Geophysical Science Lesson Plan #3

Unit: (Formation of the Universe, Earth, and Earths Properties)

Teacher: Chris Hauss
Date: 26 Jan 2015
Subject / grade level: 10-12th Geophysical Science
Materials:
iPads/Computer
Projector
GeoPhys Textbook
Colored Pencils
Computer Lab
Early Earth reading: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/12/early-earth/appenzeller-text
Early Earth Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoReJQ-rJYo
Earth's Interior Interactive: https://ees.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/elearning/module06swf.swf
Properties of Earth: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1
Earth's Moon Formation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hahpE8b6fDI

Essential Standards
State: 3.1 (History of the Universe/Earth), 3.2 (Solar System and Earth Interactions)
National: Ess1-6 (Formation of the Earth), Ess2-2 (Earth system feedback)

Lesson objective(s):
Identify and Contrast the competing theories of how Earth got its water
Hypothesize why the Earth has an atmosphere, while other planets do not
Identify what conditions looked like on Earth shortly after it formed
Explain why humans could not have lived on the early Earth
Explain what causes Earth's magnetic field
Connect Earth's magnetic field with Earth's atmosphere
Analyze how the tools for measuring the Earth's magnetic field explain the strength and direction of the
field, both presently and in the past.
Assess the leading theory on how the Earth's moon formed

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs:

Using independent reading methods in initial reading
Using group reading methods for content reading
Use interactive online lesson so students can pace themselves
Using textbooks or internet resources for research
Having choice between individual work and group work
1

Geophysical Science Lesson Plan #3

Unit: (Formation of the Universe, Earth, and Earths Properties)

Available to help students on an individual or group basic

Day 1:
Review discussion about planet formation, and thus the formation of
Earth.
Students read: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/12/earlyearth/appenzeller-text Students will draw what an early Earth would
look like. Students will explain their drawing to a partner. Then, the
class will discuss which conditions would prevent advanced (and
perhaps all) life from forming on Earth.
Watch video to summarize early Earth (Start at: 32:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoReJQ-rJYo

Target Learnings:

Identify what conditions looked like

on Earth shortly after it formed

Explain why humans could not have

lived on the early Earth

Day 2:

Target Learnings:

Explain what causes Earth's

magnetic field

Connect Earth's magnetic field with

Earth's atmosphere

Hypothesize why the Earth has an

atmosphere, while other planets do
not

Target Learnings:

Identify and Contrast the competing

theories of how Earth got its water

Assess how the Earth's moon

formed

Have students do online reading:

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1 Students will
take notes of Earth's main 4 layers, and the properties of each layer.
Students will then independently research how Earth's inner layers
relate to the Earth's atmosphere (starting point:
https://ees.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/elearning/module06swf.swf)
As a class, summarize the layers, and discuss how the inner layers
cause a magnetic field, and can support an atmosphere.

Day 3:
Review the physical properties of Earth's layers
Students read: http://www.universetoday.com/25822/water-on-earth/
Students then discuss with a partner what the competing ideas are for
Earth's water, and analyze the evidence for each. Then the entire class
quickly summarizes the ideas and the evidence.
Have class watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8P5ujNwEwM
Students then summarize what evidence would be needed for this idea
of our moon's origin, and what evidence exists.
Students add to their mock questions to finish this lesson.

Geophysical Science Lesson Plan #3

Unit: (Formation of the Universe, Earth, and Earths Properties)

Assessments:
Summative (Formal): After the 3 day lesson, students will create mock quiz questions. Each question must
relate to the content covered, cover the range of content from the past 3 days, and also needs to include the
answer/explanation for each question.
Formative (Informal): At the beginning of each class in this lesson, I will ask the class to explain what we talked
about the previous day, and then we will review for the first few minutes of class while asking for any
clarifications or questions.

Anticipated misconceptions/alternative conceptions:

The Earth has been around since the beginning of the universe
Conditions on Earth have always looked the same
Life could have always existed on the Earth
All planets have atmospheres
Earth has always had water
The moon has always been a part of the Earth and has always existed