Mrs. Jane Owens

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE ELECTIVE CORE

 The Earth and Space Science Elective Core introduces students to an advanced study of Earth and perspectives of the universe from Earth as well as future challenges and technologies required for space exploration.  This core is not intended to serve as the entire curriculum of any course.  Teachers are encouraged to expand the curriculum beyond the minimum content of this core, accommodating specific community interests and utilizing unique local resources.  Courses developed from this core encourage students to make informed decisions using critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, perform investigations using the scientific method, utilize appropriate technology, and apply knowledge and skills learned to practical questions and problems.  The scientific process and application skills located on page 10 of this document should be incorporated into as many course standards as possible.  It is also essential that students place theories and discoveries of significant persons into a historical perspective.  Students should use clear and accurate language, keep accurate records, make reports, present oral and written projects, and participate in discussions regarding the results and conclusions of scientific investigations.  Safe field and laboratory investigations should be used to the maximum extent possible to illustrate scientific concepts and principles and to support inquiry-based instruction.  The recommended prerequisite science course for the Earth and Space Science Elective Core is the Physical Science Core, the Chemistry Core, or the Physics Core.

Students will:

    1.    Describe sources of energy, including solar, gravitational, geothermal, and nuclear.

     2.    Describe effects on weather of energy transfer within and among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere.

Describing the energy transfer related to condensation in clouds, precipitation, winds, and ocean currents

Describing characteristics of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena

Using data to analyze global weather patterns

Examples:   temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction

     3.    Explain how weather patterns affect climate.

Explaining characteristics of various weather systems, including high and low pressure areas or fronts

Interpreting weather maps and symbols to predict changing weather conditions

Identifying technologies used to obtain meteorological data

     4.    Describe the production and transfer of stellar energies.

Describing the relationship between life cycles and nuclear reactions of stars

Describing how the reception of solar radiation is affected by atmospheric and lithospheric conditions

Example:     volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases affecting reflection and absorption of solar radiation

    5.    Discuss various theories for the origin, formation, and changing nature of the universe and our solar system.

Explaining the nebular hypothesis for formation of planets, the big bang theory, and the steady state theory

Relating Hubble’s law to the concept of an ever-expanding universe

Describing the impact of meteor, asteroid, and comet bombardment on planetary and lunar development

     6.    Explain the length of a day and of a year in terms of the motion of Earth.

Explaining the relationship of the seasons to the tilt of Earth’s axis and its revolution about the sun

     7.    Explain techniques for determining the age and composition of Earth and the universe.

Using radiometric age methods to compute the age of Earth

Using expanding universe measurements to determine the age of the universe

Identifying techniques for evaluating the composition of objects in space

     8.    Explain the terms astronomical unit and light year.

     9.    Relate the life cycle of stars to the H-R diagram.

Explaining indicators of motion by the stars and sun in terms of the Doppler effect and red and blue shifts

Describing the relationship of star color, brightness, and evolution to the balance between gravitational collapse and nuclear fusion

    10.    Identify scientists and their findings relative to Earth and space, including Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein.

Identifying classical instruments used to extend the senses and increase knowledge of the universe, including optical telescopes, radio telescopes, spectroscopes, and cameras

    11.    Describe pulsars, quasars, black holes, and galaxies.

    12.    Describe challenges and required technologies for space exploration.

Identifying long-term human space travel needs, including life support

Identifying applications of propulsion technologies for space travel

Identifying new instrumentation and communication technologies needed for space information gathering

Examples:   Mars Exploration Rover, Cassini spacecraft and Huygens probe, Gravity Probe B

Identifying benefits to the quality of life that have been achieved through space advances

Examples:   cellular telephone, GPS

Identifying new technology used to gather information, including spacecraft, observatories, space-based telescopes, and probes