Date / Objectives / Activities / Standards
1/3, 1/4
Wed/Thurs /
- Interpret rock layers using principles of relative dating and absolute age dating.
- Explain how rocks allow geologists to interpret Earth’s history
- Read 12.1 and complete question sheet (15 mins)
- Discuss 12.1: Relative Dating (30 mins)- Uniformitariansim, James Hutton, Relative Dating- Sequence of events, Law of Superposition, Principle of Original Horizontality, Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships,Inclusions, Unconformities, Correlation of Rock Layers
- Relative Age Dating practice
1/5, 1/8
Fri/Mon /
- Interpret rock layers using principles of relative dating and absolute age dating.
- Explain how rocks allow geologists to interpret Earth’s history
- Relative age dating practice
- Relative Dating Workbook Activity- Discuss
- MSCS 4: BM 4
1/9, 1/10
Tues/Wed /
- Define fossils and explain how fossils are made
- Identify the factors that determine if an organism will become a fossil
- Review relative dating (10 mins)
- Fossil exploration lab
- Fossil Discussion/Notes (20 mins)- Fossil Formation, Unaltered Remains, Altered Remains – petrified, molds, casts, carbonation, preservation (amber), Indirect Evidence (tracks, burrows, etc.), Conditions Favoring Preservation
- Discuss radiometric dating and how it works.
- MSCS 4: BM 4
1/11, 1/12
Thurs/Fri /
- Define fossils and explain how fossils are made
- Identify the factors that determine if an organism will become a fossil
- Geologic time notes
- Fossils and Geologic Time Webquest (50 mins)- Life has a history, Fossil Record, Understanding Geologic Time
- Test Review: Test next class
- MSCS 4: BM 4
1/15, 1/16
Mon/Tues /
- Describe the geologic time scale
- Recognize some of the important events in geologic history
- Review for geologic
- Geologic Time Activity
- Geologic Time Test
- MSCS 4: BM 4
1/17, 1/18
Wed/Thurs /
- Semester Exam
- Semester Exam for those required to take it
1/22, 1/23
Mon/Tues /
- Identify the evidence for continental drift.
- 9.1 Plate Tectonics reading worksheet
- Plate Tectonics Intro video
- 9.1 Notes and discussion (40 mins)
- Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis, Pangaea, Evidence for continental drift: continental puzzle, matching fossils, matching rock types and structures, ancient climates
- Begin Plate Puzzle Activity
- MSCS 4: BM 4
1/24, 1/25
Wed/Thurs /
- Discuss what paleomagnetism is and explain how paleomagnetism and magnetic reversals provide evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics.
- Evaluate how earthquakes, ocean drilling, and hot spots provide evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics.
- Finish Plate Puzzle Activity
- Read 9.2 and complete question sheet (20 mins)- Evidence for Plate Tectonics
- MSCS 4: BM 1
1/26, 1/29
Fri/Mon /
- Identify the three types of plate boundaries
- Discuss how seafloor spreading and continental rifting cause formation of new lithosphere
- Describe the process of lithospheric destruction at subduction zones.
- Differentiate between subduction at oceanic-continental, oceanic-oceanic, and continental-continental convergent boundaries.
- Review continental drift and plate tectonics (10 mins)
- Discuss/Notes- Actions at Plate Boundaries- (35 mins)-Types of Plate Boundaries: Divergent Boundaries- Oceanic Ridges and Seafloor Spreading, Continental Rifts. Convergent Boundaries: Oceanic-continental, Oceanic-oceanic, Continental-continental. Transform Fault Boundaries
- A Model of Three Faults activity (30 mins)- USGS activity
- MSCS 4: BM 1
- MSCS 1: BM 1, 2
1/30, 1/31
Tues/Wed /
- Compare the mechanisms of slab-pull and ridge-push as contributing to plate motion.
- Discuss how mantle convection causes plates to move.
- Review types of plate boundaries and go over homework (15 mins)- Divergent, convergent, and transform fault boundaries
- Notes/discussion- Mechanisms of Plate Tectonics (30 mins)
- Plate Tectonics Project
- MSCS 4: BM 1
- MSCS 1: BM 2, 3
2/1, 2/22
Thurs/Fri /
- Assessment
- Plate Tectonics Test
- MSCS 4: BM 1
2/5, 2/6
Mon/Tues /
- Compare and contrast the epicenter and focus of an earthquake
- Identify the cause of earthquakes.
- Compare and contrast aftershocks and foreshocks
- Intro to earthquakes- discussion
- PowerPoint Notes/Discussion- 8.1 “What is an Earthquake?” (30 mins)- Definition: Focus and epicenter, Faults , Cause of Earthquakes- discussion of 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Elastic Rebound Hypothesis- Review potential energy, Aftershocks and Foreshocks
- Discussion- Haiti (15 mins)- Pictures and videos, Aftershocks and foreshocks, Focus and epicenter
- MSCS 4: BM 1
2/7, 2/8
Wed/Thurs /
- Identify the 3 types of seismic waves.
- Explain how to locate the epicenter of an earthquake.
- Describe the different ways earthquakes are measured.
- Describe the factors contributing to earthquake damage.
- Review: focus, epicenter, faults, causes, etc.
- Notes/Discussion- 8.2 (30 mins)- Earthquake waves, Locating an earthquake, Measuring earthquakes, Aftershocks and Foreshocks
- Locating the epicenter activity (30 mins)
- MSCS 4: BM 1
- MSCS 1: 2, 3
2/9, 2/12
Fri/Mon /
- Identify the 3 types of seismic waves.
- Explain how to locate the epicenter of an earthquake.
- Describe the different ways earthquakes are measured.
- Describe the factors contributing to earthquake damage.
- Discuss Notes from last class (10 mins)- Earthquake waves, Locating an earthquake, Measuring earthquakes, Aftershocks and Foreshocks
- Notes/Discussion (20 mins)- Destruction from Earthquakes, Building Structures, Liquefaction, Tsunamis, Landslides, Fire, Predicting Earthquakes
- Building Earthquake-Resistant Structures Activity (30 mins)-Outline design- get it approved!
2/13, 2/14
Tues/Wed /
- Design and build the most structurally efficient building
- Discuss building designs- structural efficiency (10 mins)
- Earthquake Resistant Building Activity (65 mins)-Build Earthquake-Resistant Building
- Follow guidelines, 200 Popsicle stick maximum, height requirement, etc.
MSCs 1: BM 1, 2, 3
MSCS= Montana Science Content StandardBM= Benchmark