| WATER PLANET COURSE MATRIX |
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SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
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1. |
SOLAR SYSTEM |
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Students use solar system cards to
organize the Sun and other bodies
into a representation of the system
and categorize the bodies in different
ways, based on their properties.
Students learn how gravity keeps
planets in orbit. |
The solar system comprises eight
planets and various other bodies
orbiting the Sun, a typical star
composed mostly of hydrogen and
helium.
• Solar-system bodies can be put into
categories, such as gas giants, terrestrial
planets, and satellites.
• Gravity is a pulling force that constantly
changes the direction of travel of
planets to maintain them in orbits
around the Sun. |
• Use print resources to gather
information about components of the
solar system.
• Compare properties of solar-system
objects, and use these properties to sort
and organize the objects.
• Organize information using graphic
representations such as charts. |
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2. |
WATER VAPOR |
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Students experiment with water to
determine how temperature and
surface area affect evaporation.
They also investigate the conditions
that produce liquid condensation
and frost. |
• Evaporation is the process by which
liquid water changes into water vapor, a
gas.
• Temperature and surface area affect the
rate of evaporation.
• Condensation occurs when water vapor
touches a cool surface and changes into
liquid.
• Evaporation and condensation
contribute to the movement of water
through the water cycle. |
• Plan and conduct an investigation to
study the effect of surface area and air
temperature on evaporation.
• Conduct an investigation to study the
effect of temperature on condensation.
• Use appropriate tools to measure mass
and volume in an experiment.
• Use mathematics to analyze
investigation results.
• Organize and communicate findings
using charts and graphs. |
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3. |
HEATING EARTH |
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Students learn about uneven heating by monitoring the
temperature of water and soil
in the sunshine. They discover
how uneven heating can cause
convection currents. Students
use syringes to investigate air
pressure. |
• The different energy-absorbing
properties of earth materials can lead to
uneven heating of Earth’s surface.
• Cold fl uids are denser than warm fl uids.
• Convection currents result from uneven
heating of Earth’s surface.
• Compressed air exerts pressure equally
in all directions.
• Earth’s atmospheric pressure decreases
with distance above Earth’s surface. |
• Design and conduct an investigation
to study the effect of solar energy on
different kinds of earth materials.
• Use appropriate tools to measure mass
and volume in an experiment.
• Use mathematics to analyze
investigation results.
• Organize and communicate fi ndings
using charts, graphs, and diagrams. |
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4. |
WEATHER |
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Students inventory Earth’s water
and learn that the water cycle
redistributes water worldwide.
They investigate weather,
learning the causes and effects of
severe weather, and learn how to
make weather maps and use them
to forecast weather. |
• Most of Earth’s water (97%) is salt water.
• Weather is the condition of the atmosphere
at a given place and time: the amount of
heat, moisture, pressure, and movement.
• Solar energy drives weather.
• Severe weather occurs when one or more
variables is extreme, resulting in conditions
that are dangerous or destructive.
• Weather maps display weather
conditions and can be used to forecast
weather. |
• Interpret information from a weather
map.
• Consider the strengths and limitations
of models and simulations. |
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page 3
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