Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, students will:

• Develop the ability to work cooperatively, listen to and respect explanations proposed by other students, as well as remain open to new ideas, other’s skepticism and alternative explanations, as scientists do.
• Understand that energy is a property of many substances, it takes many forms and is transferred in many ways. The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earth's surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle. These processes occur in the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere.
• Understand that geosciences are sciences (i.e. physics, chemistry, geology, etc.) that are used in a variety of fields (oceanography, atmospheric science, etc.) to research and study the earth and its processes.
• Use a model to analyze the constituent elements of solid earth. It is layered with a lithosphere; hot, convecting mantle; and a dense, metallic core. Method(s):
• Know that lithospheric plates on the scales of continents and oceans constantly move at rates of centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle. Major geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building, result from these plate motions.
• Know that landforms are the result of a combination of constructive and destructive forces. Constructive forces include crustal deformation, volcanic eruption, and deposition of sediment, while destructive forces include weathering and erosion.
• Analyze and understand that water, which covers the majority of the earth's surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the "water cycle." Water evaporates from the earth's surface, rises and cools as it moves to higher elevations, condenses as rain or snow, and falls to the surface where it collects in lakes, oceans, soil, and in rocks underground.
• Understand that water is a solvent. As it passes through the water cycle it dissolves minerals and gases and carries them to the oceans.
• Communicate, written and orally, explanations based on logical thinking and evidence