Sarah Dawson
Course: Science
Module Title: Always Changing: Earth’s Structure and Processes
Grade Percentage: 25%
Time Frame: Two Weeks
Module Overview:
If you’ve ever turned on the news and seen a report on an earthquake or a volcano, you
know how devastating these natural disasters can be. The pictures show how powerful these
forces of nature can be… but what makes an earthquake happen? Why do volcanoes erupt?
And why do they seem to happen some places more often than others?
All of these answers are buried deep inside the earth, so to understand what actually causes
these disasters and how they can be so powerful, you have to also understand Earth’s
structure. During this two week module, you will explore the layers of the Earth. The
information will be presented in multiple ways to help you. You will make your own movie to
teach a group of 5th graders from another state about earthquakes and volcanoes. You will have
the opportunity to participate in a Voice Thread that allows you to share with your classmates
what you have learned about plate tectonics. You will also create an animation telling other
students your age about constructive and destructive processes. In your final assignment, you
will write and publish your own online book about some of the landforms in Georgia and how
they were formed.
Objectives:



Learn about plate tectonics, constructive and destructive processes, and some of the
landforms in Georgia that have been shaped by these processes
Explore and use the following tools: Voice Thread, Xtranormal, Microsoft Office-Word,
Animoto, and ShareSnack to participate in the activities of this module
Learn to plan and publish projects that share your knowledge with others
Outcomes:



Use a set of websites to gather information about how earthquakes and volcanoes are
caused
Understand and explain how the Earth has changed through time and how it continues
to change
Use online resources to share your findings with others
Required Readings and Videos:
Earth’s Structure:
Earth's Structure (PowerPoint)
Plates on the Move:
http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php?channel=earth#features/plates?TB_iframe=true&heigh
t=500&width=750
Constructive and Destructive Processes:
Constructive and Destructive Processes (PowerPoint)
Video about mountains and weathering:
http://www.amnh.org/sciencebulletins/?sid=e.f.moving_mountains.20080501&src=b
Earthquakes and Volcanoes:
Earthquakes and Volcanoes (PowerPoint)
Video about Yellowstone:
http://www.amnh.org/sciencebulletins/?sid=e.f.yellowstone.20060601
Georgia Landforms
Ossabaw Island: http://www.ossabawisland.org/
Georgia Barrier Islands: http://www.georgiabarrierislands.com/
Barrier Islands video: http://www.gpb.org/secretseashore
Georgia Landforms:
http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/KSmith13/science.cfm?subpage=905166
and http://www.wacona.com/promote/galandforms/index.htm
Optional Readings:
Earth's Changing Surface (PowerPoint)
Mount St. Helens: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens/
Assignments:
1. View the assigned video and PowerPoint about the Earth’s structure. Go to our class’s
Voice Thread at http://voicethread.com/share/2991634/ and leave a comment on at
least 2 of the slides. Tell some of the things that you learned about the Earth’s structure
from either resource.
2. View the assigned video and PowerPoint about the constructive and destructive
processes that shape the Earth. Write a script for a comic involving two characters. Your
script should teach what constructive and destructive processes and give several
examples of each. Use Xtranormal to create a video using your script.
3. View the assigned video and PowerPoint about earthquakes and volcanoes. Using
Animoto, create a video that a 5th grade teacher in another state could use to teach her
class about what causes earthquakes and volcanoes.
4. View the assigned video about Georgia Landforms. Choose 2-3 landforms that you
would like to study. Use the other resources under “Required Readings and Videos” to
gather information about the landforms you choose. Use this information to write an
informational book about your landforms. When you have finished writing your book,
use Microsoft Word to type it. You can add images to your book to illustrate it. Publish
the finished book using ShareSnack so that others can read it!
Resources:
http://www.only2clicks.com/pages/SKD
Rubric for Module
Grade Percentage:
This rubric serves as a guideline for grading.
Task
Due Dates Points
Voice Thread comments
August 12 4
Xtranormal video
August 14 5
Animoto (earthquake and volcano) video August 18 6
Georgia Landform book (ShareSnack)
August 22 10
Total for Module
25