Rocks and Minerals
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
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Program Overview
The Foundations and Challenges to Encourage Technology-based Science (FACETS) program consists of 3 series of 8 modules each for grades 6-8. Each module focuses on a topic in the life, earth, or physical sciences. The time needed to complete FACETS modules varies from 2 to 4 weeks. Each module consists of a student book and a teacher's guide.
Student Edition
Recommended grade level:
6.
In the module Shrinking Farmlands, students investigate the effects of wind and water erosion on the world's supply of arable land, and they also examine the issue of equitable distribution of food throughout the world. During the module, students figure out the percentage of land on the planet that is available for farming, and they conduct library research to determine the positive and negative effects of some of the methods farmers use to maximize production and minimize problems with erosion.
In other activities, students make models of farmland to explore the effects of wind and water erosion and to investigate ways in which wind and water erosion can be reduced by planting. Students also participate in a trading simulation (game) to learn why the world food supply gets divided unequally. In the final activity, students design and make a learning center on shrinking farmlands, using the information they have acquired.
Shrinking Farmlands is a 4-week module divided into 6 activities, which each take between 1 and 4 class periods to complete. A narrative section at the end of the module provides background information for students on controlling soil erosion and soil pollution.
Teacher's Guide
The wraparound teacher's guide includes a unit overview, a time line for completing the module, a materials list, background information, and teaching suggestions.
Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
LIFE SCIENCE: Populations and ecosystems.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE: Structure of the earth system.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Abilities of technological design; understandings about science and technology.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Populations, resources, and environments; natural hazards; risks and benefits; science and technology in society.
Prices:
Student edition (ISBN 0-7872-1429-9), $7.90. Teacher's guide (ISBN 0-7872-1430-2), $14.90.
Publisher/supplier:
Kendall/Hunt.
Materials:
Available locally, or from commercial suppliers.
