Science Unit 3 / Section 1
Study Guide
Flipchart ESS1A – Earth Science Prerequisites
GLE ESS38 – Estimate the range of time over which natural events occur.
A natural event is something that happens naturally without the help of humans.
It usually refers to an event that changes the land.
The range of time for these events could be as little as 1 second to millions of
years.
Write a very brief description of how each natural event is created, how it changes
the land, or what landforms are created and about how long it takes to occur.
Natural Event
Brief description how the landform is created,
how it changes land, or the landforms it
creates
How long it
takes
Hurricane
Tornado
Cyclone
Twister
Wind storm
Rain storm
Snow storm
Lightning
Flood
Tsunami
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 1
Glacier
movement
Volcano
formation
Volcano
eruption
Mountain
formation
Caves
formation
Rock Cycle
Water Cycle
Oxygen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Fossil Fuel
formation
Earthquake
Avalanche
Mudslide /
Landslide
Canyon
formation
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 2
Flipchart ESS1B – Rocks, Minerals, and Erosion
GLE ESS31 – Identify common rocks and minerals and explain their uses and
economic significance (There is a whole science, called geology, devoted to science.
You will be learning just a few of the basic concepts about rocks and minerals.)
Just as you are able to identify people by looking at their physical features, rocks
and minerals can be identified by their physical features: color, luster, streak,
cleavage, and hardness. Remember, all rocks are made of minerals, so we will start
with minerals first. (There are over 4000 known minerals)
Minerals
What is the hardest mineral? ______________________________
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 3
What is the softest mineral? ______________________________
List some common uses for the following minerals:
Mineral
Quartz
Aluminum
Iron
Halite
Fluorite
Gypsum
Gold and Silver
Mica
Common Uses
What mineral is this? ___________________________________________
What do we make with this mineral? __________________________________
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 4
Rocks
The three types of rocks are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Briefly
describe how each is made and how you can identify it.
Type of Rock
Brief description of how it is
made
How you can identify this
type of rock
Sedimentary
Intrusive
Igneous
Extrusive
Igneous
Metamorphic
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 5
Which rock is a metamorphic rock and which is an igneous rock. How do you know
what it is?
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
Fill in the chart below
Rock before metamorphosis
What the rock changes into after
metamorphosis
Limestone
Granite
Shale
Slate
Fill in the chart below
Type of Rock
Sedimentary rock
Igneous rock
Metamorphic rock
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Uses for this rock
Page 6
Erosion
GLE ESS 33- Identify the processes that prevent or cause erosion.
Erosion is when sediment, sand, soil, rocks, and other materials are moved from one
place to another.
List 4 or more things that cause erosion, then circle or highlight the one that
causes the most erosion:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
What is the best way to prevent erosion of soil?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 7
Soil
Flipchart ESS1C – Soil
GLE ESS 30- Identify organic and inorganic matter in soil samples with the
aid of a hand lens or microscope.
If you want to examine soil, the best tool to use is a ______________________.
But if you want to better examine a very small piece of matter to see its physical
properties, it is best to look at that piece using a ____________________.
In your own words, write the meanings of
Organic _______________________________________________________
Inorganic ______________________________________________________
An object not normally found in soil is called ________________________
Categorize the following words in the boxes below.
humus
clay
bark
rocks
insect
nail
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
dead leaf
gum wrapper
foam cup
moisture
air
fungi
sand
pine needles
bacteria
Page 8
Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
Flipchart ESS1D – Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
GLE ESS 46 – Identify and explain the interaction of the processes of the water cycle.
Using the words below, label the Water Cycle. (You are identifying the processes)
run off
evaporation
precipitation
ground water
condensation
infiltration
energy
transpiration
Now you need to explain the interaction of the processes. It is kind of like a
cause / effect relationship. How do each of these interact?
Sun and evaporation ______________________________________________
condensation and temperature ______________________________________
infiltration and groundwater ________________________________________
condensation and precipitation ______________________________________
run off and evaporation ___________________________________________
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 9
GLE ESS 34 – Identify the components of the hydrosphere
GLE ESS 35 –Identify the atmosphere as a mixture of gases, water vapor,
and other matter
Match these words with their meanings:
air
hydrosphere
atmosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
water
living things
land
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
What makes up the hydrosphere? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What percentage of Earth is water? _______________
What percentage of water is salty? ________________ Fresh? ____________
Is water vapor part of the hydrosphere? ___________ Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What is the atmosphere made of? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________
The atmosphere is made of mostly __________________________.
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 10
Climate and Weather
Flipchart ESS1E
GLE ESS36 – Identify, describe, and compare climate zones: polar,
temperate, tropical.
Label and color the climate zones: polar (blue) temperate (green) and tropical
(orange)
Briefly describe each zone (2 or 3 words)
polar zone ____________________________________________________
temperate zone ________________________________________________
polar zone ____________________________________________________
Which zone is getting direct sunlight causing it to be warmer than the other
zones? ______________________________ Is this zone closer to the
Sun? ________________
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 11
GLE ESS37 – Identify typical weather map symbols and the type of weather
they represent.
List the type of weather each of the following weather symbols represents:
Science Unit 2 Section 1
Study Guide
Page 12