Unit+4

= UNIT 4: HOW THE WORLD WORKS: Our Changing Earth =

Final: Summative Assessment:

http://earthchangesmedia.com/ http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/earth-day/ http://geology.com/news/

= //REFLECTION 3/10/2012// = Students went right to work organizing their volcano essays. They seemed very comfortable beginning with brainstorming and moving into the web (mind map) and outline before beginning to write. It was nice to see them write down their ideas and then knowing what they needed to find in their research. There is also a matrix on the wall that students have to finish filling in about their research. Some of them made use of this early on to help the figure out what they needed to research about in order to write a good paper. It makes me very happy that I spent time earlier in the year on organizing an essay. Most of the students don't seem to be the least bit worried about writing their summative assessment! All the children seems to love this unit. I think it was because it was all science this time. I'm glad because our next unit is about science, too!

=// REFLECTION 2/26/2012 //= So far, the students have studied about Pangaea and how the Earth's plates have moved, a little about the layers of the Earth, the Ring of Fire, how earthquakes happen and what happens to the Earth as earthquakes change it, and have created the three types of earthquakes (divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries ). The three groups presented their earthquakes and explanations to Mr. Thompson our last day before vacation. The students are exceptionally excited about this unit and are eager to learn more. We are now on volcanoes so the students will have individual volcanoes to study and find information about so they can write a research essay on "facts of their volcano, what happened when it blew, and how it changed the earth (and people)." The students will be creating their own wiki page to show the information they have found along with posting their essay on their volcano. This is not, however, their Summative Assessment. Their final paper will be on how the Earth changes by discussing all the information they learned in this unit. There will not be further research to do this because they will have everything recorded in their notebooks, on their wiki, and projects they've worked on including wall displays. You are welcome to come to our classroom anytime during this process to see how the students are progressing. //Below, please find videos regarding volcanoes and where the students will begin their research.//

= Trans-disciplinary Theme: =
 * An inquiry into the natural world and its laws: the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment. **

= Central Idea: =
 * The natural features of the Earth have been formed over time and are still changing. **

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 * Volcano videos: **
 * //Students, please begin here and then do further investigating before telling me which volcano you have chosen. Try to find a video of your volcano if it has currently erupted. You need to know exactly WHERE your volcano is and you must tell my WHY you want to do this volcano!// **

Grade 4 Unit 4: The Changing Earth February 28, 2012

Alina ~ Santorini (Thera or Thira), Greece Sae Rim ~ Mount Pinatubo, Philippines Otto ~ Mt. Fuji, Japan Jaqueline ~ Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Hyoung Min ~ Mt. Saint Helens, Washington, U.S.A Satomi ~ Mount Kilauea, Hawaii Natacha ~ Etna, Sicily Seung Hyeon ~ Mount Tambora, Indonesia Daniel ~ Mount Pelee, Martinique Rin ~ Mt. Tarawera, New Zealand Amelia ~ Cotopaxi, Ecuador Yeoul ~ Nevado del Ruiz, Columbia Andrew ~ Popocateptl, Mexico
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 21.3333px;">Volcano Research: //**

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Earthquake videos: ** @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqp_TbIZU64&feature=related @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgB1IWr6O4&feature=endscreen&NR=1 @http://geology.com/nsta/divergent-plate-boundaries.shtml @http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/plates1.html @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANeH9W-HMPc&feature=fvwrel @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryrXAGY1dmE&feature=related

**Pangaea:**
Watch how Pangaea changes over time [] Why did Pangaea happen? []

=//Lines of Inquiry://=

//1) The Components of the Earth//
a. All vocabulary will be logged into the Science Notebook in classroom b. Drawings, labeling, coloring of components are viewed on bulletin boards c. Development of a deeper understanding toward Earth's components is on-going

//2) Ways the Earth has changed in the past//
a. Various library books about earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters in room b. Videos of animated and real earthquakes with epicenter and Richter Scale c. Past newspaper articles showing maps, charts, and statistics from more recent earthquakes d. Students will create types of earthquakes using classroom materials and present to class their design //(Formative Assessment)// e. Take paper and pencil quiz on components of the Earth and types of Earthquakes //(Formative Assessment)// e. Read a few chapters from a book about very famous volcanoes and how they changed the Earth f. Discuss how volcanoes have changed places where people have lived g. Volcano research: each student will research their own particular volcano and write a research paper //(Formative Assessment on an organized essay)// h. All students will present their volcano findings to class

//3) Evidence to prove the Earth is still changing//
a. Current events for students to realize what is happening around the world currently b. List the facts of how the Japanese earthquake one year ago (March 2011) changed the Earth c. Find volcanoes around the world that may erupt in the near future, predict what might happen

= Summative Assessment: = Students will put all gathered information together to write a five paragraph essay on "How the natural features of the Earth have been formed over time and are still changing," (the Central Idea)