Inquiry Learning
In term 4 we are focusing on the key learning area of Science – Earth & Space.
Understandings
The Earth is composed of many layers from the core to the atmosphere.
The Earth’s crust is broken up into huge pieces called tectonic plates.
Heat and pressure within the Earth’s core causes changes to the Earth and its atmosphere (Natural disasters).
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air, called the atmosphere that serves as a protective role, for example shielding the Earth from meteors and ultraviolet radiation. The atmosphere is also made up of many layers.
Movement within the atmosphere causes changes to the Earth’s weather and can also result in natural disasters.
Knowledge about the Earth’s interior and atmosphere has assisted scientists to understand, measure and predict natural disasters.
Technological devices have been invented and used to predict, measure and prepare responses to these disasters.
Focus Skills
Students will be able to:
Explain change in terms of cause and effect
Apply the terms relationships, models and systems appropriately as ways of representing complex structures
Describe the composition layers within the Earth
Explain the functions of the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere
Design and build simple models and write an account of the science that is central to explaining the model
Use diagrams and symbols to explain their investigations
Justify their reasoning
Apply geospatial and geographical skills, e.g. map reading, hot spots, topographical maps, satellite images
Interpret maps and data to aid their knowledge of geographical concepts
The Earth
Below are some photographs of the models of the Earth the students have made in class using the technique of paper mache:
The Atmosphere
Above are some examples of the students creations of the different layers of the atmosphere and what might be found in each layer.
