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.
-
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
Phenomenon: Geological processes affect the uneven distribution of resources.
Why are coal resources plentiful in central Utah but scarce in northern Utah?
This standard takes students through the process of discovering what a natural resource is, how resources are distributed across the globe, and how this distribution is related to the underlying geology.
Episode one introduces the standard by providing a story of a real life example of a search for natural resources. The Great Diamond Hoax took place in the 1870’s shortly after the gold rush. Two men were able to convince many prominent men across the country to invest in a fictitious diamond mine in northwest Colorado. From the story students will identify patterns in the distribution of diamonds and other precious gems. Students then generate questions about how natural resources are created and distributed.
In episode two students will explore examples of natural resources and generate a definition of a natural resource by creating a mind map model of materials that make up the structure of an everyday object. They will see that all products are ultimately generated from natural resources and that many of them have a geologic origin.
Students begin episode three by playing a mining game to explore the distribution of natural resources. This game will illustrate that natural resources are not distributed evenly across the earth’s surface. For example, some states in America have abundant gold reserves while others have none. The game will also show them that even resources such as potash or building stone that are less valuable per ounce than resources such as gold, are still very important to societies and can be mined for a profit. They will then obtain information to create maps of natural resources in Utah and look for patterns in their distribution by comparing all the student generated resource maps with each other.
In episode four students will take the maps they created in episode 3 and compare them with a simple geological map of Utah. This will be done either by drawing their resource map on top of laminated geological maps or digitally through mapping programs. They will be able to explain how the distribution of resources in Utah is caused by the underlying geology.
Episode five covers what may be the most important resource to societies; water. Students explore three different ways water is stored, aquifers, reservoirs, and snowpack, and recognize that these resources are limited and in increasing demand.
Conceptual Understandings
We can find things in nature that are useful to man.
What are natural resources?
Snapshot
Students experience a phenomenon in which they watch a video about prospecting for gold. They will make observations and ask questions about what causes resources to be found where they are.
Episode 1
​
Question
Where can we find the resources we use in our society?
Episode 2
​
Question
What are natural resources?
Snapshot
Students explore examples of natural resources and generate a definition of a natural resource by creating a mind map model of materials that make up the structure of an object.
Conceptual Understandings
Natural resources are things that are found in nature that are useful to humans. Almost everything we use originally came from a natural resource.
What natural resources are found in Utah? What resources are not found in Utah?
Conceptual Understandings
Natural resources are not distributed evenly over the surface of the earth.
What causes the uneven distribution of natural resources?
Snapshot
Students play a mining game that models uneven resource distribution. They will apply what they find to real-world systems and read about an example of a search for natural resources. From the story students will identify patterns in the distribution of diamonds and other precious gems. Students then generate questions about how natural resources are created and distributed.
Episode 3
​
Question
What natural resources are found in Utah? What resources are not found in Utah?
Episode 4
​
Question
What causes the uneven distribution of natural resources?
Snapshot
Students compare maps of resources in Utah with a simple geological map of Utah and look for patterns in the distribution of resources. They will be able to explain how the distribution of resources in Utah is caused by the underlying geology.
Conceptual Understandings
The distribution of many natural resources is a result of the geology of an area.
What has happened in the past to affect the geology that is found in an area?
Conceptual Understandings
Utah has not always been the same as it is today. It has been covered by oceans and lakes, ancient mountain ranges, and active volcanoes. These processes have affected the resources we find in our state today.
What has happened in the past to affect the geology that is found in an area?
Snapshot
Students look at the rocks found in a roadcut to determine what has happened to that area in the past geologically. They will use maps of what Utah has looked like in the past to see how Utah has changed over time and construct an explanation for what causes resources to be distributed unevenly across the earth’s surface.
Episode 5
​
Question
What has happened in the past to affect the geology that is found in an area?
Episode 6
​
Question
What other resources that we depend on are found in nature?
Snapshot
Students explore three different ways water is stored and recognize that these resources are limited and in demand.
Conceptual Understandings
Water resources in Utah come from three sources; snowpack, reservoirs and lakes, and underground aquifers. Water in Utah is a very valuable resource because it is in short supply. Other western states are interested in Utah’s water resources.