Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS: 

Summary

The unit organizes performance expectations with a focus on helping students understand changes that occur on and to land. Instruction developed from this bundle should always maintain the three-dimensional nature of the standards, and is not limited to the practices and concepts directly linked with any of the unit performance expectations.

Connections between unit Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)  

The idea that maps show where things are located and the shapes and kinds of land and water in any area (ESS2.B as in 2-ESS2-2) can connect to the idea that wind and water can change the shape of the land (ESS2.A as in 2-ESS2-1). The idea that the shape of the land can change connects to the concept that some events happen very quickly, and others occur very slowly, over a time period much longer than one can observe (ESS1.C as in 2-ESS1-1). The idea that wind and water can change land can also connect to the idea that different properties are suited to different purposes (PS1.A as in 2-PS1-2 and 2-PS1-3), since water can change some parts of land that wind cannot. The idea that the land can change shape can connect to the idea that a great variety of objects can be built up from a small set of pieces (PS1.A as in 2-PS1-3), since the same pieces of dirt and sand can create different shapes of land. The engineering design idea that because there is always more than one possible solution to a problem, it is useful to compare and test designs (ETS1.C as in K-2- ETS1-3) can connect to multiple science ideas, such as that wind and water can change the shape of the land (ESS2.A as in 2-ESS2-1) and that some events happen very quickly; others occur very slowly, over a time period much longer than one can observe (ESS1.C as in 2-ESS1-1). The first connection could be made by having students compare a variety of designs that are intended to prevent a river from changing the land of the riverbank. The second connection could be made by having students compare designs intended to prevent danger from a quick event, such as a rockslide.

Unit Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the practices of developing and using models (2-ESS2-2); analyzing and interpreting data (2-PS1-2 and K-2-ETS1-3); and constructing explanations and designing solutions (2-ESS1-1 and 2-ESS2-1). Many other practice elements can be used in instruction.

Unit Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the crosscutting concepts of Patterns (2-ESS2-2); Cause and Effect (2-PS1-2); and Stability and Change (2-ESS1-1 and 2-ESS2-1). Many other crosscutting concepts elements can be used in instruction. All instruction should be three-dimension