Earth Science Class Mrs. Moore Lesson Plans December 16th - 20th

Period 2,4, and 9  Monday, and Wednesday

Period 3,5, and 10 Tuesday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Earth’s Systems (Geology)

1. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6 billion-year-old history
2. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
3. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales
4. Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions 
5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes

 Monday/ Tuesday - Start with a skyward assignment on the seven geological principles.  Students

will complete testing of rocks and minerals to learn physical and chemical properties to aid in

identification. We will start it as a group and complete at least three rocks and minerals.   We will

create models of the rock cycle to share with each other. We will toast marshmallows to show

metamorphism, melt chocolate to show igneous rocks and put it on crackers to show sedimentary

rocks.  We will complete a Kahoot quiz on the computer. Make sure you have your articles

completed.  

Wednesday - Thursday - Review 6 fossil types, 7 geo principles, 8 common Illinois Fossils, radioactive decay problems, 4 geological timeline eras, what the order of life development was on our planet,  the 15 minerals, the 15 rocks, the 15 mineral/rock identification tests. We will use this information to look at visible geology and read the land to explain what has happened on our planet when no one was there to see it happen.  We will discuss the future of our planet. All students will use uniformitarianism and make an educated hypothesis about life, land, water, and the atmosphere of our planet. We will write sentences with evidence to support our hypothesis.

Earth Science Class Mrs. Moore Lesson Plans December 2nd - 20th

Period 2,4, and 9 Monday,Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday, Thursday, Monday, and Wednesday

Period 3,5, and 10 Tuesday, Thursday, Monday,Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Earth’s Systems (Geology)

1. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6 billion-year-old history
2. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
3. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales
4. Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions 
5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes

Monday/ Tuesday - Start with a skyward assignment There will be radioactive decay questions.

Second, we will create a geological timeline of the Earth’s history using eras, periods, and epochs.

  We will complete a timeline together with 26 different events that changed the planets, atmosphere,

lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. New terms - precambrian, paleozoic, mesozoic,

cenozoic, cambrian, silurian, ordovician, mississippian, pennsylvanian, and  permian. We will play a

manipulative game with the information on our desks. We will watch a video clip on what is

evolution, what is the evidence for evolution, what is natural selection Homework is a short skyward

assignment and a comparative anatomy color sheet due before you come to class again.

Wednesday/ Thursday  Review skyward assignment with geo boxes, radioactive decay, and geo timeline questions.  Students will replay the manipulative game with geo timeline information.

Students will review the geo timeline on the front board.  Students will walk around the room looking

at our rocks and minerals again. We will look at our crystals and our petrified fossils. Students will

start to learn the process to identify physical and chemical properties of rocks and minerals. 

Students will look at density, mass, volume, streak, hardness, diaphaneity, tenacity, color, smell,

HCl, Luster, and the flame test to identify unknown rocks and minerals. Homework is to complete

the article readings by Dec. 16th.

Friday- Monday - Students will complete independent testing of rocks and minerals to learn physical

and chemical properties to aid in identification.  Students will be instructed on the process for the

flame test. Homework is to complete the article readings by Dec. 16th.

Tuesday - Wednesday  - Students will watch a BBC series on Cenozoic life.  Students will have a

worksheet to fill in as they watch the videos.  There is no need for computers today. Mrs. Moore will

be gone on Wednesday.  The paper is due at the end of the class. No homework. Please finish the

article readings on skyward by December 16th. 

Thursday - Friday First half of the class we will complete a flame test lab.  The second half of the

class we will subdivide the rocks from the minerals.  We will complete notes on what makes a

mineral and a rock different. We will create models of the rock cycle to share with each other. 

Students will be asked to write questions to ask each other about the rock cycle and different

minerals. The students will need 3 questions to share in our next class.

Monday - Tuesday - save for revision on timing - snow day or other events.

Wednesday - Thursday - Review 6 fossil types, 7 geo principles, 8 common Illinois Fossils,

radioactive decay problems, 4 geological timeline eras, what the order of life development was on

our planet,  the 15 minerals, the 15 rocks, the 15 mineral/rock identification tests. We will use this

information to look at visible geology and read the land to explain what has happened on our planet

when no one was there to see it happen.  We will discuss the future of our planet. All students will

use uniformitarianism and make educated hypothesis about life, land, water, and the atmosphere of

our planet. We will write sentences with evidence to support our hypothesis.

