5.1 Strand
Earth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). Within these systems, the location of Earth’s land and water can be described. Also, these systems interact in multiple ways. Weathering and erosion are examples of interactions between Earth’s systems. Some interactions cause landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that impact humans and other organisms. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards, but solutions can be designed to reduce their impact.
Standard(s) 5.1.1: Analyze and interpret data to describe patterns of Earth’s features. Emphasize most earthquakes and volcanoes occur in bands that are often along the boundaries between continents and oceans while major mountain chains may be found inside continents or near their edges. Examples of data could include maps showing locations of mountains on continents and the ocean floor or the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes. (ESS2.B)
Practices
Analyzing and Interpreting Data Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible and feasible, digital tools should be used.
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Analyze and interpret data to make sense of phenomena using logical reasoning.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
The locations of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, ocean floor structures, earthquakes, and volcanoes occur in patterns. Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur in bands that are often along the boundaries between continents and oceans. Major mountain chains form inside continents or near their edges. Maps can help locate the different land and water features areas of Earth.
Cross Cutting Concepts
Patterns
Patterns can be used as evidence to support an explanation.
Storyline Narrative
To begin this storyline students will investigate the phenomenon, a volcano rapidly formed in a field in Paricutin. Students will obtain information about a volcano that grew in a field in Paricutin, Mexico over the course of 9 years, destroying the village.
Then students will obtain information about other North American examples of volcano and earthquake activity and mountain ranges to analyze patterns in the data. They will look at volcanoes in the area of Paricutin to understand and reason that the occurrence of that volcano was part of a pattern rather than a random act. From there, students will look at examples and nonexamples of volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain ranges to further analyze and interpret data to find patterns of Earth’s features. Finally, when given a map with known volcano and/or earthquake occurrences, students identify which location is more likely to have the next occurrence and support their answer using the data from their investigations?
Site Feedback
Utah Science
Curriculum Consortium
Tyson Grover
Annette Nielson
Storyline Narrative 7.5.3
Standard 7.5.3: Construct explanations that describe the patterns of body structure similarities and differences between modern organisms and between ancient and modern organisms to infer possible evolutionary relationships.
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Student Friendly Objective: I can explain how patterns found in the body structures of modern organisms and ancient infer that they have possible evolutionary relationships.
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Anchor Phenomenon: The structure of the American alligator hasn’t changed much, which we’ve learned about through body structure evidence (see article from episode 1)
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Big Idea: Modern and ancient body structures give evidence of evolutionary relationships.
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Teacher introduces the phenomenon using the article about the American alligator and discuss the idea that the fossil record and modern and ancient structures show evolutionary relationships.
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Students will explore various modern bones and compare their similarities and differences to an ancient fossilized bone.
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Students will describe the patterns of body structures. Once they compare the similarities and differences between ancient and modern organisms, they will be able to infer possible evolutionary relationships.
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Students will elaborate using their data. They will be able to synthesize the data they have been looking at and determine which show strong or weak evidence of change throughout time.
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Students will gather evidence to find out which organism is the whale's closest relative. They will see what their evolutionary path looks like. They will gather evidence in three areas:
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DNA evidence
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Fossil evidence
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Comparative anatomy
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By exploring and explaining the homologous bones that organisms share students can follow the patterns as we move along the evolutionary trees. These patterns should make it is evident that organisms which share homologous bones also share a common ancestor somewhere in their past.
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Finally, students will evaluate their understanding of patterns seen throughout time by taking the assessment. This allows students to show their understanding and learn that they have gained.
Conceptual Understandings
Bones carry many similarities down through the generations of time. Understanding how one bone functions in a modern animal can help us infer how similar bones worked in ancient organisms.
What can we learn from studying homologous structures and their changes over time?
Snapshot
Students will be able to describe the patterns of body structures similarities and differences between ancient and modern organisms to infer possible evolutionary relationships.
Episode 4a
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Question
Can comparing Ancient and Modern bones help us understand evolutionary relationships?
Episode 4b
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Question
Can comparing Ancient and Modern bones help us understand evolutionary relationships?
Snapshot
Students will be able to describe the patterns of body structures similarities and differences between ancient and modern organisms to infer possible evolutionary relationships.
Conceptual Understandings
Bones carry many similarities down through the generations of time. Understanding how one bone functions in a modern animal can help us infer how similar bones worked in ancient organisms.
What can we learn from studying homologous structures and their changes over time?
Episode 5
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Question
What can we learn from studying homologous structures and their changes over time?
Snapshot
Students will gather evidence to find out what is the whale's closest relative. What does their evolutionary path look like? They will gather evidence in three areas:
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DNA evidence
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Fossil evidence
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Comparative anatomy
Conceptual Understandings
By using DNA evidence, fossil evidence, and comparative anatomy we are able to identify what organisms are closely related and what organisms have little similarities. Students see that many organisms share a common ancestor somewhere in their evolutionary line.