1-23-2012 Integrating Environmental Issues and Earth Science

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.4 Earth Systems Science: All students will understand that Earth operates as a set of complex, dynamic, and interconnected systems, and is a part of the all-encompassing system of the universe.

Strand

G. Biogeochemical Cycles: The biogeochemical cycles in the Earth systems include the flow of microscopic and macroscopic resources from one reservoir in the hydrosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, or biosphere to another, are driven by Earth's internal and external sources of energy, and are impacted by human activity.

By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Circulation of water in marine environments is dependent on factors such as the composition of water masses and energy from the Sun or wind.	5.4.6.G.1	Illustrate global winds and surface currents through the creation of a world map of global winds and currents that explains the relationship between the two factors.	Earth's Water What Causes Tides? What Causes the Tides? Convection Ocean Remote Sensing Ocean Currents Go With the Flow Game Water Encyclopedia Ocean Currents and Climate Ocean Surface Currents Picturing the Gulf Stream Ocean Current Map Wind What is Climate? Climate - Earth Systems Surface Data Environmental Science Animations Climate Change UK Environmental Change Network Biomes on Earth Biomes of the World World Biomes Exploring Ecosystems Ecology Changes in the Environment The Environment ARKive: Life on Earth Clean Energy NJ Water Sources Forest to Faucet SHOUT GEH Watershed Assoc. NEA Green Schools Conversations with the Earth Climate History EcoFriend Prairie Dogs Under Pressure Kilimanjaro Snowcap Natural and Human Induced Hazards Environmental Quality Deep Oil Ecological Footprint EOL Human Impact DLESE Environmental Science Lessons EPA Environmental Health Science
6	An ecosystem includes all of the plant and animal populations and nonliving resources in a given area. Organisms interact with each other and with other components of an ecosystem.	5.4.6.G.2	Create a model of ecosystems in two different locations, and compare and contrast the living and nonliving components.
6	Personal activities impact the local and global environment.	5.4.6.G.3	Describe ways that humans can improve the health of ecosystems around the world.
8	Water in the oceans holds a large amount of heat, and therefore significantly affects the global climate system.	5.4.8.G.1	Represent and explain, using sea surface temperature maps, how ocean currents impact the climate of coastal communities.
8	Investigations of environmental issues address underlying scientific causes and may inform possible solutions.	5.4.8.G.2	Investigate a local or global environmental issue by defining the problem, researching possible causative factors, understanding the underlying science, and evaluating the benefits and risks of alternative solutions.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!