February Earth Science Lesson Plans
Date
1/28, 1/29
Wed/Thurs
Objectives
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1/30, 2/2
Fri/Mon
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Identify the 3 types of seismic
waves.
Explain how to locate the
epicenter of an earthquake.
Describe the different ways
earthquakes are measured.
Describe the factors
contributing to earthquake
damage.
Design and build the most
structurally efficient building
Activities
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2/3, 2/4
Tues/Wed
2/5, 2/6
Thurs/Fri
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Design and build the most
structurally efficient building.
Explore the factors that affect
the structural integrity of a
building.
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Differentiate between the
different layers of the Earth
Explain how scientists have
learned about properties of
Earth’s interior.
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MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
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Standards
Discuss Notes from last class (10 mins)- Earthquake
waves, Locating an earthquake, Measuring
earthquakes, Aftershocks and Foreshocks
Notes/Discussion (20 mins)- Destruction from
Earthquakes, Building Structures, Liquefaction,
Tsunamis, Landslides, Fire, Predicting Earthquakes
Building Earthquake-Resistant Structures Activity (30
mins)- Outline design- get it approved!
MSCS 4: BM 1
Discuss building designs- structural efficiency (10
mins)
Earthquake Resistant Building Activity (65 mins)-Build
Earthquake-Resistant Building
Follow guidelines, 200 Popsicle stick maximum, height
requirement, etc.
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCs 1: BM 1, 2, 3
Earthquake Resistant Building Activity (75 mins) Test
Earthquake-Resistant Building (45 mins)- Shock Table tests,
Finish lab write up
Earth’s Interior HW (45 mins)
MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCs 1: BM 1, 2, 3
Notes- Discuss Earth’s interior – layers based on physical
properties vs. composition, seismic waves, Moho, etc.
Review Worksheet
MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: Test next class
BM= Benchmark
2/9, 2/10
Mon/Tues
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Earthquakes Test
Explain volcanic processes
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Test (40 mins)
Read 10.1 and complete question sheet
Discuss volcanoes and their relation to plate boundaries
Read article on Yellowstone’s Hotspot- Discuss
MSCS 4: BM 1
2/11, 2/12
Wed/Thurs
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Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to plate
boundaries and other geologic
settings
Research historical volcanic
eruptions
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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
MSCS 4: BM 1
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HW: 10.2 Worksheet
2/13, 2/17
Fri/Tues
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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)
MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: 10.3 Worksheet
2/18, 2/19
Wed/Thurs
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2/23, 2/24
Mon, Tues
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Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to plate
boundaries and other geologic
settings
Discuss the Yellowstone hotspot
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Explain volcanic processes
Relate volcanic activity to plate
boundaries and other geologic
settings
Discuss the Yellowstone Hotspot
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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
MSCS 4: BM 1
Finish Supervolcano (60 mins)- Discuss movie question
sheet
Geology of Yellowstone National Park (15 mins)- Calderas
and hotspots
Volcanoes Review Worksheet
MSCS 4: BM 1
HW: Test next class
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
BM= Benchmark
2/25, 2/26
Wed, Thurs
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2/27, 3/2
Fri, Mon
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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.
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Volcanoes Test (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
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
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MSCS 4: BM 1
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 data- analyze real data do
BM= Benchmark
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MSCS 4: BM 1
MSCS 4: BM 4
HW: Salinity/Temp Lab Worksheet Questions
3/3, 3/4
Tues, Wed
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Explain the relationship between
ocean currents, weather, and
climate
Explain how surface currents
develop
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3/5, 3/6
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= Montana Science Content Standard
understand El Nino events
HW: 16.2 Worksheet
3/9, 3/10
Mon, Tues
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3/11, 3/12
Wed, Thurs
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3/16, 3/17
Mon, Tues
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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 Assessment- Oceanography
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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
Oceanography WebQuest (50 mins)
Quiz Review (20 mins)- Topics, hand out review, go over
questions
Test next class
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MSCS 4: BM 4
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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
HW: 17.1 Worksheet
3/18, 3/19
Wed, Thurs
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3/20, 3/23
Fri, Mon
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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
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Compare and contrast the
abilities of cold air and warm air
to hold water vapor.
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MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
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Atmospheric Pressure Demo
Notes/Discussion- PPT (30 mins)- Weather vs. Climate,
Atmosphere- Composition, Height and Structure- pressure
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
BM= Benchmark
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MSCS 4: BM 4
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MSCS 4: BM 4
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3/24, 3/25
Tues, Wed
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3/26, 3/27
Thurs, Fri
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Describe the factors that affect
the relative humidity of air
Explain latent heat
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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
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Identify measureable weatherrelated variables commonly used
in forecasting
Identify the instruments and
technology used to collect
weather data
Describe the impacts of fronts,
air masses, and pressure systems
on local and regional weather
MSCS= Montana Science Content Standard
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Discuss 18.2 How do clouds form?, Air compression and
expansion, Processes that lift air
Outside Cloud Activity
Make a cloud lab (40 mins)- Show at the front of the
classroom while students make their own, Recipe for a
cloud lab worksheet
18.3 Notes and Discuss
Begin Weather Cycler Activity
MSCS 4: BM 4
HW: Test next class- make a 3x5 note card
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Finish Weather Cycler
Meteorology Test- Make note card
BM= Benchmark
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MSCS 4: BM 4