Earth Science: At-a-Glance

Quarter One
Unit 1: How High? How Low? Topographic Maps
In this unit, students will investigate and understand how direction, distance, and changes in elevation/depth are calculated; construct and interpret scales, diagrams, charts; and read and interpret maps and globes including location by latitude and longitude. Unit 2: Earth, You Crack Me Up! Plate Tectonics In this unit, students will investigate and understand geologic processes, including plate tectonics and that oceans are complex, interactive physical, chemical, and biological systems and are subject to longand short-term variations. Unit 3: Take your Minerals! Mineral Resources In this unit, students will investigate and understand how to identify major rock-forming and ore minerals based on physical and chemical properties.

Quarter Two
Unit 4: Its All Rock and Roll to Me! Rock Types and the Rock Cycle In this unit, students will investigate and understand the rock cycle and how many aspects of the history and evolution of Earth and life can be inferred by studying rocks and fossils. Unit 5: Seashells in Kansas? Structural/ Historical Geology In this unit, students will investigate and understand that many aspects of the history and evolution of Earth and life can be inferred by studying rocks and fossils Unit 6: Lets Break It Down! Weathering, Erosion, Deposition In this unit, students will investigate and understand how freshwater resources are influenced by geologic processes and the activities of humans. They will also investigate and understand geologic processes including plate tectonics.

Quarter Three
Unit 7: Volcanoes and Dinosaurs and Virginia? Oh My! History of Virginia

In this unit, students will investigate and understand that many aspects of the history and evolution of Earth and life can be inferred by studying rocks and fossils. They will also investigate and understand geologic processes including plate tectonics. Unit 8: Green Is In! Energy In this unit, students will investigate and understand the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Key concepts include fossil fuels, minerals, rocks, water, and vegetation; advantages and disadvantages of various energy sources; resources found in Virginia; and environmental costs and benefits. Unit 9: To Infinity and Beyond! Beyond Our Solar System In this unit, students will investigate and understand the characteristics of Earth, the solar system, scientific concepts related to the origin and evolution of the universe, and nature of science and scientific reasoning and logic. Unit 10: Is Anyone There, There, There, There? History & Scale of the Solar System In this unit, students will investigate and understand scientific concepts related to the origin and evolution of the universe as well as demonstrate an understanding of the nature of science and scientific reasoning and logic.

Quarter Four
Unit 11: Sun + Earth + Moon = BFF Sun, Earth, Moon Relationships In this unit, students will investigate and understand the characteristics of Earth and the solar system. Unit 12: If its Raining Cats and Dogs, Dont Step in a Poodle: Weather & Climate In this unit, students will investigate and understand that energy transfer between the sun and Earth and its atmosphere drives weather and climate on Earth. Unit 13: Keep the Change: Climate Changes & Life Changes In this unit, students will investigate and understand the origin and evolution of the atmosphere and the interrelationship of geologic processes, biologic processes, and human activities on its composition and dynamics. Unit 14: Water World: Global Water Resources & Oceans In this unit, students will investigate and understand that oceans are complex, interactive physical, chemical, and biological systems and are subject to long- and short-term variations.