Junior Science: Planet Earth

It focuses on aspects of levels 3, 4 and 5 of the New Zealand Science Curriculum.

The literacy tasks in this workbook encourage the students to read for meaning, scan material, select appropriate information and understand keywords. The inclusion of mini-research projects prepares students for what is required in the Senior Sciences.

The numeracy tasks involve rounding, graphing, tabulating data, drawing and interpreting graphs and performing basic calculations. These are all vital skills in the Sciences and beyond.

Specific Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this topic, students should be able to:

• list the layers of the Earth and atmosphere and give basic descriptions of their role and/or make-up.
• explain the differences between igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
• list examples of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
• explain how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are formed.
• label the rock cycle and give a description of each process involved.
• describe how the different tectonic plates interact with each other to shape our landmasses.
• write the steps involved in fossil and fossil fuel formation.
• describe the steps involved in cave formation and explain how speleothems are formed.
• carry out investigations to identify different minerals.
• define weathering and erosion and give examples of different types.
• give a relative date to layers of rock based on interpretation of strata.
• describe the processes involved in the water cycle.
• read and interpret weather maps.
• write mini-research opinion-based projects using scientific text.
• read and interpret information from a text with a science focus.

Student Workbook: 40 pages
Teacher’s Guide: 56 pages (available to purchase with a class set)
Free* Downloadable Resource: 7 pages
*Available for free download when a class set and accompanying Teacher’s Guide is purchased.