February/March Earth Science Lesson Plans
Date
2/11, 2/12
Mon/Tues
Objectives
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Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to
plate boundaries and other
geologic settings
Research historical volcanic
eruptions
Activities
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Discuss 10.1 notes (15 mins)
Volcanoes WebQuest (60 mins)- Visit the 4 listed sites
and answer questions
Pass out 10.2 Homework
Standards
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MSCS 4: BM 1
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MSCS 4: BM 1
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MSCS 4: BM 1
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MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: 10.2 Worksheet
2/13, 2/14
Wed/Thurs
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
Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to
plate boundaries and other
geologic settings
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10.2-10.3 PowerPoint Presentation (45 mins)- Volcanic
structures, Calderas, igneous intrusions, etc., Types of
magma
Magma types reading workbook activity (30 mins)
HW: 10.3 Worksheet
2/19, 2/20
Tues/Wed
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2/21, 2/22
Thurs/Fri
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Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to
plate boundaries and other
geologic settings
Discuss the Yellowstone
hotspot
Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to
plate boundaries and other
geologic settings
Discuss the Yellowstone
Hotspot
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
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
Discuss the Yellowstone hotspot (45 mins)- Size, how it
works, will it ever erupt again?
Begin: “Supervolcano” Discovery Channel Video (30
mins)- We will finish next class
o
o
Finish Supervolcano (60 mins)
 Discuss movie question sheet
Geology of Yellowstone National Park (15
mins)- Calderas and hotspots
BM= Benchmark
2/25, 2/26
Mon/Tues
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2/27, 2/28
Wed/Thurs
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3/1, 3/4
Fri/Mon
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3/5, 3/6
Tues/Wed


Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to
plate boundaries and other
geologic settings
Discuss the Yellowstone
hotspot
Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Discuss the primary sources
of salt in ocean water
Explore the factors that affect
the density of ocean water
Compare and contrast the
three main zones of the open
ocean.
Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Discuss the primary sources
of salt in ocean water
Explore the factors that affect
the density of ocean water
Compare and contrast the
three main zones of the open
ocean.
Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Explain how surface currents
develop
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MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: Test next class
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Volcanoes Quest (45 mins)
Oceanography Worksheet/Discussion (30 mins)- 14.1
and 14.2 Reading Worksheet- Intro to oceanography
Discuss worksheet
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 4: BM 4
Demo- Introduction to salinity and its affect on density
(15 mins)-What is density?, Student prediction- sink or
float (golf ball in water)
PowerPoint Presentation- Notes and discussion (20
mins) What is salinity?
Lab- Experimenting with salinity and temperature and
their effects on density (40 mins)- Food coloring, layers
of water, etc. Lab Follow-up Questions
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
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 4: BM 4
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MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 4: BM 4
HW: Salinity/Temp Lab Worksheet Questions
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MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
Volcanoes Review Worksheet
Review Game
Review lesson from last class- how does temperature
and salinity effect the density of ocean water?
Ocean Circulation Discussion/Notes- Surface
Circulation: Gyres, Coriolis Effect, Ocean Currents and
Climate- transfer of heat, Upwelling, Deep-Ocean
Circulation: Density Currents- temp and salinity
Global Winds and Ocean Circulation ActivityUnderstanding the Coriolis Effect, Ocean gyres
BM= Benchmark
3/7, 3/8
Thurs/Fri
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Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Compare and contrast
weather patterns
characteristics of El Nino and
La Nina events
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MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 4: BM 4
Notes/Discussion (30 mins)- Waves- energy,
characteristics, motion, Tides- why we have them, how
do they work, high tides vs. low tides
Timing the Tides Activity (45 mins)- Collect and analyze
data

MSCS 4: BM 4
Oceanography WebQuest (50 mins)
Quiz Review (20 mins)- Topics, hand out review, go over
questions
Test next class

MSCS 4: BM 4
Oceanography Test- (40 mins)
Density, salinity, temperature, Ocean Currents, El Nino,
La Nina, Waves, Tides
17.1 Meteorology reading and worksheet (20 mins)Notes/Discussion (15 mins)
Meteorology- what is it? Layers of the atmosphere, etc.
MSCS 4: BM 4
Review salinity and density, coriolis effect, gyres, etc.
(10 mins)
Notes/Discussion (30 mins)- Review ocean currents,
upwelling, etc.
El Nino and La Nina discussion/notes- How does it work,
Diagram and explain in words, Effects of these events
El Nino Lab Activity (35 mins)- Sea surface
temperatures, sea surface topography, wind dataanalyze real data do understand El Nino events
HW: 16.2 Worksheet
3/11, 3/12
Mon/Tues
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3/13, 3/14
Wed/Thurs
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3/18, 3/19
Mon/Tues


Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Discuss the forces that
produce tides

Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Discuss the forces that
produce tides
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
Explain the relationship
between ocean currents,
weather, and climate
Unit AssessmentOceanography
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HW: 17.1 Worksheet
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
BM= Benchmark
3/20, 3/21
Wed/Thurs
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3/22, 3/25
Fri/Mon
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3/26, 3/27
Tues/Wed
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Examine the importance of
the structure and
composition of the
atmosphere as influencing
factors on Earth’s weather
and climate
Compare and contrast
weather and climate
Explain why seasonal changes
occur
Compare and contrast the
abilities of cold air and warm
air to hold water vapor.
Describe the factors that
affect the relative humidity of
air
Observe and explain latent
heat
Describe what happens to air
when it is compressed or
allowed to expand
List four mechanisms that
cause air to rise
Compare and contrast
movements of stable and
unstable air
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
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
Atmospheric Pressure Demo
Notes/Discussion- PPT (30 mins)- Weather vs. Climate,
Atmosphere- Composition, Height and Structurepressure vs. altitude, layers of the atmosphere
 Article discussion- atmospheric pressure and sports
teams
 Earth Sun Relationships- Seasons
 Read 18.1- Water in the Atmosphere and complete
worksheet (20 mins)- Latent heat, water’s change of
state, humidity and dew point
HW: 18.1 Worksheet
 18.1 Notes- Water in the Atmosphere (30 mins)Water’s change of state, Latent Heat- Evaporation,
condensation, sublimation, deposition, Humidity,
Saturated, relative humidity, dew point
 Latent Heat Lab (25 mins)
 Read 18.2 and complete question sheet- Cloud
Formation (20 mins)
HW: 18.2 Worksheet
 Review: humidity, dew point, saturated(5 mins)
 Make a cloud lab (40 mins)- Show at the front of the
classroom while students make their own, Recipe for a
cloud lab worksheet
 18.2 notes and discussion (20 mins)- Relate to lab
 How do clouds form?, Air compression and expansion,
Processes that lift air
HW: 18.3 Worksheet
BM= Benchmark
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MSCS 4: BM 4
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MSCS 4: BM 4
MSCS 4: BM 4