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Geosystems is designed to familiarize students within the physical world in which they live. The earth as a dynamic sphere is studied through the investigation of rocks and minerals; oceans; earthquakes; volcanoes; continental drift; chemical/physical weathering and erosion. Students will also learn methods of geological age dating and accurate mapping; as well as investigate basic meteorology; astronomy; and environmental science. Specific emphasis is placed on understanding Arizona's dynamic weather. The main curricular focus will be on mastery of content associated with the performance objectives from the Arizona State Science Standards.

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES - GEOSYSTEMS
TEXTBOOK: EARTH SCIENCE Tarbuck and Lutgens; Pearson Prentice Hall; 2006 edition

Chapter Lab Activity
1 Introduction to Earth Science Students will use coordinates of latitude and longitude to locate specific places on Earth’s surface and identify places on Earth’s surface using latitude and longitude coordinates

Students will conduct various experiments to familiarize themselves with the Vernier LabQuest display functions; sensors and probes; and data collection techniques in preparation for future labs.

Students will identify common elements in their surroundings.

2 Minerals Students will learn to recognize two groups of minerals: those with cleavage and those without. They should also recognize that samples of clear; nearly square crystal minerals are not necessarily the same type.

Students will compare and contrast different characteristics (color; grain; size; texture; and mineral composition) of igneous rocks.

3 Rocks Students will observe how sediments are deposited in layers of similar grain size. The coarsest sediment will settle out first. The topmost layers will be composed of clay and silt.

Students will manipulate variables to measure heat transfer and retention in soil and water

5 Weathering; Soil and Mass Movements Students will demonstrate how iron oxidizes and stains sediment.

Students will observe patterns of nutrient loss in soil.

Students will use Vernier LabQuest technology to test and analyze acidity of locally collected soil samples

Students will demonstrate how a model of a rock erodes when exposed to environmental conditions; specifically water flow.

6 Running Water and Groundwater Students will demonstrate how different types of material found on Earth’s surface determine how lakes can form; by showing that gravel allows water to penetrate most easily; and clay least easily.

Students will demonstrate the nature of artesian wells.

Student will compare and contrast the ability of hard and soft water to produce soap suds.

Students will demonstrate how oil migrates upward through the pores in permeable rocks.

6 Running Water and Groundwater Students identify variables; collect and analyze data on dissolved oxygen using Vernier LabQuest technology; and draw conclusions about factors that influence dissolved oxygen in water and possible consequences of changes in DO levels.

Students will use Vernier LabQuest technology to collect and analyze data from locally collected water samples and prepared samples for turbidity; pH; conductivity (salinity); temperature and dissolved solids.

7 Glaciers; Deserts and Wind Students will model glacial deposition by comparing four glaciers of different materials.

8 Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior Students will produce and interpret a simple seismic-intensity map.

9 Plate Tectonics Students will model and calculate how the continental shelf areas of one supercontinent and two smaller continents differ.

10 Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity Students will model how calderas form when a volcano collapses into an empty magma chamber.

Students will model and record the rate of an isostatic rebound reaction.

11 Mountain Building Students will model the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean over the last 150 million years.

12 Geologic Time Students will demonstrate how principles of relative-age dating are used.

14 The Ocean Floor Students will determine the effect of grain size on settling speed.

15 Ocean Water and Ocean Life Students will model seawater by combining various amounts of different salts

17 The Atmosphere: Structure and Composition Students will demonstrate how changes in the angle of the sun affect the amount of solar energy received in the tropic and the polar regions.

18 Moisture; Clouds; and Precipitation Students will demonstrating the formation of condensation by lowering the temperature of the outside surface of a glass of water to the dew point.

20 Weather Patterns and Severe Storms Students will demonstrate how slow-moving weather systems can cause floods.

21 Climate Students will model global warming and the greenhouse effect by using Vernier LabQuest technology to collect and analyze air temperature data in a cutoff bottle heated by an incandescent bulb.

21 Climate Students will use Vernier LabQuest technology to monitor ultraviolet radiation at various times during the day; analyze the data; and draw conclusions regarding ozone depletion and harmful effects of UV radiation on Earth.

22 Origin of Modern Astronomy Students will determine the Sun’s altitude above the southern horizon during the summer solstice at different latitudes.

23 Touring Our Solar System Students will model planetary orbits and demonstrate basic properties of ellipses.

25 Beyond Our Solar System Students will learn about stellar parallax by measuring parallax angles in the classroom.

Students will model the uniform expansion of the universe.

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• LGEO
• Geology

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Online / Virtual