GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE UNIT
UNIT TITLE
TOPIC
LEVEL
Earth’s External Geomorphology
Geology and Chemistry (Earth Science)
Year 3 ESO
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
NUMBER OF SESSIONS
Students need to be familiar with:
 the general classification of rocks
 chemical and physical changes
 map reading
 the concept of tides and their daily frequency
 the general characteristics of coastal areas.
5 sessions + Field Trip
TEACHING AIMS
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To show knowledge of contour lines and contour intervals and learn the variations in elevations by using them.
To compare the scales of two different maps.
To explain the importance of pH for aquatic living things.
To explain the difference between physical and chemical weathering.
To recognize the main chemical compounds and properties of sea water.
To know how sedimentary rocks are formed.
To know the main landscape features on the seashore and understand that the landscape changes over time.
KEY COMPETENCES
Linguistic communication
Mathematics
Explaining scientific facts.
Interpreting scales of maps.
Interaction with other people.
Knowledge and interaction
with the physical world
ICT and digital processing
Recognizing several landscape
Calculating distances by using a map features on a Topographic Map
and in the natural environment.
scale.
Use of ICT to see maps in Google
Maps.
Identifying some characteristics
of sea water.
Animations and videos about
weathering and erosion and
coastal features.
Recognizing physical and
chemical weathering and features
in a coastal environment.
Being able to classify and
recognize sedimentary rocks.
Social and civic competence
Analyzing the purposes of Topographic
Maps and explaining their applications.
Being aware of the importance of the
conservation of coastal environments.
Cultural and artistic
competence
Knowing the main landscape
features of the area of the Field
Trip.
Drawing Topographic Maps and
profiles.
Identifying different landforms in a
picture.
Learning to learn
Autonomy and initiative
Drawing simple graphic
organizers.
Knowing how to cooperate in a
group.
Categorizing and summarizing
information.
Listening to and respecting
others’ ideas.
CONTENT (Key concepts)
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Topography. Topographic Maps.
Map scales.
Contour lines and contour intervals.
Topographic profiles.
The pH scale.
Weathering: Concept and Types.
Formation of Sedimentary rocks.
Classification of Sedimentary rocks.
The action of the sea on the coast.
Sea water composition and properties.
COGNITION (Thinking skills)
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Recognizing the main features on a
Topographic Map.
Interpreting map scales
Understanding key concepts.
Comparing and contrasting.
Memorizing key language
CULTURE
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Study of the landscape and awareness of
the need to respect the environment.
KEY LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE OF LEARNING
Key vocabulary:
topography - elevation - sea level - bench mark
- contour line – scale - contour line interval –
hachure lines – legend –weathering – ice
wedging - thermal stress weathering –
oxidation – dissolution – carbonation –
hydrolysis – sedimentation – cementation –
compaction – precipitation – stratus/a –
limestone – sandstone – neap and spring tides
– headland – wave-cut platform – Salinity – pH
strips – solution – sample tube – alkaline –
acidic.
LANGUAGE FOR LEARNING
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How to describe a Topographic Map
How to interpret different scales.
How to ask for information
Describing events
Making impersonal statements.
Defining. Expressing cause and result
Reporting facts
Comparing facts.
Expressing direction.
Giving instructions
LANGUAGE THROUGH LEARNING
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The use of dictionaries for vocabulary
expansion.
Teacher’s and classmates’ help to learn
new vocabulary and express ideas.
 Key language/Key sentences
 This scale means that 1cm in the map equals
….km on the ground.
 Can you construct the topographic profile from
this Topographic Map?
 To construct a topographic profile you need….
 In Winter, winds are stronger than in Summer.
ORGANISATION
Activity
Key language/Key sentences cont.
 Water carries sediments along the
coast.
 Take a handful of sand and observe its
composition
 The rock has been altered by …..
 Can you describe how…?
Resources
Grouping
Time
Homework
SESSION 1
TOPOGRAPHY
1. Read and understand
Topographic Maps.
Teacher Instructions for
Worksheet 1
2. Construction of a Topographic
Profile.
Worksheet 1
3. Create a Topographic Map.
Topographic maps and
questions
4. Calculate real distances using
map scale.
Topographic Map of the
Candás- Xivares Area
SESSION 2
WATER
COMPOSITION
AND
PROPERTIES
1. Listen to the teacher read
aloud a text.
2. Match pH colours.
KIT for taking sea water
samples
PH strips
3. Fill in the gaps.
Teacher Instructions for
Worksheet 2
4. Reorder the sentences.
Worksheet 2
5. Answer the questions.
6. Search for the information in
signs posted on the wall to
complete a text.
