Land forms Guided Inquiry 

Essential Questions

How does Earth’s surface change over time?
What causes land to be created, destroyed, or moved?
How does movement within the Earth impact changes on the Earth’s surface?
How do scientists use their observations to classify, draw conclusions, and predict future events?
How can scientists use fossils and other geological evidence to draw conclusions about Earth’s past?
How do humans respond to changes on the surface of the Earth?
What can humans do to minimize negative changes on Earth’s surface?

Questions or Ideas to Investigate

 *When a volcano erupts does what kind of impact does it have on the Earth's atmosphere? What is Volcanic Smog?

*What is a seismograph?  Can you build one and explain how it works?

*Can you build a scale model of the Earth? Use the percentages of the total mass to build your model.

---

The Crust .01%

 Mantle    44%

Outer Core   35%

Inner Core   20%

*How has the construction of buildings changed in areas with earthquakes over time?

*What is Pangaea?  How has this theory changed from when Wegner first presented it?

*What were some of the most significant volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami's to have hit?  Are there any happening right now?

*How has weathering and erosion  shaped some of our natural wonders?  (Natural Bridge, VA; Grand Canyon ,AZ;  Mount Everest, Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls ,Victoria Falls, Others)

* Follow a rock through its cycle.  How long might it be at each stage? Where would it start/end?  Does it have to go through all of the stages like an egg or a baby?

* What is a fossil?  What is a fossil fuel?  Why do we need to worry about fossil fuels?