Earth and Beyond

 

3.1 Students identify and describe some interactions (including weathering and erosion) that occur within systems on Earth and beyond.

3.2   Students discuss regular and irregular events in time and space that occur on the Earth and in the sky.

Interactions within Earth systems:

·          layers of the Earth — lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere

·          rock cycle, water cycle

·          weather cycles, seasonal changes

·          weathering, corrosion, erosion, soil formation

·          volcanoes, earthquakes

Interactions within systems beyond Earth:

·          interactions in the solar system — orbits; day and night; moon phases; meteors, comets, satellites, telescopes

·          interactions within star systems — galaxies, constellations

Regular events on Earth and in the sky:

·          daily, seasonal and yearly cycles of change

·          weathering and erosion cycles

·          effect of sun’s radiation on all its planets

·          cycles of levels of moonlight and effect on nocturnal vision

·          hourly and yearly changes in position of sun, constellations

·          meteor showers, comets

Irregular events on Earth and in the sky:

·          earthquake — compare site of epicentre to total area affected

·          volcanic eruption — compare location of volcano to area affected, distant sky coloration

·          rainfall or cyclone — compare local area to total area affected

·          sunset coloration caused by distant fires

·          asteroid movements in the vicinity of planets and moons

·          supernovas, exploding stars

3.3 Students collect information which describes ways in which living things use the Earth and the sun as resources.

 

Human use of the Earth’s resources:

·          building and art materials, ores for minerals and jewellery

·          fossil fuels, soil

·          water for irrigation, households, industry, transport and recreation

Use of the sun by all living things:

·          light, warmth, energy

·          telling time and direction

·          navigation, photosynthesis, signal to begin particular activities, drives water cycle