Unit #: 4
Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Grade(s): 8
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
STAGE 1 – DESIRED RESULTS
Unit Title: Hydropshere
Transfer Goal(s):
Students will be able to independently use their learning to make informed decisions about water stewardship.
Enduring Understandings:
Essential Questions:
Students will understand that…
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Water is essential to life.
Everyone has a role in protecting Earth’s water.
Earth’s oceans are essential to Earth.
Students will know:
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Terms: hydrosphere, precipitation, evaporation, condensation,
evapotranspiration, respiration, infiltration, runoff, river basin,
watershed, aquifer, spring, water table, bioluminescence , estuary,
marine, upwelling, hydrothermal vents, El Niño, La Niña,
permeability, porosity, phytoplankton, turbidity, bio-indicators (bioindex), eutrophication, sedimentation, stewardship, chemosynthetic,
pH, bioaccumulation, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, salinity,
coagulation, aeration, saturation, point, nonpoint pollution
The structure of the hydrosphere.
Behavior of gases in the marine environment.
Value and sustainability of marine resources.
Understandings gained from deep ocean technology.
Factors that affect water quality.
Methods of water treatment.
Water Quality Act of 1972
Water cycle.
Water quality impacts human health.
The energy from the sun drives the water cycle.
Value of Earth’s oceans: climate and resources.
Oceans are affected by geological processes.
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What would happen to the Earth’s water if you removed one
component of the water cycle?
What would happen if the Earth was only 25% water?
What happens to water if there is no oxygen?
Students will be able to:
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Explain the structure of the hydrosphere to include water distribution,
river basin and water availability. (world and local) (8.E.1.1 & EEn
2.3.2)
Summarize evidence that Earth’s oceans are a reservoir of nutrients,
minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms. (8.E.1.2)
Analyze water quality data to determine if water is potable.(8.E.1.4)
Recognize water quality standards. (8.E.1.3)
Measure overall water quality and human impacts on NC water. (EEn
2.4)
Trace pollution from its source(s). (8.E.1.4)
Trace water through its cycle. (8.E.1.1)
Identify the ocean’s role in climatic and ecosystem
phenomena.(8.E.1.2)
Identify organisms that link terrestrial and aquatic food webs.
(8.E.1.2)
Model heat and energy transfer through ocean currents and tidal
currents. (EEn 2.3.1)
Identify ocean layers and ocean zones. (8.E 1.2)
Predict changes in the global atmosphere based on interactions with
the oceanic environment. (EEn 2.3.1)
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
1
Unit #: 4
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Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Grade(s): 8
The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the oceans.
The importance of watersheds, estuaries, and river basins.
The importance of upwelling.
What drives the Global Ocean Conveyer Belt.
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
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Explain how ground water and surface water interact. (EEn 2.3.2)
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
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Unit #: 4
Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Grade(s): 8
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
STAGE 1– STANDARDS
Essential Standards
8.E.1
Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local
systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans
EEn.2.3
Explain the structure and processes within the hydrosphere
EEn.2.4
Evaluate how humans use water
Clarifying Objectives
Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including:
8.E.1.1
 Water distribution on Earth
 Local river basins and water availability
Summarize evidence that Earth’s oceans are a reservoir of
nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
 Estuaries
 Marine ecosystems
8.E.1.2
 Upwelling
 Behavior of gases in the marine environment
 Value and sustainability of marine resources
 Deep ocean technology and understandings gained
Predict the safety and potability of water supplies in North
Carolina based on physical and biological factors, including:
 Temperature
 Dissolved oxygen
8.E.1.3
 pH
 Nitrates and phosphates
 Turbidity
 Bio-indicators
Conclude that the good health of humans requires:
 Monitoring of the hydrosphere
 Water quality standards
8.E.1.4
 Methods of water treatment
 Maintaining safe water quality
 Stewardship
Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat
EEn.2.3.1
transfer).
EEn.2.3.2
Explain how ground water and surface water interact.
EEn.2.4.1
EEn.2.4.2
Evaluate human influences on freshwater availability.
Evaluate human influences on water quality in North
Carolina’s river basins, wetlands and tidal environments.
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
3
Unit #: 4
Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Performance Tasks:
Grade(s): 8
STAGE 2 – ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE
Other Evidence: There may not be an assessment of each type listed below for
each unit. Examples of other types of assessment may include:
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Climatologist Diorama-Defined STEM
Civil Engineer: Water Treatment-Defined STEM
Hydrologist: Helping Farmers During the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s
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Water Quality Project Performance Global
Click here to access the resources above
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
Academic Prompts
Quiz and Test Items
Informal Checks for Understanding
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NCDPI Released Items
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Chapter 2 Quiz Assessment (8th grade textbook)
Chapter 3 Quiz Assessment
Chapter 4 Quiz Assessment
Earth Systems, Structures and Processes Assessment Ideas
Hydrosphere End of Unit Test with Answers
Hydrosphere End of Unit Test without the Answers
Water drops Unite
Click here to access the resources above.
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
4
Unit #: 4
Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Grade(s): 8
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
STAGE 3 – RESOURCES FOR THE LEARNING PLAN
District Resources:
Supplemental Resources:
When designing the learning plan, these resources are intended to be a
These are considered additional resources that are recommended by the
primary resource used by all teachers.
Curriculum Writing Teams. Those resources with an asterisk (*) may be
purchased by each individual school.
th
 NCDPI Unpacking – 8 Grade
 Discover NC’s River Basins
 NCDPI Unpacking – Earth and Environmental
 Oceans’ movie by Disney. Also has teacher guide.
 Contact Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation for Watershed kit
Additional resources can be found using these digital tools:
to borrow
 Defined Stem (main site)
 NOAA
 Discovery Education (main site)
 My NASA Data
 iCurio (main site)
 Climate Change Data
 Water Cycle Interactive Lesson
 Unit 4 Discovery Education Resources
 Watersheds Box
 EEn23 and EEn24 Unpacked Standards – NCDPI
 NCDPI Support Document
 8.E.1 Unpacked Standards – NCDPI
 Alien Juice Bar
 Creatures of the Deep
Click here to access the resources listed above.
 Life in the Deep
 Contact 4H for TECHcite rainwater kit and lesson plans
 Classzone: Earth’s Waters
 Earth’s Fresh Water
 Earth’s Oceans
 Human Actions and Water
 GIST LINCS Strategies (I Drive)
 Hydrosphere brochure activity directions; rubric
 Lab Title: Determining Water Density (key)
 Ocean Currents
 Porosity and Permeability Lab
Click here to access the resources above.
Considerations for Differentiating Instruction (AIG, EL, EC, etc.):
These resources are intended to be used when differentiating instruction to meet the varied needs of students in your classroom.
 AIG - Water Purification Design
 EC Hydrosphere Unit Test Read Aloud
 ESL - Windows to the Universe, textbook workbooks
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
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Unit #: 4
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Subject(s): 8th Earth & Environmental
Grade(s): 8
Designer(s): John Landon, Charles Efird, Kelly Browning, Annette Bartlett
EC -USGS Water Science School, textbook workbooks
EC- Hydrosphere Test Modified
EC- Hydrosphere Modified Version
Click here to access the resources above.
Adapted from Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
Last revision 7/11/16
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