Units
History of EES
Students will explore the different scientists and events that led us to where we are now.
Astronomy
EEn.1.1.1 Explain the Earth’s motion through space, including precession, nutation, the barycenter, and its path about the galaxy. EEn.1.1.2 Explain how the Earth’s rotation and revolution about the Sun affect its shape and is related to seasons and tides. EEn.1.1.3 Explain how the sun produces energy which is transferred to the Earth by radiation. EEn.1.1.4 Explain how incoming solar energy makes life possible on Earth.
Lithosphere
EEn.2.1.1 Explain how the rock cycle, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes impact the lithosphere. EEn.2.1.2 Predict the locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and faults based on information contained in a variety of maps. EEn.2.1.3 Explain how natural actions such as weathering, erosion (wind, water and gravity), and soil formation affect Earth’s surface. EEn.2.1.4 Explain the probability of and preparation for geohazards such as landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and volcanoes in a particular area based on available data
Hydrosphere
EEn.2.3.1 Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat transfer). EEn.2.3.2 Explain how ground water and surface water interact.
Atmosphere
EEn.2.5.1 Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere. EEn.2.5.2 Explain the formation of typical air masses and the weather systems that result from air mass interactions. EEn.2.5.3 Explain how cyclonic storms form based on the interaction of air masses. EEn.2.5.4 Predict the weather using available weather maps and data (including surface, upper atmospheric winds, and satellite imagery). EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality.
Biosphere
EEn.2.7.1 Explain how abiotic and biotic factors interact to create the various biomes in North Carolina. EEn.2.7.2 Explain why biodiversity is important to the biosphere. EEn.2.7.3 Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.
Global Climate Change
EEn.2.6.1 Differentiate between weather and climate. EEn.2.6.2 Explain changes in global climate due to natural processes. EEn.2.6.3 Analyze the impacts that human activities have on global climate change (such as burning hydrocarbons, greenhouse effect, and deforestation). EEn.2.6.4 Attribute changes to Earth’s systems to global climate change (temperature change, changes in pH of ocean, sea level changes, etc.).
Sustainability
EEn.2.8.1 Evaluate alternative energy technologies for use in North Carolina. EEn.2.8.2 Critique conventional and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices in terms of their environmental impacts. EEn.2.8.3 Explain the effects of uncontrolled population growth on the Earth’s resources. EEn.2.8.4 Evaluate the concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle” in terms of impact on natural resources