Topic/Concept

Suggested Time

AKS

Characteristics of Science

On-Going

AKS 1-9

First 9 Weeks

9 weeks

AKS 16b, 16b1, 16b2, 16b3, 18, 19

Rocks

4 weeks

16b – classify rocks by their formation (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) (GPS)

16b1 – explain the rock cycle

16b2 – investigate the contributions of minerals to rock composition (GPS)

16b3 – discuss the importance of mineral and rock resources to society

Paleontology

2 weeks

18 – describe Earth’s geologic history

18a – interpret the geologic history of Earth based on the principles of uniformitarianism, superposition, and original horizontality

18a1 – apply the law of superposition to determine the relative age of rocks

18b – describe how fossils show evidence of the changing surface and climate of Earth (GPS)

18b1 – describe the evidence used to provide historical background for the geologic time scale

18b2 – (Extension) model the formation mold/cast fossils and trace fossils. Understand the formation of preserved remains, carbon filsm, and petrified fossils.

18b3 – discuss Earth’s history and recognize that change occurs constantly and slowly over time

18c – (Extension) – explain how scientists have determined the age of Earth

Ecology

3 weeks

19 – compare various sources of energy and describe their uses and methods of conservation (GPS)

19a – explain the role of the sun as the major source of energy and its relationship to wind and water energy (GPS)

19b – identify renewable and nonrenewable resources (GPS)

19b1 – discuss how consumption of energy impacts the environment and society

19b2 – discuss the importance of conserving energy

19c – describe methods for conserving natural resources such as water, soil and air (GPS)

Second 9 Weeks

9 weeks

AKS 16, 16a, 16c, 17

Plate Tectonics

5 weeks

16 – investigate the composition and formation of Earth’s surface (GPS, ITBS)

16a – compare and contrast Earth’s crust, mantle and core including temperature, density and composition (GPS)

16c – describe the composition of soil as consisting of weathered rocks and decomposed organic material (GPS)

Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, and Soil

4 weeks

17 – describe processes that cause gradual changes in Earth’s surface (GPS, ITBS)

17a – demonstrate how the deformation (e.g., tension, compression and shearing) of the Earth’s plates produces landforms

17b – recognize lithospheric plates constantly move and cause major geological events on the earth’s surface (GPS)

17b1 – demonstrate how convection currents within the earth produce movement

17b2 – describe the effects of plate movement on the lithosphere, including the ocean floor or under ocean basins

17b3 – explain the processes that produce volcanoes and earthquakes

17b4 – analyze the relationship between volcanoes and earthquakes

17c – explain the effects of physical processes (weathering, erosion and deposition) on geological features (GPS)

17c1 – (old 14a2) – describe the formation of a river system

17d  - discuss the effects of human activity on the erosion of the Earth’s surface (GPS)

Third 9 Weeks

9 weeks

AKS 14, 15

Hydrology

3 weeks

14 – analyze the significant role of water in earth processes (GPS, ITBS, CE)

14a – explain a large portion of the Earth’s surface is water, consisting of oceans, rivers, lakes, underground water and ice (GPS)

14a1 – illustrate the water cycle and relate various atmospheric conditions to its stages (GPS)

14b – describe the composition, location and subsurface topography of the world’s oceans (GPS)

14b1 – identify the chemical and physical properties of ocean water

14b2 – model the features of the ocean floor

14c – explain the causes of waves, currents and tides (GPS)

14d – analyze water conservation practices and issues

14e – (Extension) – discuss the distribution and quality of freshwater (groundwater and surface water) on the Earth

Meteorology

6 weeks

15 - explain how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather (GPS, ITBS)

15a – describe the composition and structure of the Earth’s atmosphere

15b – describe atmospheric factors that interact to cause weather (heat energy, air pressure, winds, and moisture)

15b1 – demonstrate land and water absorb and lose heat at different rates, and explain the resulting effects on weather patterns (GPS)

15b2 – relate how moisture evaporating from the oceans (and other sources of water such as lakes, rivers, and plants) affects the weather patterns of the Earth’s surface (GPS)

15b3 – compare the four major types of air masses and how they create fronts that affect weather patterns

15b4 – explain how clouds form, and identify the three basic types of clouds

15b5 – differentiate between global and local winds

15b6 – investigate different types of weather phenomena (lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and floods)

15b7 – interpret weather maps and understand weather forecasting

15c – relate unequal heating of land and water surfaces to form large global wind systems and weather events such as tornados and thunderstorms (GPS)

15c1 – discuss factors that determine climate

15d – (Extension) identify the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere

15e – (Extension)- explain the importance of each layer of the Earth’s atmosphere

15f – (Extension) classify the climate zones of the Earth

Fourth 9 Weeks

9 weeks

AKS 10, 11, 12

Astronomy

4 weeks

10 – explain the effects of the relative position of the sun, Earth and moon (GPS, ITBS)

10a – explain how Earth’s movement in space produces the day/night cycle

10b – relate the tilt of Earth to the distribution of sunlight throughout the year and its effect on climate (seasons) (GPS)

10c – demonstrate the phases of the moon by showing the alignment of the earth, moon and sun (GPS)

10d – explain the alignment of the earth, moon and sun during solar and lunar eclipses (GPS)

10e – (Extension) describe the formation and surface features of the moon

11 – analyze the composition of our solar system (GPS, ITBS)

11a – compare and contrast the planets in terms of composition; size relative to the Earth; surface and atmospheric features; relative distance from the Sun; and ability to support life. (GPS)

11b – explain how gravity and inertia govern motion in the solar system (GPS)

11c – describe the characteristics of comets, asteroids and meteors (GPS)

11d – locate the solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy and our galaxy within the universe (GPS)

11e – (Extension) – identify and classify stars and star systems

11e1 – (Extension) – define a light year and indicate its value

11e2 – (Extension) – describe the life cycle of a star

11e3 – (Extension) – interpret a Hetzsprung-Russell diagram

11e4 – (Extension) – identify major galaxy types

11e5 – (Extension) – analyze constellations and star groups

11f – (Extension) indicate the size, composition and characteristics of the sun

11g – (Extension) compare an object’s weight and mass on Earth to other locations in the solar system

12 – analyze current scientific views about the formation of the universe and how those views evolved (GPS, ITBS)

12a – relate the Nature of Science to the progression of basic historical scientific models (geocentric, heliocentric) as they describe the formation of our solar system and the Big Bang theory as it describes the formation of the universe with the sun at its center (GPS)

12a1 – describe how Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo contributed to the knowledge of our solar system

12b – relate the use of probes, satellites, telescopes, and spectroscopes to about the study of space

Extensions/Previewing

Post-CRCT

Schools can choose to use this time to either extend content covered prior to the CRCT or begin to preview (or pre-teach) the subsequent course.  Materials for previewing are available on the GCPS Science website (http://gwinnettk12online.net/).