4.4 Explaining change 4.4.1 The Earth’s atmosphere Spec ref. Summary of the specification Learning outcomes Suggested Opportunities to develop Opportunities to Self/peer assessment content timing Scientific Communication skills practical and enquiry Opportunities and What most candidates (hours) skills resources should be able to do Reference to past questions that indicate success Evidence for the early 4.4.1.1 Students should be 1.5 Describe the theory of the How have sedimentary Video clips: atmosphere is limited able to, given evolution of the Earth’s early rocks helped scientists YouTube: because of the time scale of appropriate atmosphere in 60 seconds. piece together the 4.6 billion years. YouTube: information, interpret history of the Earth's Represent changes in the evidence and evaluate atmosphere? One theory suggests that Earth's atmosphere over time different theories about during the first billion years of in a diagram. What are isotopes and the Earth’s early the Earth’s existence there why are they useful to Compare the Earth’s was intense volcanic activity, atmosphere. about ancient geologists? which released gases that atmosphere to that of Mars and volcanoes, climate formed the early atmosphere Venus. Why has the proportion etc: and water vapour that of CO2 in the Extended writing: explain how condensed to form the atmosphere decreased oceans. At the start of this and plants have caused over time? Teachit Science period the Earth’s the concentrations of oxygen in atmosphere may have been resource the atmosphere to increase. What is a mass like the atmospheres of Mars spectrometer and what Teachit Science Students make a presentation and Venus today, consisting is it used for? resource mainly of carbon dioxide with in they explain how algae little or no oxygen gas. and plants have caused the Sedimentary rocks in concentrations of carbon SW Greenland are 3.8 Volcanoes also produced dioxide in the atmosphere to million years old. What nitrogen, gradually built decrease. does this tell us about up in the atmosphere, and the Earth? there may have been small Describe how sedimentary proportions of methane rocks formed and locked up What happened to and ammonia. carbon dioxide. oxygen in the Earth's early atmosphere?
4.4 Explaining change 4.4.1 The Earth’s atmosphere Spec ref. Summary of the specification content Learning outcomes What most candidates should be able to do Suggested timing (hours) Opportunities to develop Scientific Communication skills Opportunities to practical and enquiry skills Self/peer assessment Opportunities and resources Reference to past questions that indicate success 4.4.1.1 Evidence for the early atmosphere is limited because of the time scale of 4.6 billion years. One theory suggests that during the first billion years of the Earth’s existence there was intense volcanic activity, which released gases that formed the early atmosphere and water vapour that condensed to form the oceans. At the start of this period the Earth’s atmosphere may have been like the atmospheres of Mars and Venus today, consisting mainly of carbon dioxide with little or no oxygen gas. Volcanoes also produced nitrogen, gradually built up in the atmosphere, and there may have been small proportions of methane and ammonia. Students should be able to, given appropriate information, interpret evidence and evaluate different theories about the Earth’s early atmosphere. 1.5 Describe the theory of the evolution of the Earth’s early atmosphere in 60 seconds. Represent changes in the Earth's atmosphere over time in a diagram. Compare the Earth’s atmosphere to that of Mars and Venus. Extended writing: explain how and plants have caused the concentrations of oxygen in the atmosphere to increase. Students make a presentation in they explain how algae and plants have caused the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to decrease. Describe how sedimentary rocks formed and locked up carbon dioxide. How have sedimentary rocks helped scientists piece together the history of the Earth's atmosphere? What are isotopes and why are they useful to geologists? Why has the proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere decreased over time? What is a mass spectrometer and what is it used for? Sedimentary rocks in SW Greenland are 3.8 million years old. What does this tell us about the Earth? What happened to oxygen in the Earth's early atmosphere? Video clips: YouTube: YouTube: about ancient volcanoes, climate etc: Teachit Science resource Teachit Science resource
AQA-8465-SOW-EXCH.DOCX