32 EARTH SYSTEMS 3209 INTERIM CURRICULUM GUIDE
Outcomes
INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE
Elaborations—Strategies for Learning and Teaching
Students will be expected to
Oringins of Planet Earth (continued)
• describe the formation of the
universe using the big bang
theory (333-1)
- describe the segregation/
formation of Earth layers
The layering of Earth resulted from natural processes related to heat
and gravity. Depth of treatment should therefore include heat (from
radioactive decay, residual heat, and particle collisions), gravity, and
density.
It is important to highlight the physical and compositional properties
of each layer (e.g., state, temperature, relative density, and
composition). However, teachers should take a qualitative approach
to describing the layers and limit treatment of specifi c properties. For
example, the mantle (asthenosphere) could be described as being like
an “Eatmore” bar, a solid that can have fl uid like qualities especially
as temperature infl uences it.
Note that the layers are listed in column 1 based on increasing
progression towards Earth’s surface. Students should know that
pressure, density, and temperature all increase with increasing depth
below the Earth’s surface.
Students should know that the inner core is solid and the outer core
is liquid, and that both layers are comprised of nickel and iron due to
the process of segregation. Segregation caused high density elements
to sink towards the middle of Earth. The mantle is the thickest Earth
layer. It is a solid but has fl uid-like qualities, and is comprised of both
low density and high density elements due to segregation. Students
should know that the asthenosphere, the uppermost part of the mantle,
besides having fl uid-like qualities, is the weakest part of the mantle.
The lithosphere (crust) is the top approximately 100 km of the
Earth’s interior and is comprised mostly of low density elements. The
thickness of the crust varies depending on whether it is continental or
oceanic.
Teachers could reference Topic 3 - Unit 2 in the Edukit for
supplemental materials such as Earth’s Interior Student Worksheet
and demonstrations 2.1 and 2.2.
- identify the various Earth
layers. Include:
(i) inner core
(ii) outer core
(iii) mantle
(asthenosphere)
(iv) lithosphere (crust)