flares, and comets.
1.6
Compare and contrast the earth with other planets in the solar system.
1.7
Investigate the seasonal relationships between the length of the day and the inclination and relative positions of the sun and earth.
1.8
Describe the position of the sun, earth, and moon during eclipses and different lunar phases.
1.9
Predict tidal conditions based upon the position of the earth, moon, and sun.
1.10
Describe the relationship between the mass of an object and the its gravitational force.
1.11
Construct a historical timeline that depicts man's changing perceptions and understanding of astronomy.
1.12
Understand how telescopes and spectroscopy manipulate light to reveal information about the universe.
1.13
Investigate the history of space exploration.
1.14
Research Tennessee's contribution to earth and space science.
1.15
Earth Science : Standard 2 - Energy in the Earth System
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
2.1
Illustrate three types of energy transfer: radiation, conduction, and convection.
2.2
Describe different types of energy resources: fossil fuels, solar, geothermal, nuclear, wind, and hydroelectric.
2.3
Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources in terms of resource conservation.
2.4
Investigate how the sun provides the major source of earth’s surface energy.
2.5
Explore three primary sources of internal energy: gravitational energy from the earth's original formation, friction, and radioactive decay.
2.6
Diagram and evaluate pathways of energy transfer to demonstrate the law of conservation of energy.
2.7
Describe the energy transfer associated with different geologic events: mantle convection, rock cycle, wind, and ocean currents.
2.8
Describe the human impact of large scale energy transfer events: hurricanes, photosynthesis, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.
2.9
Compare and contrast alternative energy sources and their environmental impact.
2.10
Compare energy sources and heat transfer over geologic time to current patterns of global change.
2.11
Earth Science : Standard 3 - Cycles in the Earth System
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
3.1
Apply mantle convection currents to distinguish between divergent and convergent plate boundaries.
3.2
Explain and map the relationship between plate tectonics and mountain building, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
3.3
Distinguish between minerals and rocks.
3.4
Identify minerals according to their physical properties.
3.5
Distinguish among sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
3.6
Interpret a diagram of the rock cycle.
3.7
Explain a model of the hydrologic cycle.
3.8
Distinguish between mechanical and chemical weathering.
3.9
Describe the impact of water on the evolution of landforms.
3.10
Collect and interpret basic weather data from meteorological instruments: thermometer, rain gauge, and barometer.
3.11
Analyze weather map data to make simple predictions.
3.12
Explain the oxygen/carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and carbon biogeochemical cycles.
3.13
Recognize the connection between geologic processes such as floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, acid rain, global warming and human activities.
3.14
Construct a geological cycle for a physiographic region or geologic time period in Tennessee.
3.15
Interpret topographic maps.
3.16
Relate current global patterns such as sea level change and geographic climate shifts to events that occurred during the earth’s distant past.
3.17
Earth Science : Standard 4 - Geologic History
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
4.1
Differentiate between absolute and relative time.
4.2
Compare and contrast how relative and absolute dating techniques are used to interpret the advance of geologic history.
4.3
Construct a geologic timetable for the evolution of earth and the history of life.
4.4
Interpret evidence for plate tectonics such as the fossil record, mountain range formation, rock strata, paleomagnetism, paleoclimates, and configuration of the continents.
4.5
Recognize that fossils contained in sedimentary rock provide evidence of past life forms, changes in life forms, and environmental change.
4.6
Determine the relative age of fossils in sedimentary rock.
4.7
Interpret the sequence of rock strata using superposition, cross-cutting relationships, inclusions, the fossil record, and absolute dating techniques.
4.8
Predict how an environmental change might influence the development of new species or cause the extinction of an existing species.
4.9
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