Cycle 1

In the previous concept, students developed models of Earth’s interior processes to explain the relationship between the energy in Earth’s interior and the formation of igneous and metamorphic resources on Earth. Students explained how these processes create unique rock and mineral resources, and connected these resources to their everyday lives.
In this cycle, students will construct an explanation that answers the guiding questions: How do geoscience processes and human activities affect the distribution and availability of resources on Earth? Students will answer this guiding by analyzing data from resource distribution maps to explain that minerals are unevenly distributed across the Earth. They will also observe how the removal of minerals through mining practices causes environmental degradation. Students will use models of energy, mineral, and groundwater resources to explain how the uneven distribution of resources is driven by past and current geoscience processes; including surface and interior processes. They will use a model to explain the relationship between renewable and nonrenewable resources and resource allocation on Earth. Students will synthesize their learning by developing arguments about the ethical implications of over consuming materials; using a cell phone as an example.
In the next concept, students will utilize their learning from each of the concepts to complete a performance task that seeks to answer the driving question: How can we as citizens use our understanding of Earth processes and resource distribution to make informed decisions about how we consume Earth materials.