HS - ESS1.C (B) - Earth's Early History - FINAL (RC 4/14/2014)

Module: Earth’s Early History

DCI: ESS1.C (B) Although active geologic processes, such as plate tectonics and erosion, have destroyed or altered most of the very early rock record on Earth, other objects in the solar system, such as lunar rocks, asteroids, and meteorites, have changed little over billions of years. Studying these objects can provide information about Earth’s formation and early history.

PE: HS-ESS1-6 Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history.

 [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using available evidence within the solar system to reconstruct the early history of Earth, which formed along with the rest of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Examples of evidence include the absolute ages of ancient materials (obtained by radiometric dating of meteorites, moon rocks, and Earth’s oldest minerals), the sizes and compositions of solar system objects, and the impact cratering record of planetary surfaces.]

The ideas are: 

- The earliest rock records have been destroyed or altered by active geologic processes

- Lunar rocks, asteroids and meteorites, though, have changed little over billions of years.  

- We can use these objects to learn more about the formation of the Earth and its early history

So, students are supposed to use data from other planetary surfaces and apply them to formulate an understanding of earth's formation.  We can stick to information about ages, sizes, composition, and then also cratering. 

Possible Question Starters: 

"Scientists can use data from which of the following sources to help them understand how the earth formed?"

We can provide a table, with ages of several moon rocks, meteorites, etc.  We can ask students to tell us the approximate age of the Earth. 

We might be able to do the same thing but instead provide data on the composition of these rocks.