1.   Plot the location of recent earthquake and volcanic activity on a map and identify patterns of distribution. 

2.  Many thousands of layers of sedimentary rock provide evidence for the long history of changing life forms whose remains are found in the rocks. Recently deposited rock layers are more likely to contain fossils resembling existing species. 

3.  The rock at Earth’s surface forms a nearly continuous shell around Earth called the lithosphere. 

4.  A relatively thin layer of water called the hydrosphere covers the majority of the lithosphere. 

5.  Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rocks. Fossils can be used to study past climates and environments.

6.  The dynamic processes that wear away Earth’s surface include weathering and erosion. 

7.   The process of weathering breaks down rocks to form sediment. Soil consists of sediment, organicmaterial, water, and air. 

8.  Erosion is the transport of sediment. Gravity is the driving force behind erosion. Gravity can act directly or through agents such as moving water, wind, and glaciers. 

9.   The interior of Earth is hot. Heat flow and movement of material within Earth causes sections of Earth’s crust to move. This may result in earthquakes, volcanic eruption, and the creation of mountains and ocean basins.   

10. Analysis of earthquake wave data (vibration disturbances) leads to the conclusion that there are layers within Earth. These layers - the crust, mantle outer core, and inner core-have distinct properties.

11. Folded, tilted, faulted, and displaced rock layers suggest past crustal movements. 

12. Continents fitting together like puzzle parts and fossil correlation’s provided initial evidence that continents were once together. 

13. The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains how the “solid” lithosphere consists of a series of plates that “float” on the partially molten section of the mantle. Convection cells within the mantle may be the driving forces for the movement of the plates. 

14. Plates may collide, move apart, or slide past one another. Most volcanic activity and mountain building occur at the boundaries of these plates, often resulting in earthquakes.

1.   Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thin shell surrounding Earth. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. The atmosphere is stratified into layers, each having distinct properties. Nearly all weather occurs in the lowest layer of theatmosphere. 

2.  As altitude increases, air pressure decreases. 

3.   A relatively thin layer of water called the hydrosphere covers the majority of the lithosphere. 

4.  The dynamic processes that wear away Earth’s surface include weathering and erosion. 

5.   The process of weathering breaks down rocks to form sediment. Soil consists of sediment, organic material, water, and air. 

6.  Erosion is the transport of sediment. Gravity is the driving force behind erosion. Gravity can act directly or through agents such as moving water, wind, and glaciers. 

7.   Water circulates through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere in what is known as the water cycle. 

8.  Weather describes the condition of the atmosphere at a given location for a short period of time. 

9.   Climate is the characteristic weather that prevails from season to season and year to year. 

10. The uneven heating of Earth’s surface is the cause of weather. 

11. Air masses form when air remains nearly stationary over a large section of Earth’s surface and takes on the conditions of temperature and humidity from that location. Primarily temperature, humidity, and pressure of air masses determine weather conditions at a location over that location. 

12. Prevailing winds and upper air currents cause most local weather condition changes. 

13. Prevailing winds and upper air currents determine the movement of air masses. 

14. Fronts are boundaries between air masses. Precipitation is likely to occur at these boundaries. 

15. High-pressure systems generally bring fair weather. Low-pressure systems usually bring cloudy, unstable conditions. The general movement of highs and lows is from west to east across the United States.  

16. Hazardous weather conditions include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards. Humans can prepare for and respond to these conditions if given sufficientwarning. 

17. Substances enter the atmosphere naturally and from human activity. Some of these substances include dust from volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These substances can affect weather, climate, and living things. 

18. Generate and interpret field maps including topographic and weather maps. 

19. Predict the characteristic of an air mass based on the origin of the air mass.  

20. Measure weather variables such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, etc. 

1.   Earth’s Sun is an average-sized star. The Sun is more than a million times greater in volume than Earth.

2.   Other stars are like the Sun but are so far away that they look like points of light. Distances between stars are vast compared to distances within our solar system. 

3.  The Sun and the planets that revolve around it are the major bodies in the solar system. Other members include comets, moons, and asteroids. Earth’s orbit is nearly circular. 

4.   Gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and the Moon in orbit around the Earth. 

5.  Most objects in the solar system have a regular and predictable motion. These motions explain such phenomena as a day, a year, phases of the Moon, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, and comets. 

6.   The latitude/longitude coordinate system and our system of time are based on celestial observations. 

7.   Moons are seen by reflected light. Our Moon orbits Earth, while Earth orbits the Sun. The Moon’s phases as observed from Earth are the result of seeing different portions of the lighted area of the Moon’s surface. The phases repeat in a cyclic pattern in about one month. 

8.  Earth’s rotation and revolution can explain the apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars across the sky. Earth’s rotation causes the length of one day to be approximately 24 hours. This rotation also causes the Sun and Moon to appear to rise along the eastern horizon and to set along the western horizon. Earth’s revolution around the Sun defines the length of the year as 365¼ days. 

9.   The tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation and the revolution of Earth around the Sun causes seasons on Earth. The length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season. 

10. The shape of Earth, the other planets, and stars is nearly spherical.

 

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