EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE
Essential Skills:
• Identify and detail the five interacting spheres of influence that support life on earth (5 spheres: exosphere, atmosphere, geosphere or lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere)
• Identify and describe responsible use of finite resources
• Describe with supporting details material origins
• Analyze various rock samples and obtain evidence of weathering and erosion
• Construct and detail models demonstrating the effects of water, ice, wind, and waves on earth's land surfaces (e.g., stream tables and wave tanks)
• Identify and describe the basic facts about major features of earth's surface and natural changes in these features (e.g., plate tectonics, continental drift, vulcanism, earthquakes, glaciation, erosion and weathering.)
• Cite evidence supporting the (old) age of the earth
• Identify surface features of the earth using maps and globes
• List fresh water conservation measures
• Cite evidence that our fresh water supply is essential for life and for most industrial processes
Earth Science at CVHS is a NH Standards-Based and Inquiry-Centered Investigation of the five Spheres of Influence that make-up our physical environment. It is a required, one semester program for all Freshman and is offered at three levels
Important Skills:
• Identify the nine planets in our solar system by name and size relative to the earth
• Relate seasonal changes to earth's tilt and orbital positions
• Identify factors and forces that cause weather changes
• Explain origin and development of major weather systems, including: thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards
• Describe atmospheric the water cycle, including changes of phase, precipitation types, energy exchanges
• Demonstrate knowledge of use of certain weather instruments, including: thermometers, barometers, anemometers, hydrometers
• Diagram, label and describe the layers of regions of planet earth
• Diagram, label and describe the layers or regions of the atmosphere
• Explain the green House effect and relate impact of air pollution
• Cite the physical and chemical properties of water
• Explain Lunar influence on earth
Nice-to-Know Skills:
• Current events, causes and consequences
• Navigation
• Physical geography
Unexplained phenomena, e.g., Bermuda triangle, Atlantis, Stonehenge (Mystery Hill in NH). Big Bang theory, Black Holes)
