ES30-FO: Foundations of Earth Science

ES30-FO2: Examine the evidence for and the importance of plate tectonics theory in explaining the processes that produced Earth’s major surface features.

ES30-FO2a: Discuss the importance of plate tectonics as the unifying concept in earth science.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-FO2b: Explain the key principles and driving forces of plate tectonics theory including how the theory subsumes ideas related to continental drift.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-FO2f: Correlate the world distribution of mountain ranges, volcanoes and earthquakes with the location, boundaries and movement of lithospheric plates.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-FO2i: Predict the locations of future plate boundaries based on current lithospheric plate movement rates and compare with scientific predictions.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-FO2j: Consider which celestial bodies (e.g., Mars, Europa and exoplanets) could have or could not have geological features that might be explained by plate tectonics.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-FO3: Analyze how geologists use the fossil record and relative and absolute dating methods to determine the geological history of Earth and to construct the geologic time scale.

ES30-FO3c: Assess the importance of the fossil record as evidence to support scientific understanding of geological time and evolution.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

ES30-LS: Lithosphere

ES30-LS1: Examine the processes that lead to the formation of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and minerals.

ES30-LS1g: Classify igneous rocks according to criteria such as method of formation (i.e., intrusive or extrusive) and mineral composition (e.g., felsic or mafic).

Rock Classification

ES30-LS1m: Explain why locations where igneous activity and metamorphic rocks occur correlate with plate boundaries and plate movement.

Plate Tectonics

ES30-LS2: Investigate the processes and technologies used to locate and extract mineral resources and fossil fuels locally, provincially and globally.

ES30-LS2a: Identify the location, method of extraction, uses and economic impact of major fossil fuel and mineral (e.g., gold, diamond, rare earth elements, copper, zinc, kaolin, coal, potash, uranium, sodium sulfate and salt) resources locally, provincially and/or globally.

Carbon Cycle

ES30-LS3: Analyze surface geography as a product of deposition, weathering, erosion and mass wasting processes.

ES30-LS3i: Apply mapping techniques such as creating and interpreting topographic profiles and translating between two-dimensional (2D) surface maps/cross-sections and three-dimensional (3D) box diagrams to represent surface geographical features.

Building Topographic Maps
Reading Topographic Maps

ES30-AH: Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

ES30-AH2: Investigate the characteristics of the hydrosphere an how hydrospheric processes impact the atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere.

ES30-AH2d: Investigate how factors such as porosity and permeability influence the storage and movement of groundwater.

Porosity