Constructed Response
Collaboration in the Earth Sciences
Teacher Guide
Concept: The History and Nature of Earth and Space Science
Objective assessed: Explore the collaboration among scientists in Earth Science.
The student will be able to demonstrate understanding that:
 How different branches of Earth Science collaborate together.
Students will need about 15–20 minutes to complete this brief constructed response.
1. For the following major events, identify the major branches of Earth Science that may be involved in
an investigation of the event, which scientists would investigate the event, and explain how these
scientists collaborate to investigate the event.

Volcanic Eruption

Underwater Earthquake
Sample correct responses:
a) At least 5 major branches of Earth Science would be able to gather information about this event.
They are Environmental Science (How the heat and dust would affect the land and air nearby);
Geography (How the landform might be changed from the force of the eruption); Geophysics (The
process that caused the eruption needs to be studied); Petrology (The eruption may uncover new
types of rocks); Paleontology (This event needs to be recorded and compared with previous eruptions
to help predict next one).
b) At least 5 major branches of Earth Science would be able to gather information about this event.
They are Seismology (To study the nature and severity of the event); Geography (In case the location
of an island or other nearby landmass was changed by the earthquake); Oceanography (To study
ocean movement caused by the earthquake and forecast a possible tsunami); Geophysics (To
explore the effect of the earthquake on the rest of the Earth); Paleontology (This event needs to be
recorded and compared with previous earthquakes to help predict next one).
With the branches of Earth Sciences sharing information and collaborating, everyone will benefit from a
better understanding of these natural events.
Brief Constructed Response
© Discovery Communications, LLC
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Constructed Response
Collaboration in the Earth Sciences
Teacher Guide
Response scoring tool:
Score Content
5
Identifies at least 5 major branches of Earth Science and how
information from each branch relates to the event
4
Identifies at least 4 major branches of Earth Science and how
information from each branch relates to the event
3
Identifies at least 3 major branches of Earth Science and how
information from each branch relates to the event
2
Identifies at least 2 major branches of Earth Science and how
information from each branch relates to the event
1
Identifies at least 1 major branch of Earth Science and how information
from the branch relates to the event
0
No response or response not appropriate to the question.
Brief Constructed Response
© Discovery Communications, LLC
Page 2 of 2