The student will demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary for the study of earth science.
*Not correlated to State Grade Level Expectations
| 4.1 Understand the origin of earth, life and fossils
| | | 4.1.1 | | recognize the range of time over which natural events occur (e.g., lightning in seconds, mountains form over many years) | | 4.1.2* | | recognize currently accepted scientific theories regarding the origin of earth and life. | | 4.1.3 | | describe how earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere have changed over time due to geomorphic, chemical and biological action | | 4.1.4 | | recognize processes that prevent or cause erosion over time | | 4.1.5 | | recognize fossil formation in sedimentary rock | | 4.1.6* | | identify the methods used for determining the age of rocks and fossils | | 4.1.7* | | infer characteristics and behaviors of creatures of prehistoric life based on fossil evidence and their resemblance to existing species |
| 4.2 Understand the physical aspects of the world's oceans
| | | 4.2.1* | | compare and contrast the physical characteristics of oceans (e.g., size, depth, geologic history, features of ocean bottoms) | | 4.2.2* | | identify the tools and techniques used by oceanographers | | 4.2.3* | | describe the salinity, temperature, light and pressure layers of the open ocean | | 4.2.4* | | identify the major chemical components of seawater | | 4.2.5* | | identify the types of currents found in the ocean (e.g., surface, density, longshore) | | 4.2.6* | | explain how waves are formed and label their structure (e.g., wave length, height, crest, trough) | | 4.2.7 | | identify the relationship between tides on earth and the positions of moon, sun and earth | | 4.2.8* | | identify geologic features of the oceans (e.g., shorelines, continental shelf, slope, abyssal plain, ridges, trenches) |
| 4.3 Understand elements of the study of weather
| | | 4.3.1* | | identify factors that influence climate (e.g., soil/land, mountains, latitude, altitude, air/ocean currents) | | 4.3.2* | | compare and contrast climate zones | | 4.3.3* | | recognize processes involved in the water cycle | | 4.3.4* | | recognize the effects of the water cycle on the climate, weather and surface features of earth | | 4.3.5* | | recognize the formation of clouds and storms | | 4.3.6* | | identify how types of precipitation are formed | | 4.3.7* | | describe air masses using physical characteristics of temperatures, pressure and moisture content | | 4.3.8* | | identify types of front (e.g., cold, warm, stationary, occluded) | | 4.3.9* | | identify the forces that produce wind currents and describe the general circulation of the atmosphere | | 4.3.10* | | explain the impact of weather on human activities, property and environment | | 4.3.11 | | record seasonal changes over time (e.g., charts, graphs, tables, calendars, journal/log book) |
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