Book: Earth’s Changing Surface (6th Grade)

Chapter 1: Mapping Earth

Section 1: Exploring Earth’s Surface (pp. 14-18)

Objective

State

National

A. List the factors that determine the topography of Earth’s surface.

*

X

B. Name and describe the main types of landforms.

8.5.1b

X

C. Identify the four "spheres" that make up Earth’s surface.

8.5.1a

X

 

Section 2: Models of Earth (pp. 19-25)

Objective

State

National

A. Explain how maps and globes represent Earth’s surface and state what a map projection is.

Soc. Stud.

X

B. Identify the equator and prime meridian and state how latitude and longitude are used to locate points on Earth’s surface.

Soc. Stud.

X

 

Section 3: Maps in the Computer Age (pp. 26-28)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe how satellites and computers are used in mapmaking.

Soc. Stud.

X

 

Section 4: Topographic Maps (pp. 29-34)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe a topographic map.

Diff.

X

B. Explain how elevation, relief, and slope are shown on topographic maps.

Diff.

X

C. Identify the Global Positioning System.

Diff.

X

 

Chapter 2: Weathering

Section 1: Rocks and Weathering (pp. 40-48)

Objective

State

National

A. Identify what causes mechanical weathering.

8.5.1b

D.1.c

B. Identify what causes chemical weathering.

8.5.1g

D.1.c

C. Describe the factors that determine how fast weathering occurs.

8.5.1b

D.1.c

 

Section 2: Soil Formation and Composition (pp. 49-56)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe the composition of soil.

8.5.1c

D.1.e

B. Explain how soil is formed.

8.5.1c

D.1.e

C. Identify the roles of plants and animals in soil formation.

8.5.1c

D.1.e

 

Section 3: Soil Conservation (pp. 56-60)

Objective

State

National

A. Explain why soil is a valuable resource.

*

X

B. List ways that soil can be lost or destroyed.

8.7.3b

X

C. Identify some ways that soil can be conserved.

*

X

 

Chapter 3: Erosion and Deposition

Section 1: Changing Earth’s Surface (pp. 66-71)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe the processes that wear down and build up Earth’s surface.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

B. Identify the force that pulls rock and soil down slopes.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

 

Section 2: Water Erosion (pp. 72-84)

Objective

State

National

A. Explain how water erosion is mainly responsible for shaping Earth’s land surface.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

B. Describe some land features formed by water erosion.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

C. Describe land features formed when rivers and streams deposit sediment.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

 

Section 3: The Force of Moving Water (pp. 85-88)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe how water is able to do work.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

B. Explain how sediment enters rivers and streams.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.2.c

C. List the factors that affect a river’s ability to erode and carry sediment.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

 

Section 4: Glaciers (pp. 89-93)

Objective

State

National

A. Name and describe two kinds of glaciers.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

B. Describe two processes by which glaciers erode land.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

C. Explain how glaciers deposit sediments, and the role of the ice ages in glacial erosion.

8.5.1b

D.2.a

D.1.c

 

Section 5: Waves (pp. 98-100)

Objective

State

National

A. Identify what gives ocean waves their energy.

8.5.1b

X

B. Describe how waves shape a coast and create landforms.

8.5.1b

X

 

Chapter 4: A Trip Through Time

Section 1: Fossils (pp. 106-112)

Objective

State

National

A. Explain what fossils are and how most fossils form.

Grade 5

D.2.b

B. Describe what fossils tell about how organisms have changed over time.

Grade 5

C.5.c

C. Identify and describe different types of fossils.

Grade 5

X

 

Section 2: Finding the Relative Age of Rocks (pp. 113-118)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe several ways that scientists determine the relative age of rocks.

X

X

B. Describe how geologists use index fossils to date rocks.

X

X

 

Section 3: Radioactive Dating (pp. 119-122)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe the process of radioactive decay.

X

X

B. Explain how the absolute age of a rock can be determined using radioactive dating.

X

X

 

Section 4: The Geologic Time Scale (pp. 123-127)

Objective

State

National

A. Describe the geologic time scale and explain why it is used.

X

X

B. Identify the different units of the geologic time scale.

X

X

 

Section 5: Earth’s History (pp. 128-140)

Objective

State

National

A. Identify and describe the major events in Earth’s geologic history.

X

X

B. Identify and describe the major developments of life on Earth.

X

X