Science, Grade 9 - 12, Geology Elective, 2005
1.) Describe Earth's layers, including the lithosphere, asthenosphere, outer core, and inner core.
• Identifying methods for determining the composition of Earth's lithosphere
Example: collection and analysis of rocks and minerals
• Describing the composition of Earth's lithosphere
Example: granitic and basaltic rocks
• Relating the types of lithosphere to tectonic plates
Examples: granitic lithosphere with continental plates, basaltic lithosphere with oceanic plates
• Comparing the temperature, density, and composition of Earth's crust to that of the mantle and outer and inner cores
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2.) Relate the concept of equilibrium to geological processes, including plate tectonics and stream flow.
Examples: stream channel on a slope, movement of tectonic plates, convection within Earth
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3.) Explain natural phenomena that shape the surface of Earth, including rock cycles, plate motions and interactions, erosion and deposition, volcanism, earthquakes, weathering, and tides.
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4.) Describe the topography of the sea floor and the continents.
• Describing the formation of continental shelves
• Explaining changes of continental topography caused by erosion and uplift
Example: formation of southern Appalachian Mountains in Alabama
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5.) Classify rocks as sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic.
• Identifying characteristics of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks
• Describing mineral composition and chemical elements of rocks
• Describing characteristics of clastic, organic, and chemical sedimentary rocks
• Explaining texture and composition of rocks
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6.) Explain the concept of geological time within the framework of the geologic time scale.
• Describing how sedimentary rocks provide a record of evolutionary change
• Describing the role of fossils in determining the age of strata
• Identifying geological time scales, including eon, era, period, and epoch
• Identifying relative and absolute dating methods
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7.) Describe processes of rock formation.
Examples: cooling, deposition
• Explaining factors that control texture and composition of rocks
Examples: formation depth, formation size, chemical composition
• Describing processes of fossil formation
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8.) Explain interactions among topography, climate, organic activity, time, and parent material through which soils are created.
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9.) Describe the movement and storage of water in terms of watersheds, rainfall, surface runoff, aquifers, and surface water reservoirs.
• Identifying major regional and national watersheds
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10.) Explain the mechanism of plate tectonics.
• Explaining processes that cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
• Identifying Earth's main tectonic plates
• Describing faults and folds and their relationships to tectonic forces
• Describing technologies used to measure and forecast earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
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11.) Identify mass movements, including topples, slides, spreads, and flows.
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12.) Identify natural subsurface openings, including lava tubes, solution cavities, and caves.
• Explaining the process that leads to sinkholes in karst development
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13.) Describe the formation and characteristics of river systems.
• Explaining the formation of alluvial fans
• Identifying natural events and man-made structures that affect rivers
Examples:
- natural events-weather, construction of dams by beavers;
- man-made structures-levees, dams
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14.) Explain the interaction of the continuous processes of waves, tides, and winds with the coastal environment.
• Identifying the impact of periodic weather phenomena on coastal regions
Examples: hurricanes destroying sand dunes, El Niņo or La Niņa redefining shorelines
• Identifying the positive and negative impact of humans on coastal regions
Examples:
- positive-shoreline protection,
- negative-buildings replacing protective dunes and barriers
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15.) Identify geological regions in Alabama and the southeastern United States.
• Identifying geological ages of Alabama rocks
• Describing characteristics of geological regions within Alabama
• Identifying earthquake zones in Alabama
• Identifying types of rocks in Alabama
• Identifying areas of Alabama that have sinkholes and caves
• Identifying varying seasonal rainfall patterns throughout Alabama
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