Geology: Embedded Inquiry
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
Trace the historical development of a scientific principle or theory, such as plate tectonics, evolution of landforms, and global climate 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
Geology: 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
Geology : Standard 1 - Maps
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
Identify basic map symbols and legends.
1.1
Differentiate between longitude and latitude.
1.2
Determine the latitude and longitude of specific map points.
1.3
Investigate the concept of map scale.
1.4
Determine scaled map distances.
1.5
Explain the concept of elevation.
1.6
Determine the elevations of specific points on a topographic map.
1.7
Construct a 3-D representation of a topographical map that illustrates contour lines.
1.8
Construct an elevation profile from topographic map data
1.9
Identify landforms and determine stream flow direction using a topographic map.
1.10
Use field data to create a topographic map of a landform
1.11
Interpret basic rock types, time periods, and faults from geologic maps.
1.12
Determine compass readings at selected sites.
1.13
Investigate methods of remote sensing used to measure and monitor the earth's crust.
1.14
Use a GPS unit to identify latitude, longitude, and elevation of a location.
1.15
Geology : Standard 2 - Matter and Minerals
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
2.1
Classify a substance as an element or a compound.
2.2
Interpret the periodic table to identify groups of elements as reactive or non-reactive metals, nonmetals, or gases.
2.3
Explore the physical and chemical properties of minerals.
2.4
Identify mineral samples using simple physical property tests and a mineral identification table.
2.5
Recognize that water is a major solvent that releases elements and minerals from earth materials.
2.6
Describe the crystal structure of minerals in terms of atomic size, method of bonding, and the environment.
2.7
Construct models of the six major crystal systems.
2.8
Classify minerals such as silicates, native elements, carbonate, and sulfates according to their chemical formulas.
2.9
Create a presentation for a mineral that includes its physical properties, an illustration, mining technique, occurrence, and use.
2.10
Explore gems and their importance to man.
2.11
Create a brochure on the mineral resources of Tennessee.
2.12
Geology : Standard 3 - The Rock Cycle
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
3.1
Diagram the rock cycle including the processes involved in the formation of each rock group.
3.2
Recognize that rocks are composed of various combinations of minerals.
3.3
Distinguish between intrusive (plutonic) and extrusive (volcanic) igneous rocks.
3.4
Differentiate among plutonic bodies such as sills, dikes, batholiths, and laccoliths.
3.5
Identify the properties of igneous rocks such as granite, rhyolite, basalt, gabbro, obsidian, and pumice.
3.6
Understand sedimentary processes.
3.7
Distinguish between clastic, chemical, and biogenic textures and processes forming each.
3.8
Identify sedimentary rock features such as stratification, fossils, graded bedding, ripple marks, and mudcracks.
3.9
Identify the properties of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, shale, limestone, coquina, coal, and conglomerate.
3.10
Differentiate between foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks.
3.11
Compare and contrast regional and contact metamorphism.
3.12
Identify the properties of metamorphic rocks such as gneiss, marble, schist, slate, and quartzite.
3.13
Interpret Bowen’s reaction series.
3.14
Describe gradational metamorphism based on index minerals and metamorphic rock types.
3.15
Geology : Standard 4 – Geologic History
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
4.1
Compare and contrast how relative and absolute dating techniques are used to interpret geologic history.
4.2
Construct a geologic timetable that illustrates the evolution of earth and the history of life.
4.3
Explain the law of uniformitarianism.
4.4
Recognize that fossils are found in sedimentary rock.
4.5
Compare and contrast fossil forms of life with modern organisms.
4.6
Recognize that fossils provide evidence of past life forms, changes in life forms, and past environmental conditions.
4.7
Examine the fossil record to describe the environmental adaptations in a group of organisms.
4.8
Describe the evidence for plate tectonics such as fossil record, mountain ranges, rock strata, paleomagnetism, paleoclimates, and the configuration of continents.
4.9
Determine the relative age of fossils in sedimentary rock.
4.10
Interpret the sequence of rock strata using superposition, cross- cutting relationships, inclusions, the fossil record, and absolute data techniques.
4.11
Predict how an environmental change will affect the development of new species or the extinction of an existing species.
4.12
Make a timeline of global change through geologic time such as sea level change, climate change, paleogeographic change, and biotas.
4.13
Geology : Standard 5 – Plate Tectonics
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
5.1
Match continent boundary shapes to provide evidence of continental drift.
5.2
Identify the earth's layers.
5.3
Identify geologic features associated with divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries.
5.4
Identify the evidence for plate tectonics such as paleomagnetism, fossil record, continental boundaries, and hot spots.
5.5
Describe how convection currents drive plate movement.
5.6
Investigate the relationships among volcanoes, earthquake activity, and plate boundaries.
5.7
Distinguish among reverse, normal, and strike-slip faults.
5.8
Distinguish between an anticline and a syncline.
5.9
Correlate plate movement by plotting the movement of plates over hot spots.
5.10
Geology: Standard 6 - Landforms
Science Curriculum Standards
Internet Resources
6.1
Illustrate the hydrologic cycle and distinguish among condensation, evaporation, precipitation, transpiration, groundwater, runoff, and surface water reservoirs.
6.2
Compare the impact of water, wind, ice, and living things as agents of geologic change.
6.3
Describe landforms associated with deserts, glaciers, shorelines, and rivers.
6.4
Describe groundwater and its characteristics.
6.5
Illustrate stream discharge using the Tennessee River or a local stream system.
6.6
Describe the fluvial processes of erosion and deposition
6.7
Describe the characteristics of a river in terms of its velocity, channel shape, depth, and discharge.
6.8
Identify meanders, point bars, cut banks, and cutoffs on a map.
6.9
Explain the processes of grain suspension, saltation, and settling to produce sedimentary deposits.
6.10
Describe a floodplain and demonstrate how stream channels and natural levees function during flood conditions.
6.11
Describe delta formation.
6.12
Investigate the influence of landforms on man’s cultural, social, and economic development.
6.13
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