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Muster the Clusters

Recommended Grade Level(s)

  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Primary Subject Area(s)

  • Geography
  • Science

Related Artifacts

Activity Description

Throughout this activity, have students document each stage of the history-based scientific process.

Have students review the Bullfrog claims map and ask them what is noticeable about the mines? Once they identify that the mines are clustered, have students hypothesize why they are clustered and write their hypotheses in their science journals. Next, have students review the remaining maps and the photographs of the mines, answering the below questions in their science journals.

  1. Why are so many mines clustered?
  2. Why didn't they mine where the blank spaces exist; was something there or not there already?

Have students revisit their hypothesis, confirming or denying its truth.

Standards Addressed

  1. Geography
    1. Grade 4 Standards
      1. G6.4.1: Describe the distinguishing features of historical regions in Nevada, i.e., Native American tribal territories, pioneer trails, and settlement areas.
      2. G8.4.5: Describe the distribution patterns of natural resources in Nevada.
    2. Grades 6-8
      1. G5.[6-8].1: Use map elements, including scale, to identify and locate physical and human features in the United States and the world.
      2. G5.[6-8].3: Make and defend a spatial decision using basic geographic vocabulary, tools, and concepts.
      3. G6.[6-8].1: Describe physical and human features, i.e., cultural characteristics, of places and regions in Nevada, the United States, and the world.
      4. G7.[6-8].5: Identify a regional or international economic issue and explain it from a spatial perspective.
      5. G8.[6-8].7: Categorize and locate examples of renewable, nonrenewable, and human resources.
    3. Grades 9-12 Standards
      1. G5.9-12.3: Apply concepts and models of spatial organization and use quantitative methods to identify and make decisions about geographic information.
      2. G5.9-12.4: Analyze a variety of complex maps, i.e., topographic, demographic, and land use, to acquire geographic information.
      3. G6.[9-12].3: Apply the concept of region to organize and study a geographic issue.
      4. G6.[9-12].4: Analyze selected historical issues, demographics, and questions using the geographic concept of regions.
  2. Science
    1. Grades 3-5 Standards
      1. N.5.A.1: Students know scientific progress is made by conducting careful investigations, recording data, and communicating the results in an accurate method.
      2. N.5.A.3: Students know how to draw conclusions from scientific evidence.
      3. N.5.A.4: Students know graphic representations of recorded data can be used to make predictions.
      4. N.5.A.7: Students know observable patterns can be used to organize items and ideas.
      5. E.5.C.5: Students know soil varies from place to place and has both biological and mineral components.
    2. Grades 6-8 Standards
      1. N.8.A.2: Students know how to critically evaluate information to distinguish between fact and opinion.
      2. N.8.A.3: Students know different explanations can be given for the same evidence.
      3. N.8.A.6: Students know scientific inquiry includes evaluating results of scientific investigations, experiments, observations, theoretical and mathematical models, and explanations proposed by other scientists.
      4. E.8.C.7: Students know the characteristics, abundances, and location of renewable and nonrenewable resources found in Nevada.
    3. Grades 9-12 Standards
      1. N.12.A.2: Students know scientists maintain a permanent record of procedures, data, analyses, decisions, and understandings of scientific investigations.
      2. E.12.C.3: Students know elements exist in fixed amounts and move through solid earth, oceans, atmosphere and living things as part of biogeochemical cycles.
 

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