Activity 6 - Texts 1-3
Activity 6 - Wall labels
Activity 1
In pairs
Activity 2
Individual
Activity 3
Groups of 3
Activity 4
Groups of 3
Activity 1
Individual
Activity 2
Individual
Activity 3
Individual
Activity 4
In pairs
Activity 5
In pairs
Activity 6
Plenary
1. 15 minutes
2. 20 minutes
for 2+3
3. 20 minutes
1. Activity 1+2
20 minutes
2. Activities 3-5
15 minutes
3. Activity 6
20 minutes
Activity 4
Activity 7
Let’s collect the
information in a
poster.
SESSION 3
WEATHERING
1. Put the words in order to
complete the definition of
weathering.
2. Look at the photo and answer
the questions.
3. Read the text which compares
what a person is doing with
weathering processes and
answer the questions.
Teacher instructions for
Worksheets 3A and 3B
Activities 1 and 2
Individual
Worksheet 3A
Weathering
Activities 3 - 6
In pairs
Loop Cards for Activity 7
4. What is the main difference
between mechanical and
chemical weathering?
Worksheet 3B
Weathering Extended
(includes further activities
for Fast Finishers or if
there is more class time)
5. Look at the following diagram.
What process does this
diagram represent?
Texts
(4 descriptions of
weathering processes)
6. Pairwork: Put the statements
in order to describe how ice
causes weathering.
Extra activities
Fast finishers or extra
session time
7. Loop activity.
http://www.sciencevie
ws.com/geology/activi
ty4.html
http://ees.as.uky.edu
/sites/default/files/
elearning/module07swf
.swf
Activity 7
In pairs or small
groups
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
5 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
Activity 3
Complete the
paragraph by filling
in the blanks using
the terms listed
below.
Activity 14
Copy and complete
the diagram on
weathering.
Homework
Activities 3 and 14
SESSION 4
THE ACTION OF
SEA WATER
1. Reading and understanding a
text about the action of sea
water.
Teacher's Instructions for
WS 4
2. Loop activity.
Text in Worksheet 4
Action of Seawater
3. Labelling drawings: evolution of
a cliff, features on the coast.
SESSION 5
SEDIMENTARY
ROCKS
Loop activity
4. Production of visuals based on
the text: mind maps, flow
diagrams, cause-effect
diagrams, etc.
Drawings and images from
the Internet
1. Reading and understanding a
text about Sedimentary rocks.
Teacher's Instructions for
WS 5
2. Production of visuals based on
the text: mind maps, flow
diagrams, cause-effect
diagrams, etc.
Text and Activities 3-5 in
Worksheet 5
Sedimentary Rocks
3. Loop activity
Loop activity
4. Fill in the gaps
5. Exercise: ordering layers of
sediments
Activity 1
Individual+Plenary
Activity 2
Plenary/Groups of 4
Activity 3
In pairs
Activity 4
In pairs
1.
2.
3.
4.
20 minutes
15 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
Categorize or
summarize
information
producing tables,
cause-effect
diagrams, tree
diagrams, etc.
Activity 1
Plenary
Activity 2
Plenary
Activity 3-5
In pairs
1. 15 minutes
2. 15 minutes
3. 15 minutes
4. 5 minutes
5. 5 minutes
Categorize or
summarize
information
producing tables,
cause-effect
diagrams, tree
diagrams, etc.
ASSESSMENT (PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA)
KEY CONCEPTS
Students know:
 the main features on a Topographic Map
 how to calculate real distances using the map scale
 how to create a topographic profile
 how to interpret the different values of hydrogen
concentrations
 how to calculate the pH of a solution
 some concepts related with pH: acidity, alkalinity and neutrality
 some laboratory materials
 the concept of weathering
 how to differentiate between chemical and mechanical
weathering
 how to describe the process of sedimentary rock formation
 how to order some given stages of sedimentary rock formation
 how to distinguish samples of different sedimentary rocks
describing their features and explaining their origin
 how to describe the action of coastal waves on the shore
 how to explain how currents are generated and their
importance on the Earth
 how to interpret a tide chart predicting the timetable of low
and high tides and their intensity.
 how to explain on different images the geological features of
different coastal environments.
THINKING SKILLS
Students know:
 how to identify the specific features of a Topographic Map:
KEY LANGUAGE
Students can:
 use the language in a
comprehensible way
 use the key language accurately
 use the target language as the
language of communication in
class.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
Students recognise:
 the importance of geological phenomena in shaping beautiful and
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contour lines, bench marks, rivers, elevations
how to distinguish between different scales
how to correlate the pH values with the properties of solutions
the differences between chemical and mechanical weathering
how sedimentary rocks are formed
the types of water movement in the oceans
how to identify geological features on the coast.
impressive landscapes on the coasts
 the coastal ecosystem for biodiversity on Earth.