Unit 5 Overview
Fossil Fuels and Sedimentary Rock
Students will explore the processes that led to the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.
Vocabulary : Oil, Natural Gas, Pressure, Sedimentary Rock, Fossil Fuel, Organic
Matter
Guiding Questions:
 What is sedimentary rock?
 What are fossil fuels?
 How is sedimentary rock involved in the formation of fossil fuels? How long does this process take?
Essential Facts:
 Sedimentary rock is formed over millions of years from the deposition of sediment in layers. Sediment layers on top apply pressure to those on bottom, compacting them into sedimentary rocks.
 Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the deposition of organic materials in layers. Organic matter in bottom layers begins to decay from the pressure and heat generated from the layers above them.
 Sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels are formed when materials are compressed and heated deep under the Earth’s surface.

Fossils
Students will also identify fossils as evidence of past living organisms and the nature of the environments at the time using models.
Vocabulary: Fossil, Model, Sediment, Decay, Imprint, Weathering, Evidence
Guiding Questions:
 How can fossils tell us which organisms lived millions of years ago?
 How can fossils tell us what environments were like millions of years ago?
 How can we represent fossils and past environments using models?
Essential Facts:
 Fossils are traces or preserved parts of organisms that lived in the past.
 Fossils can be used to interpret past events and environments.
 Models can be used to represent the passage of time and past organisms and environments.
Alternative Energy
Students will identify alternative energy resources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biofuels.
Vocabulary: Alternative Energy Resource, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Bio Fuel, Fossil
Fuel, Pollution, Renewable Resource, Nonrenewable Resource, Energy Efficient

Guiding Questions:
• What are some examples of alternative energy resources? How are they used?
• Why are certain energy resources called “alternative” resources?
• What are some of the advantage of these resources? Are there any disadvantages?
Essential Facts:
• Alternative energy resources rely on natural processes and can be used to produce renewable energy.
• Alternative energy resources include wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biofuels.
• Using alternative energy resources can sometimes produce less waste than producing energy from fossil fuels and can also help conserve the Earth’s resources.
Changes on Land
Students will recognize how landforms such as deltas, canyons, and sand dunes are the result of changes to Earth's surface by wind, water, and ice.
Vocabulary: Landform, Delta, Canyon, Sand Dune, Weathering, Volcano,
Earthquake, Deposition, Erosion
Guiding Questions:
• What are some different forces that can change the Earth’s surface?
• How can you describe and identify landforms like deltas, canyons, and sand dunes?
• How is wind, water, or ice involved in the formation of these landforms?

Essential Facts:
 Wind, water, and ice can change Earth’s surface.
 Sand dunes form when wind-blown sand builds up. Deltas form when water-born sediments are deposited at the mouths of rivers.
 Canyons form when moving water cuts through the Earth’s surface.
Water Cycle
Students will explain how the Sun and ocean interact in the water cycle.
Vocabulary : Ocean, Beach Erosion, Waves, Freshwater, Saltwater, Water Cycle,
Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation
Guiding Questions:
• What are the different components of the water cycle?
• How does the Sun move water in the water cycle from the oceans?
• How does the Sun affect weather patterns that move water and form precipitation?
Essential Facts:
• The sun provides the energy that evaporates water on Earth.
• While evaporation can be used to separate solutions, water that evaporates from the ocean does not contain salt.
• Much of the water cycle begins when the sun's energy evaporates water from oceans, which collectively cover approximately 75% of the Earth's surface.

Weather and Climate
The student is expected to differentiate between weather and climate.
Vocabulary : Weather, Climate, Precipitation, Temperature, Trend, Generalization,
Data, Humidity, Typical
Guiding Questions:
• What is weather? What are some characteristics of weather?
• What is climate? What are some characteristics of climate?
• What is the difference between weather and climate?
Key Concepts
• Weather refers to the daily environmental conditions we experience around us. It is also used to describe the condition of the atmosphere in a place at a certain time.
• Climate refers to the average conditions in a place over a longer period of time.
• Weather can be observed each day, whereas climate must be observed over time.
We will also be reviewing soil types and rapid changes on Earth.