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Integrate the scientific process into an analysis of the Earth’s geologic history
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Utilize scientific vocabulary accurately
Use the scientific method
Use data to analyze Earth’s historic events
Conduct a research project on an area of focus
Analysis applies the scientific methods to arrive at a conclusion
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Explain components of the geologic timescale and their establishment
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Describe the relative age-dating techniques that are used to build the geologic timescale
Explain the absolute age-dating techniques that are used to build the geologic timescale
Identify the Eons, Eras, Periods and Epochs currently recognized in the geologic timescale
You reference components of the geologic timescale with accuracy
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Explain evolution by natural selection
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Identify the contributions of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace to the theory of evolution
Explain how genetic traits are passed from parents to offspring
Explain how new species arise by natural selection
Compare and contrast divergent, convergent and parallel evolution
Identify the biologic and paleontologic evidence of evolution
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Interpret geologic samples, maps and cross-sections
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Use samples, data, cross-sections and maps
Identify mineral, rock and fossil samples
Interpret the geologic environment at the time of formation/deposition for different mineral, rock and fossil samples
Use relative and absolute age-dating techniques to interpret the Earth’s geologic history
Use cross-sections and geologic maps to interpret the Earth’s geologic history of an area
Construct an environment of deposition map of an area using on rock samples and outcrop data
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Summarize the geologic history of the Earth from formation to present day
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes, discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Explain how the Earth formed via the Nebula Hypothesis
Summarize the evolution of the continents from the Earth’s formation to present day
Identify the locations of the continents at different times in Earth’s history
Summarize the major orogenic events in Earth’s history
Identify the cratonic sequences of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic
Identify the major biologic evolution and extinction events of Earth’s history
Explain the leading hypotheses for each of the five major extinction events in Earth’s history
Explain how the Earth’s climate changed from the Earth’s formation to present day
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Prepare reports and documentation in support of geologic concepts
Assessment Strategies
Discussions, written lab reports, oral and written project reports
Criteria
Assemble a scientific laboratory report that meets established guidelines
Present laboratory results in multiple formats (written, oral)
Assemble an annotated timeline of your area of focus
Present research results in multiple formats (written, oral)