Mrs. Scalise

Science Scrapbook Standards

Major Understandings:

 

Standard #1: The Earth's Sun

1.1a Earth's Sun is an average-sized star. The Sun is more than a million times greater in volume than Earth.

 

Standard #2: Other Stars

1.1b Other stars are like the Sun but are so far away that they look like points of light. Distances between stars are vast compared to distances within our solar system.

 

Standard #3: The Solar System

1.1c The Sun and the planets that revolve around it are the major bodies in the solar system. Other members include comets, moons, and asteroids. Earth's orbit is nearly circular.

 

Standard #4:  Gravity

1.1d Gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and the Moon in orbit around the Earth.

 

Standard #5:  Celestial Objects

1.1e Most objects in the solar system have a regular and predictable motion. These motions explain such phenomena as a day, a year, phases of the Moon, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, and comets.

 

Standard #6: Moon

1.1g Moons are seen by reflected light. Our Moon orbits Earth, while Earth orbits the Sun. The Moon's phases as observed from Earth are the result of seeing different portions of the lighted area of the Moon's surface. The phases repeat in a cyclic pattern in about one month.

 

Standard #7:  Earth's Rotation

1.1h The apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars across the sky can be explained by Earth's rotation and revolution. Earth's rotation causes the length of one day to be approximately 24 hours. This rotation also causes the Sun and Moon to appear to rise along the eastern horizon and to set along the western horizon. Earth's revolution around the Sun defines the length of the year as 365 1/4 days.

 

Standard #8: Earth's Tilt

1.1i The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and the revolution of Earth around the Sun cause seasons on Earth. The length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season.

 

Standard #9: Earth's Shape

1.1j The shape of Earth, the other planets, and stars is nearly spherical.

 

Standard #10:  Gases in the Atmosphere

2.1a1 Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thin shell surrounding Earth. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.

 

Standard #11:  Layers of the Atmosphere

2.1a2 The atmosphere is stratified into layers, each having distinct properties. Nearly all weather occurs in the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

Standard #12: Altitude

2.1b As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.

 

Standard #13:  Minerals

2.1e Rocks are composed of minerals. Only a few rock-forming minerals make up most of the rocks of Earth. Minerals are identified on the basis of physical properties such as streak, hardness, and reaction to acid.

 

Standard #14: Fossils

2.1f Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rocks. Fossils can be used to study past climates and environments.

 

Standard #15:  Weathering

2.1g The dynamic processes that wear away Earth's surface include weathering and erosion.

 

Standard #16: Soil

2.1h The process of weathering breaks down rocks to form sediment. Soil consists of sediment, organic material, water, and air.

 

Standard #17: Erosion

2.1i Erosion is the transport of sediment. Gravity is the driving force behind erosion. Gravity can act directly or through agents such as moving water, wind, and glaciers.

 

Standard #18:  Earth's Interior Moves

2.2a The interior of Earth is hot. Heat flow and movement of material within Earth cause sections of Earth's crust to move.

 

Standard #19:  Movement of Earth's Crust

2.2a Earth's crust moves, this movement may result in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the creation of mountains and ocean basins.

 

Standard # 20:  Earth's Layers

2.2b There are three main layers of the Earth.  The crust, mantle, and core. Each have distinct properties.

 

2.1c The rock at Earth's surface forms a nearly continuous shell around Earth called the lithosphere.

 

2.1d The majority of the lithosphere is covered by a relatively thin layer of water called the hydrosphere.

 

Standard #21:  Earthquake Data

2.2b Analysis of earthquake wave data (vibrational disturbances) leads to the conclusion that there are layers within Earth.

 

Standard #22: Continental Drift Theory

2.2d Continents fitting together like puzzle parts and fossil correlations provided initial evidence that continents were once together.

 

Standard #23:  Topographic Maps  (Physical Setting Skill #7)

Topographic Maps can be used to read the elevation and determine land forms.

 

Standard # 24:  Moving Plates and Convection Currents

2.2e The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains how the solid lithosphere consists of a series of plates that float on the partially molten section of the mantle. Convection cells within the mantle may be the driving force for the movement of the plates.

 2.2f Plates may collide, move apart, or slide past one another. Most volcanic activity and mountain building occur at the boundaries of these plates, often resulting in earthquakes.

 

Standard #25:  Sedimentary Rocks

2.2g Rocks are classified according to their method of formation. Sedimentary rocks are one of the three types of rocks in the rock cycle.  Most rocks show characteristics that give clues to their formation conditions.

 

Standard #26:  Metamorphic Rocks

2.2g Rocks are classified according to their method of formation. Metamorphic rocks are one of the three types of rocks in the rock cycle.  Most rocks show characteristics that give clues to their formation conditions.

 

Standard #27:  Igneous Rocks

2.2g Rocks are classified according to their method of formation. Igneous rocks are one of the three types of rocks in the rock cycle.  Most rocks show characteristics that give clues to their formation conditions.

 

Standard #28:  The Rock Cycle

2.2h The rock cycle model shows how types of rock or rock material may be transformed from one type of rock to another.

 

Standard #29:  Weather

2.2i Weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given location for a short period of time.

 

Standard # 30:  Hazardous Weather

2.2q Hazardous weather conditions include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards. Humans can prepare for and respond to these conditions if given sufficient warning.

 

Standard #31: Climate

2.2j Climate is the characteristic weather that prevails from season to season and year to year.

 

Standard #32: Uneven Heating of Earth's Surface

2.2k The uneven heating of Earth's surface is the cause of weather.

 

Standard #33:  Air Masses

2.2l Air masses form when air remains nearly stationary over a large section of Earth's surface and takes on the conditions of temperature and humidity from that location. Weather conditions at a location are determined primarily by temperature, humidity, and pressure of air masses over that location.

 

Standard #34:  Prevailing Westerly Winds

2.2m Most local weather condition changes are caused by movement of air masses.

2.2n The movement of air masses is determined by prevailing winds and upper air currents.

 

Standard #35:  Fronts

2.2o Fronts are boundaries between air masses. Precipitation is likely to occur at these boundaries.

 

Standard # 36:  The Water Cycle

2.1j Water circulates through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere in what is known as the water cycle.

 

Standard #37:  High and Low Pressure Systems

2.2p High-pressure systems generally bring fair weather. Low-pressure systems usually bring cloudy, unstable conditions. The general movement of highs and lows is from west to east across the United States.

 

Standard #38:  Substances Entering the Atmosphere

2.2r Substances enter the atmosphere naturally and from human activity. Some of these substances include dust from volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These substances can affect weather, climate, and living things.  

 

Standard #:  Latitude and Longitude

1.1f The latitude/longitude coordinate system and our system of time are based on celestial observations.

 

Standard #:  Crustal Movement

2.2c Folded, tilted, faulted, and displaced rock layers suggest past crustal movement.

 

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