Name: ________________________

Earth Science

At the conclusion of this unit you will understand that…

•The Earth is constantly changing.

Inquiring scientific minds will be able to answer these essential questions…

•How is the Earth structured?

•How is the Earth changing?

•How do we know the Earth is changing?

•How is geological time divided?

•How can fossils determine changes in Earth’s geological history?

•What is the rock cycle?

•How do physical and chemical properties identify different rocks and minerals?

•What are the three types of rocks found in the Earth?

•What are plates?

•How does plate motion cause earthquakes and volcanoes?

•How does convection current affect the movement of the Earth’s surface?

•How are fossils related to the theory of continental drift?

Key Scientific Concepts/Vocabulary…

mineral	geologic time	continental drift	volcano
rock	era	convection	hotspots
rock cycle	period	plate tectonics	Ring of fire
igneous	epoch	Convergent boundary	magma
metamorphic	Core	Divergent boundary	lava
sedimentary	Mantle	Transform boundary
fossil	Crust	fault
model	lithosphere	earthquake
indirect evidence	asthenosphere	seismology
	pangea	richter scale
	Wegener

Young geologists will be able to…

•Construct models based on evidence.

•Classify rocks and minerals based on their properties.

•Support Wegener’s theory of plate tectonics with evidence.

•Use fossil evidence to support the idea that the earth is constantly changing.

•Construct a model of geologic time.

•Use earthquakes and volcanic evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics