Earth Systems Science: Exploring Change in the Critical Zone
Grades 3 -
8
Hydrology • Geology/Chronology • Biology/Ecology • Climatology/Meteorology
Curriculum • Activity
Educational Objectives
Module 1: Foundations for Flow
Learners will be able to:
- Describe and evaluate the impact of various geologic events and processes on the current structure of the Boulder Creek Watershed
- Differentiate between constructive and destructive geologic forces impacting the Boulder Creek Watershed
- Describe the role of glacial and stream erosion in shaping the structure and hydrology in the Boulder Creek Watershed
- Describe major events in Colorado’s climate over time and how they impacted the Boulder Creek Watershed
Module 2: Fire and Water
Learners will:
- Relate changes to map-based images of Colorado over a large geologic time scale to major events in our geologic history
- Describe relationships between existing geologic features and the processes and forces that created them
- Will match rock samples to descriptions of the geologic processes/events that formed them
Module 3: Ice, Snow and H2O
Learners will:
- Simulate and describe the impacts of glacial erosion over time using a model
- Identify characteristic features of glacial erosion in their model landscape
- Describe the role of glaciers in shaping the Boulder Creek Watershed
Audience
K-12
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns | Cause and Effect - Mechanism and Explanation | Energy and Matter - Flows, Cycles, and Conservation | Structure and Function
NGSS Science & Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems | Planning and Carrying Out Investigations | Analyzing and Interpreting Data | Developing and Using Models | Engaging in Argument from Evidence
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS3 - Energy | LS2 - Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics | ESS2 - Earth’s Systems | ESS3 - Earth and Human Activity
Observatory: Boulder CZO
Author(s): Eric Carpenter, Stacey Forsyth, Kristi Dahl, Laura Cecil, Melissa Foster, Rachel Gabor (INSTAAR)
Funding: Earth Systems Science: Exploring Change in the Critical Zone is a collaboration between the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory Program, the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, and the University of Colorado Boulder – Science Discovery Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0724960.
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