Unit 3: Landscapes & Surface Processes


Unit Description 


For nearly five billion years, the Earth’s surface has been constantly built up and broken down by processes taking place beneath and above the Earth’s surface, resulting in the wide range of beautiful and complex landscapes we see today. In this unit, students will continue to make connections between the Earth’s systems when they study interactions between the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere by investigating the rock cycle, water cycle, and processes of erosion such as wind, wave action, and mass movement.



Unit Essential Questions


How does interaction between the Earth’s lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere lead to the wide range of beautiful and complex landscapes we see today?

How do climate and types of materials influence the landscapes we see in different regions on Earth? 

How does classification help us understand the great variety and complexity of Earth’s materials?



Key Lab Components


Modeling the Rock Cycle

Mineral & Rock Identification

Modeling Weathering & Erosion

Modeling Stream Erosion & Deposition