The activity presented in this lesson addresses the following New York Learning Standards in the area of Science and Technology :

 

STANDARD 1       Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.

 

Standard 2

Key Idea 3:

Information technology can have positive and negative impacts on society, depending upon how it is used.

For example:

¨ discuss how early warning systems can protect society and the environment from

natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and volcanoes

 

Standard 7 

Key Idea 2:

Solving interdisciplinary problems involves a variety of skills and strategies, including effective work habits; gathering and processing information; generating and analyzing ideas; realizing ideas; making connections among the common themes of mathematics, science, and technology; and presenting results.

For example:

¨ collect, collate, and process data concerning potential natural disasters (tornadoes, thunderstorms, blizzards, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, etc.) in an area and develop an emergency action plan

¨ using a topographic map, determine the safest and most efficient route for rescue purposes

 

Standard 4 

Key Idea 2

Performance Indicator

2.1j     Properties of Earth’s internal structure (crust, mantle, inner core, and outer core) can be inferred from the analysis of the behavior of seismic waves (including velocity and refraction).

For example:

¨ Analysis of seismic waves allows the determination of the location of earthquake epicenters, and the measurement of earthquake magnitude; this analysis leads to the inference that Earth’s interior is composed of layers that differ in composition and states of matter.

 

2.1k    The outward transfer of Earth’s internal heat drives convective circulation in the mantle that moves the lithospheric plates comprising Earth’s surface.

 

2.1l     The lithosphere consists of separate plates that ride on the more fluid asthenosphere and move slowly in relationship to one another, creating convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries. These motions indicate Earth is a dynamic geologic system.

For example:

¨ These plate boundaries are the sites of most earthquakes, volcanoes, and young mountain ranges.

¨ Compared to continental crust, ocean crust is thinner and denser. New ocean crust continues to form at mid-ocean ridges.

¨ Earthquakes and volcanoes present geologic hazards to humans. Loss of property, personal injury, and loss of life can be reduced by effective emergency preparedness.

 

2.1m  Many processes of the rock cycle are consequences of plate dynamics. These include the production of magma (and subsequent igneous rock formation and contact metamorphism) at both subduction and rifting regions, regional metamorphism within subduction zones, and the creation of major depositional basins through down-warping of the crust.

 

2.1n    Many of Earth’s surface features such as mid-ocean ridges/rifts, trenches/subduction zones/island arcs, mountain ranges (folded, faulted, and volcanic), hot spots, and the magnetic and age patterns in surface bedrock are a consequence of forces associated with plate motion and interaction.

 

2.1q    Topographic maps represent landforms through the use of contour lines that are isolines connecting points of equal elevation. Gradients and profiles can be determined from changes in elevation over a given distance.

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