Earth Science Class 11-4 -11-15

Mrs. Moore

Lesson Plans 

Nov. 4th to Nov. 15th

Monday - all classes

Tuesday- Thursday Periods 2,4,and 9

Wednesday - Friday Periods 3,5 and 10

Earth’s Systems (Geology)

1. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth’s 4.6 billion-year-old history
2. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
3. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales
4. Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions 
5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes

Phenomena Pictures -  See above  

November 4th Monday - All classes- Eye Exams 

1. Review our information from our Looking to College visits.
2. Continue our Thinkcerca work - NEW Due Date November 9th. 
1. Intro
2. Body paragraphs 3
3. Counter argument
4. Conclusion - no repeating
3. Petrify sponges/ make pipe cleaner ornaments
4. Review our Unit on Historical Geology -notes
1. Law of Superposition - 
2. Principle of original horizontality  - 
3. Principle of original lateral continuity - 
4.  Principle of intrusive relationships - 
5. Principle of  cross-cutting relationships 
6. Unconformities -para, non, dsc, angular 
7. Fossil succession - 

Tuesday/ Wednesday -

Start with a skyward start assignment.  We will continue our notes started on Monday.  As a group

we will practice relative dating problems on the big screen.  We will go over the homework that was

given a few weeks ago - together. We will look at the principle of uniformitarianism.  Students will

look at the the 6 types of fossils. We will pass around the 8 common Illinois fossils and start to learn

the names of geologic time periods.  A simple relative dating worksheet will be given in paper or

taken online. 

Thursday/ Friday

Start with a skyward start assignment.  We will identify everyone who needs to turn in their

thinkcerca assignment - Due November 9th.  Students will pass around the common Illinois fossils

and we will create a document with color pictures of the actual fossils.  Students will also review the

fossil types. We will continue with our petrified sponges and our pipe cleaner crystals. Students will

be asked to complete several relative dating problems.  Homework is to complete the relative dating

problems not finished in class and finish the thinkcerca paper on the fossil evidence found in

Antarctica. Quiz over the common Illinois fossil will be next week, students will need to know the

fossils by sight. The list is below.

Now that our Thinkcerca is completed we need to go back to the article readings. I am

currently reading a few different articles but have not chosen the 5 for our class.  Check back

and I will list the articles and put the reaction assignments on the skyward program. Thanks

for your patience.

Tuesday/ Wednesday

Start with a skyward start assignment.  Continue with our petrified items, look at our pipe cleaner

crystals, and start our molds and casts in class.  We will review our common Illinois fossils and

take a short quiz on the identification of the fossils. We will practice our relative dating and start our

absolute dating lesson using pennies and the spreadsheet program on our chromebooks. 

Homework is a simple absolute dating worksheet. It will be attached to skyward, on my web page,

and in paper form.  

Thursday/ Friday

Start with a skyward start assignment.  Review our geological principles and relative/absolute dating

concepts with a few together problems. We will dip our petrified items, look at our pipe cleaner

crystals, and make the cast of our penny mold.  We will then take a 5 problem quiz on relative

dating with one problem of absolute dating. We will then complete several absolute dating problems

using different manipulatives to assist in our understanding.  Students will end with a walk around

looking and learning the names of different common rocks and minerals. Homework will be given -

Students will create a slide presentation of 15 different minerals and 15 different rocks.  This will be

due at our next class session.  

Monday / Tuesday - Skyward start assignment. As a group we will look at the Bedrock

geology of Illinois.  We will make a list of what we see on the map. We will then pick another

state and make guesses as to how it will be different from Illinois by location and results of

plate tectonics.  I cannot wait to get here! This is so much fun seeing how to read the land of

the past when humans were not here!!!

Fun Information we will cover is below!

1.  Uniformitarianism - What happens in the past will happen again geologically.
2. Two types of dating rocks - relative and absolute (radioactive decay)
3. Types of Rocks - Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary
4. Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere
5. Unique characteristics of all minerals
1. Solid
2. Made by nature
3. Crystal pattern
4. Organic
5. Unique formula

6.  Types of Fossils

1. Petrified
2. Molds and casts
3. Index
4. Carbonaceous
5. Original remains
6. Trace 

7.   Fundamental Principles of Geology 

1. Law of Superposition - 
2. Principle of original horizontality  - 
3. Principle of original lateral continuity - 
4.  Principle of intrusive relationships - 
5. Principle of  cross-cutting relationships 
6. Unconformities -para, non, dsc, angular 
7. Fossil succession - 

8. Common Minerals of Illinois

1. Brachiopods
2. Cephalopods
3. Crinoids
4. Sponges
5. Gastropods
6. Blastoids
7. Corals
8. Trilobites

Minerals we will id by sight Rocks we will id by sight

Pyrite Mica Slate Shale Pumice

Rose quartz Halite Granite Scoria Limestone

Crystalline quartz Basalt Coquina Gneiss

Hematite Copper Schists Sandstone Obsidian

Sulfur Fluorite Marble Coal Conglomerate

Talc Kaolin

Gypsum Galena

Calcite Graphite

Identification Testing  

Name	Feel	Streak	Smell	Luster	Magnetic	Chemical Test (HCl)
Hardness	Mass	Volume	Density	Crystal Pattern		Cleavage or Fracture
Fluorescent	Tenacity	Diaphaneity	Flame		Color	Formula