OpenSciEd 6.4, Lesson 13: Shrinking Mountains Data Task
Task
Use this Tuva Investigation with OpenSciEd Unit 6.4, Lesson 13. Tuva has digitized the Erosion Rates Reading in Part 3 and the Uplift Rates vs. Erosion Rates handout in Part 4 to provide opportunities for to provide opportunities for students to deepen their ability to process and analyze data. This Data Task is not a standalone lesson. Use it in tandem with the OpenSciEd Teacher Edition to guide overall instruction and collaborative sensemaking. Where This Investigation Fits into the Storyline In the earlier parts of this lesson, students recalled what they wanted to learn about Mt. Mitchell, reviewed what they already know about erosion and weathering from earlier grades, and watched a video about erosion. Now, students will consider the role erosion and uplift play in a location's changing elevation. When to Use Tuva Right after watching the video that kicks off Part 3, have students pull up this Tuva Data Task on their computers. Students will read about erosion science in Tuva and answer the questions right on the platform. Then, they will immediately begin using Tuva to analyze ratio data about erosion and uplift. Students will complete the mathematical calculations required in the original lesson, but will feed these calculations into a graph that can be used as a predictive model. Students will learn to see graphs as capable of helping them make predictions about change over time more efficiently. When considering the differences in rates of erosion, they will see how those different rates appear on a graph as well. All of these adjustments help students build the long-term data literacy muscles to connect mathematics skills to data visualizations and vice versa. What Comes Next After the Data Task is complete, students should create a visual model of erosion and uplift. Visual models were interspersed with the original handouts. We have slightly switched the order so that teachers and students do not need to toggle back and forth between the Tuva platform and paper as many times. Then, via group discussion, teachers will prompt students to add their ideas for how energy is involved in both of these processes. See pages 16-19 of the Teacher Guide. Other Notes Two new vocabulary terms are earned during the parts of this lesson covered by the Data Task. Teachers may want to pause their students and add these terms to the class word wall.
You just finished watching a video about erosion and how scientists measure the effect it has on land. When scientists research how different areas on Earth are changing due to erosion, one rate they use in their research is called erosion rate. [--- What do you think erosion rate might refer to? ---] {alert-discuss} In this Tuva Data Task, you will read about erosion rates and types of erosion. You'll learn how quickly Mount Everest and Mount Mitchell are eroding. Then, you'll use mathematics and graphic models to make predictions about how these two mountains will grow or shrink over time. Click Next to get started.
Topics and standards: Earth Science, MS-ESS2-3, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS1-4, 3.3.6-8.D, 3.3.6-8.E, 3.3.6-8.F, 3.3.6-8.G