State Science Education Standards'
Connections With GLOBE Soil Protocols

Delaware

Delaware: http://www.doe.state.de.us/Standards/Science/science_toc.html

Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Kindergarten - Third:

Location on page:

1. Under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the components of Earth section

Standards: students must be able to…

1. Earth’s materials include rocks, soil, water, and air. Differences exist in all these materials and these differences can be used to sort and classify them.
   - Collect a variety of Earth’s materials, such as rocks, sand, soil, and water (salt water, rain water, tap water). Develop classification systems that allow these materials to be sorted into groups with similar properties.
   - Collect and label soil samples taken from various locations surrounding the school block. Record and describe in your journal the nature of the location and surroundings for these samples. Use a magnifier or other tests to examine the samples. Record the differences (e.g., color, grain size, texture, ability to hold water) and develop reasonable explanations why these differences are important.

Fourth - Fifth:

Location on page:

1.-2. under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the components of Earth section
3. under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the interactions among Earth’s systems section

Standards: students must be able to…

1. Rocks are natural combinations of one or more minerals and are formed under a variety of conditions. Rocks, minerals, and soils are classified according to their physical properties.
   - Sort and classify samples of Earth materials according to physical properties such as color, luster, density, particle size, and shape. Differentiate between those materials that are composed of a single substance (mineral) and those that are composite materials (e.g., rocks, soil, sand).
2. Soil is composed of rock material broken down by weathering and erosion and organic material that is decomposed. A soil’s composition varies from place to place and helps determine which plants grow in a particular area.
   - Conduct simple investigations to determine how different types of soil (e.g., sand, clay, organic) affect plant growth and development. Use the results of this investigation to defend the reasons a farmer might fertilize or irrigate crop land.
3. Simulate the effect of erosion of the Earth’s surface using small trays of soil or stream tables. Relate the results of this simulation to changes that take place in local surroundings due to erosion.

Sixth - Eighth:

Location on page:

1. Under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the interactions among Earth’s systems section

Standards: students must be able to…

1. Rocks are changed by erosion and deposition and by exposure to heat and pressure. There are a variety of physical and chemical processes that lead to the decomposition and breakdown of rocks and the eventual formation of soils and sediments. These soils and sediments can then be transported to other places by wind, flowing water, waves, and ice.
   - Design and build models to demonstrate how wind and water shape the land. Explain how erosional agents such as water and ice produce distinctive landforms (e.g., water and bad lands, ice and glacial valleys, waves and sea cliffs). (National Geography Standards, 1994)
   - Design tests to study the effects of physical processes (freezing and thawing of water, erosion) and chemical processes (oxidation, acidification) on the structure of rocks, and speculate on the impact of climate, topography, and airborne and water pollutants on these processes.
   - Investigate factors influencing erosion and deposition and relate the results to local areas of erosion. Apply this information to economic decisions concerning the use of land for construction, farming, industry, and recreation.

Ninth-Twelfth:

Location on page:

1.-2. under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the components of Earth section
3.-4. under standard #5 (Earth’s dynamic systems), under the interactions among Earth systems section

Standards: students must be able to…

1. Long term exposure of rocks to different environments results in weathering and decomposition and the production of soils and sediments. Differences in the geographical origin of rock materials lead to variations in the physical properties and chemical composition of soil.
   - Relate how the composition and physical structure of soil reflect local geology or the geologic history of an area. For example, compare soil maps to geological maps or examine excavations.
   - Describe the factors and processes involved in the formation of soils in different ecosystems (e.g., climate type, parent rock material, sloped land, effects of human activities). (National Geography Standard 1994).
2. Sub-surface water is a limited resource and must be judiciously managed. The rate of movement of sub-surface water is controlled by differences in elevation and the porosity and permeability of the rock and soil through which it moves.
   - Design tests to determine how the physical and structural properties of rock and soil affect the movement of water.
3. Physical features of Earth result from a balance of processes that elevate and wear down land surfaces and move materials from higher to lower elevations.
   - Compare and contrast present-day maps, land images, and aerial photographs of Delaware to those of the past. Identify changes that have occurred in the topography of Delaware, and investigate reasons for the changes using a variety of resources (e.g., historical records, local experts, library documents).
4. Radiation from the Sun drives the circulation of air and water around the Earth leading to a variety of weather phenomena and regional climates.
   - Investigate the differential heating rates of soil and water. Collect and graphically represent climatic data for inland versus coastal areas.