Unit E: Planet Earth

Key Ideas   Unit Checklist

Pre-assessment: What do you know?

Figure E.P.1 – An oil pumpjack in the foothills of Alberta.
Figure E.P.2 – A small dinosaur fossil.

When you drive through many parts of Alberta, you can see pumpjacks bobbing up and down, sometimes quite slowly. These machines look like lonely birds taking sips of water, dipping their heads down and up, over and over again. Probably, you know pumpjacks have something to do with oil, but do you know how they work? And where is the oil they are pumping coming from, and how did it get there?

Did you know that oil being pumped and fossils such as the ones shown here are related very closely? In fact, oil and gas are the products of the remains of plants and animals buried deep underground for millions of years. How could a dinosaur or a plant become a fossil or oil?

To answer such questions, you need to understand Earth’s structure and how it changes slowly over very long periods. In this “Planet Earth” unit, you will learn about the various layers of Earth’s structure, the characteristics of rocks and minerals, the ways Earth changes over time, and our knowledge of Earth’s amazingly long history.
Figure E.P.3 – A fossilized fern frond.

Pre-assessment Questions & Hints

Step 1: The Questions


This short pre-assessment is to find out what you might already know about the topic of interactions and ecosystems. Below are four questions. Think about them! If you need a hint, click on the question.

Optional: If you would like a place to write your answers, download this document.

Step 2: The Answers

 Click each of the suggested answers below – how do they compare to your thoughts and answers?
Chopping the onion in half reveals a cross-section of its inside. Cross-sections of both the onion and Earth show various layers of materials.
If your friend was in Hawaii or some other place with volcanoes, he might have seen very hot, melted, liquid rock. This melted rock, called magma when it is below Earth’s surface, can cool very quickly into solid rock. On Earth’s surface, this molten rock is called lava and can become solid rock in a matter of minutes, especially when it comes in contact with cool ocean water.
The “ring of fire” is a series of places where sections of Earth’s crust bump against each other or pull apart from each other. This allows magma to reach the surface and form volcanoes.  Also, earthquakes occur where the sections of crust scrape against each other. A long zone of volcanoes and earthquakes extends from islands in the South Pacific through places such as the Philippines and Japan. The west coast of US and Canada is an earthquake zone.
Fossils almost always are found in sedimentary rock. This type of rocks consists of many layers of small particles that accumulate at the bottom of bodies of water during many years. Plants and animals can become buried -- and eventually, they can become fossils because of the weight of more sediments above them.

Step 3: Check In With Your Teacher

The start of a new unit is a great time to touch base with your teacher! Here are just a few reasons to consider contacting your teacher:

  1. Perhaps you found this pre-assessment quiz very easy because you have studied this material before, such as at another school. If so, it's important to tell your teacher.

  2. It's very good for your teacher to know you are starting a new unit; it will give them a good idea of your progress. It doesn't have to be a long message, just a "I'm starting Unit A; just thought you might want to know!"

  3. Your teacher may have special tips and suggestions for the unit you are starting.

  4. Just to say hi – your teacher always enjoys hearing from you!

To contact your teacher, post in the Course Questions Forum, send your teacher an email, or call on the phone if you like. Whatever way you choose, it's always a good idea to get in touch with your teacher – make sure you do it frequently.