7th Grade Science

Unit 2: Earth's Structure 

The purpose of this unit is for students to gain conceptual understanding of Earth’s internal structure. This unit will expose students to the relationship between the layers of the earth and the movement of the tectonic plates and the effects that result from their movement, ie. Earthquakes, volcanoes, continental drift.  Students will explore the 5 sub layers of the earth with a focus on temperature, pressure, density, composition, and state of matter differences between each. Students will also gain an understand of the rock cycle and how the different layers of earth affects earth’s surface. A heavy focus will be placed on the solid nature of the outer layer floating on a moving semi-liquid layer beneath.  Students will then investigate the evidence surrounding the idea of Continental Drift and begin to connect the flowing Asthenosphere as the cause of Cont. Drift.  Students will discover that the Earth’s solid surface is broken up into large chunks of rocks called Tectonic Plates and that each plate interacts in a unique way with the plates that surround it.  These interactions lead to earthquakes and volcanoes and the constant, but slow movement of the continents.  

 

 

Standards 

 

 

• SC.7.E.6.5 Describe the layers of the solid Earth, including the lithosphere, the hot convecting mantle, and the dense metallic liquid and solid cores 

 

• SC.7.E.6.5Identify the patterns within the rock cycle and relate them to surface events (weathering and erosion) and sub-surface events (plate tectonics and mountain building).

 

• SC.7.E.6.5 Explore the scientific theory of plate tectonics by describing how the movement of Earth's crustal plates causes both slow and rapid changes in Earth's surface, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building

 

• SC.7.E.6.7 Recognize that heat flow and movement of material within Earth cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and creates mountains and ocean basins. 

 

 

 

Enduring Understandings:

Heat, pressure, weathering, and erosion forms new rock in a continuing "rock cycle" in which the total amount of material stays the same as its forms change.

The earth consists of layers each with their own composition and density

The theory of plate tectonics provides an explanation of how the movement of the Earth’s surface occurs.

Specific interactions of the plate boundaries can cause earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains and ocean basins.

 

 

Essential Questions?

What kinds of forces cause rocks to change?

What makes each layer of the earth different from the other layers?

How do the layers interact with each other?

How has the movement of tectonic plates caused changes to Earth’s surface?

What causes mountains to form?

How do mountains become taller?

What causes earthquakes?

Why don’t earthquakes happen in Florida very often?

How do volcanoes change Earth’s surface?

 

Skills 

• Interpret rock cycle diagrams

• Describe how one form of rock can change into the others

• Identify and describe patterns within the rock cycle, including the formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock

• Identify and describe events of the rock cycle on Earth’s surface

• Explain the composition and density of each of Earth’s layers.

• Explain the interaction between the layers especially between the lithosphere and the hot convecting mantle.

• Create and label models of Earth’s layers

• Compare and contrast limitations and benefits of using scientific models

• Use a globe or map to identify locations of plate boundaries

• Describe the movement of specific plate boundaries. (convergent, divergent, transform boundaries) and subduction).

• Correlate plate movement to changes on the Earth’s surface.

• Identify where volcanoes and earthquakes will likely occur

• Relate continental plate collisions to the formation of mountains.

• Identify and analyze diagrams and charts showing the locations or potential locations of earthquakes.

• Identify which parts of the formation and occurrence of earthquakes are slow and rapid.

• Identify and analyze diagrams and charts showing the locations or potential locations of volcanoes caused by plate movement.

 

Knowledge 

• Heat, pressure, melting, cooling, crystallization, compaction, cementation, weathering, erosion and deposition are processes that change rocks.

• The rock cycle is related to surface events that destroy rock and build up surfaces such as weathering , erosion, deposition

• Igneous rocks form when hot, liquid rock cools and hardens.

• Metamorphic rock forms when chemical processes or temperature and pressure change rock.

• Sedimentary rock forms when rock pieces become cemented together.

• Identify the structure, composition and relative density of Earth’s layers

• The 3 main layers of the Earth include the crust, mantle, inner and outer cores.

• The lithosphere is comprised of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.

• The asthenosphere is a layer within the mantle with which tectonic plates move.

• The strong, lower part of the mantle is called the mesosphere.

• Identify the interactions between the layers, especially between the lithosphere and the hot convecting mantle.

• Convection currents in the mantle cause movement of tectonic plates

• Slow changes to Earth’s surface caused by plate movement include the change of position of continents, mountain building and formation of ocean basins.

• Rapid changes of tectonic plates cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

• Scientific theories are well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature.

• Scientific laws are descriptions of natural phenomena.

• Mountains are formed by collisions at convergent boundaries of two pieces of continental crust.

• The movement of material due to heat flow within the Earth causes the crustal plates to move.