| The Universe |
- Describe how objects in
the solar system are in regular and predictable motions that explain such
phenomena as days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles.
- Explain that gravitational force is
the dominant force determining motions in the solar system and in
particular keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.
- Compare the orbits and composition
of comets and asteroids with that of Earth.
- Describe the effect that asteroids
or meteoroids have when moving through space and sometimes entering
planetary atmospheres (e.g., meteor-"shooting star" and
meteorite).
- Explain that the universe consists
of billions of galaxies that are classified by shape.
- Explain interstellar distances are
measured in light years (e.g., the nearest star beyond the sun is 4.3
light years away).
- Examine the life cycle of a star
and predict the next likely stage of a star.
- Name and describe tools used to
study the universe (e.g., telescopes, probes, satellites and spacecraft).
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| Earth Systems |
- Describe the interior
structure of Earth and Earth's crust as divided into tectonic plates
riding on top of the slow moving currents of magma in the mantle.
- Explain that most major geological
events (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, hot spots and mountain
building) results from plate motion.
- Use models to analyze the size and
shape of Earth, its surface and its interior (e.g., gloves, topographic
maps, satellite images).
- Explain that some processes
involved in the rock cycle are directly related to thermal energy and
forces in the mantle that drive plate motions.
- Describe how landforms are created
through a combination of destructive (e.g., weathering and erosion) and
constructive processes (e.g., crustal deformation, volcanic eruptions and
deposition of sediment).
- Explain that folding, faulting and
uplifting can rearrange the rock layers so the youngest is not always
found on top.
- Illustrate how the three primary
types of plate boundaries (transform, divergent and convergent) cause
different landforms (e.g., mountains, volcanoes, and ocean trenches).
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