Earth and Life History
Middle School Modules: “Investigating Earth Systems (IES) is a standards-based, Earth science curriculum for the middle grades (6th-8th grades) developed by the American Geological Institute (AGI) in association with It's About Time Publishing. Field tested and content reviewed, IES is part of AGI's ongoing efforts at implementing effective Earth science education reform. AGI recognizes the need for students in the middle grades to have a solid understanding of the world they live in. IES was developed with generous support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), AGI Foundation and Chevron Corporation.”
Modules include: Soils, Rocks & Landforms, Oceans, Water, Materials and Minerals, Dynamic Planet, Fossils, Climate & Weather, Energy Resources, Astronomy
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Middle School: “The Earth System is a set of systems that work together in making the world we know. Some of these important systems are the Geosphere, the Hydrosphere, the Atmosphere, and the Biosphere.
These systems, and others, have been working together since the Earth’s beginning about 4.5 billion years ago. They are still interacting, because the Earth is always changing, even though we cannot always observe these changes. Energy from within and outside the Earth leads to changes in the Earth System. Changes in any one of these systems affect the others. This is why we think of the Earth as made of interrelated systems.”
Student Resources: Exosphere, Geosphere, Fluid Spheres, Biosphere, Climate & Weather, Energy Resources, Astronomy
Teacher Resources: Chapter Resources, Field-Test Materials, Field Test Online Chapter Evaluation, Student Survey, General Information on Project Cues, Instructional Design, Standards Correlation.
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Investigating Earth Systems
CUES: constructing Understanding of earth systems
The Earth System
4. Evidence from rocks allows us to understand the evolution of life on Earth. As a basis for understanding this concept:
EARTH AND LIFE HISTORY (Earth science)
a. Students know Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past and slow geologic processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time.
b. Students know the history of life on Earth has been disrupted by major catastrophic events, such as major volcanic eruptions or the impacts of asteroids.
c. Students know that the rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks and that rocks are often found in layers, with the oldest generally on the bottom.
d. Students know that evidence from geologic layers and radioactive dating indicates Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that life on this planet has existed for more than 3 billion years.
e. Students know fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed.
f. Students know how movements of Earth’s continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms.
g. Students know how to explain significant developments and extinctions of plant and animal life on the geologic time scale.
