Earth Motion3: Our Changing Earth
Have you ever wondered how the mountains were formed or how the Grand Canyon was created? EARTH MOTION3: OUR CHANGING EARTH contains three complete modules that can help to explain these phenomena.
Each module contains these components:
- A short student video (which is streamed on the address below and on D3A2, and is available on iTunes U Ohio)
- A professional development video
- A formative and a summative evaluation
- A series of lesson plans and a website that contains all of the above
Module 1: Earth Cycles
This program deals with the water, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen cycles. Hands-on activities are given for each section. It all leads to the concept of why these cycles are important, how they work, how human activity disrupts them and what we can do to lighten our impact. The project has the students creating an educational board game or card game that incorporates the key concepts of one cycle.
Module 2: Plate Tectonics
The main focus of this module is the movement of tectonic plates, which causes changes in the earth surface. Students participate in expert groups that research an assigned topic. They then make a presentation to the class of their findings. A second approach enables students to create a model that shows the effects of the earth’s movement. Finally, as a project, students create a model showing the effects of the earth’s moving plates.
Module 3: Transfer of Energy
The main focus of this module is for students to understand that energy is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation. The lessons include an activity where students travel from station to station doing the experiments and keeping track of the results. Then students use the Internet to find and plot earthquakes to determine the location of the edges of the tectonic plates. The project has students creating a project about the transfer of energy.
Educational Resources
Produced: 2010
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 7-9
Student Videos
Module 1: Earth Cycles deals with the water, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen cycles. Hands-on activities are given for each section. It all leads to the concept of why these cycles are important, how they work, how human activity disrupts them and what we can do to lighten our impact.
The main focus of Module 2: Plate Tectonics is the movement of tectonic plates, which causes changes in the earth surface.
The main focus of Module 3: Transfer of Energy is for students to understand that energy is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation.
Professional Development Videos
Module 1: Earth Cycles deals with the water, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen cycles. Hands-on activities are given for each section. It all leads to the concept of why these cycles are important, how they work, how human activity disrupts them and what we can do to lighten our impact.
The main focus of Module 2: Plate Tectonics is the movement of tectonic plates, which causes changes in the earth surface.
The main focus of Module 3: Transfer of Energy is for students to understand that energy is transferred by conduction, convection and radiation.