Grade: 7 Subject: Integrated Science

Name of the Unit: Insight into our Insides

Duration- 40 min Date: 3/2/2021

Name of the Topic: Reportable formative assessment

Statement of Sequence of events and models over time created the turning point in the identities of
Inquiry: humankind

Key Concepts/ Key concept:- Identity

Related concepts: Related concept:- Patterns, models

Global Context Orientation in space and time

catered: Students will explore theTurning points in humankind

Objective in focus Objective D: Reflecting on the impact of science

i. summarize the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific
problem or issue
ii. describe and summarize the various implications of using science and its application
in solving a specific problem or issue
iii. apply scientific language effectively
iv. document the work of others and sources of information used.

Task Specific Clarification:

Criterion Criteria D level Descriptors Task Specific Clarification

D

0 The student does not reach a standard The student does not reach a standard identified
described by any of the descriptors below. by any of the descriptors below.

1-2 The student is able to: The student is able to:

i. state the ways in which science is i. State the ways in which science is
used to address a specific problem or applied and used in the problem of Soil
issue erosion.
ii. state the implications of using ii. State the environmental implications of
science to solve a specific problem or using science to solve a specific problem
issue, interacting with a factor of soil erosion
iii. apply scientific language to iii. apply scientific language to
communicate understanding communicate understanding of Soil
iv. document sources. erosion
iv. document the sources of the article.

3-4 The student is able to: The student is able to:

i. state the ways in which science is
used to address a specific problem or
issue
ii. state the implications of using
science to solve a specific problem or
issue,interacting with a factor
i. State the ways in which science is
applied and used in the problem of Soil
erosion.
ii. State the environmental implications of
using science to solve a specific problem
of soil erosion

Name of Educators: Bhavesh B., Honey T., Rinchi A., Shagun M., Tabassum K. Academic Year: 2020-21
 Grade: 7 Subject: Integrated Science
Name of the Unit: Insight into our Insides
Duration- 40 min Date: 3/2/2021

iii. sometimes apply scientific language iii. apply scientific language to

to communicate understanding communicate understanding of Soil
iv. sometimes document sources erosion
correctly. iv. Sometimes document the sources of
the article.

5-6 The student is able to: The student is able to:

i. outline the ways in which science i. outline the ways in which science is
is used to address a specific applied and used in the problem of Soil
problem or issue erosion.
ii. outline the implications of using ii. State the environmental implications of
science to solve a specific problem using science to solve a specific problem
or issue,interacting with a factor of soil erosion
iii. usually apply scientific language to iii. apply scientific language to
communicate understanding clearly communicate understanding of Soil
and precisely erosion
iv. usually document sources correctly. iv. usually document the sources of the
article correctly
7-8 The student is able to: The student is able to:
i. summarize the ways in which i. Summarize the ways in which science is
science is applied and used to applied and used in the problem of Soil
address a specific problem or erosion.
issue ii. State the environmental implications of
ii. describe and summarize the using science to solve a specific problem
implications of using science and of soil erosion
its application to solve a specific iii. apply scientific language to
problem or issue, interacting with a communicate understanding of Soil
factor erosion
iii. consistently apply scientific iv. usually document the sources of the
language to communicate article correctly
understanding clearly and precisely
iv. document sources completely.

Application of Isotopes

Isotopes are two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in
the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behaviour but with different atomic masses and physical
properties. Every chemical element has one or more isotopes.

An atom is first identified and labeled according to the number of protons in its nucleus. This atomic number is
ordinarily given the symbol Z. The great importance of the atomic number derives from the observation that all
atoms with the same atomic number have nearly, if not precisely, identical chemical properties. A large
collection of atoms with the same atomic number constitutes an element. A bar of pure Uranium, for instance,
would consist entirely of atoms with atomic number 92. The periodic table of the elements assigns one place to

Name of Educators: Bhavesh B., Honey T., Rinchi A., Shagun M., Tabassum K. Academic Year: 2020-21
 Grade: 7 Subject: Integrated Science
Name of the Unit: Insight into our Insides
Duration- 40 min Date: 3/2/2021

every atomic number, and each of these places is labeled with the common name of the element, as, for
example, Calcium, Radon, or Uranium.

Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/8_C5Au1pr6w to understand how isotope can be used to address the issue
of soil erosion.

“Radioactive cesium technology is a more rapid and less expensive method for soil erosion studies in the
severely intensive croplands, it gives more accurate results for all types of erosion studies including historic,
comparative and long-term soil and soil organic carbon erosion,” pointed out Debashis Mandal, leader of the
study team, while talking to India Science Wire.

Earlier studies had shown that carbon concentration in soil correlates with levels of isotope of Cesium,
information which scientists have utilized to study the extent of soil erosion in Doon valley of Northwestern
Himalayas.

Doon valley was chosen as it has both eroded and undisturbed sites for study at a considerable distance from
each other.

In all, samples were collected from 16 eroded sites apart from undisturbed land to study their physical and
chemical properties. For measuring Cesium levels in soil, gamma spectroscopy technique was used.
Different sites were found to have varying levels of Cesium pointing at different degrees of soil degradation in
different sites. By applying various formulas, the Cesium loss was then used to calculate erosion and
associated carbon loss in soil.

The rate of soil erosion in sites ranging from approximately 8 megagrams per hectare (1 megagram = 106
grams) per year in slightly eroded sites to 31 megagrams per hectare per year in severely eroded sites. The
results obtained were similar to the rates of soil erosion in sites as through conventional techniques.

“For further validation on the use of Cesium, a large number of databases is needed in different landscapes
and land uses so that the potential of carbon sequestration of different lands can also be measured,” said
Nishita Giri, a member of the research team.

Source of Articles:
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/new-method-developed-to-measure-soil-erosion-66930
https://www.britannica.com/science/isotope

1. Summarize the ways in which science is applied and used to analyse soil erosion.
(Strand i, Level 7-8)

There are different ways science is applied and used to analyze soil erosion.
Caesium fallout on soil through perception is worldwide which is used to calculate soil erosion. For measuring
Cesium levels in soil, the gamma spectroscopy technique was used. If there is less cesium 137 then the soil is
lost to erosion and if there is more caesium 137 then the soil is deposited there.
Different sites were found to have varying levels of Cesium pointing at different degrees of soil degradation in
different sites. By applying various formulas, the Cesium loss was then used to calculate erosion and
associated carbon loss in soil.
1. Cesium is used as a tracer which is provided by science as a way to measure soil erosion.
2. They created a method to gather reliable and comprehensive data on the magnitude and rate of soil
erosion.

Name of Educators: Bhavesh B., Honey T., Rinchi A., Shagun M., Tabassum K. Academic Year: 2020-21
 Grade: 7 Subject: Integrated Science
Name of the Unit: Insight into our Insides
Duration- 40 min Date: 3/2/2021

2. State the environmental implications of using science to analyze soil erosion.

(Strand ii, Level 3-4)

The environmental implications of using science to analyze soil erosion is that they get to know where the soil
is lost, where it isn’t. This method helped to identify different areas with higher erosion and sediment transfer
which enabled better targeting of soil conservation measures. Here is Radioactive cesium technology is a more
rapid and less expensive method for soil erosion studies in the severely intensive croplands

3. Define: Soil erosion (Strand iii, Level 1-2)

Soil erosion is a process where the top layer of soil is carried away by natural sources such as water and wind.

4. Document all sources. (Strand iv, Level 5-6)

MLA citation format :- Author’s Last name, First name. “Title of Article or Individual Page.” Title of the
Website,Name of the Publisher, Date of Publication in Day Month Year format, URL.

Jain, Aditi. "New Method Developed to Measure Soil Erosion." Down To Earth | Latest News, Opinion,
Analysis on Environment & Science Issues | India, South Asia. Aditi Jain, 25 Sept. 2019. Web. 3 Feb. 2021.
<https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/new-method-developed-to-measure-soil-erosion-66930
>.

"YouTube." YouTube. IAEAvideo, 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 3 Feb. 2021.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_C5Au1pr6w&feature=youtu.be>.

Herzog, Gregory. "Isotope | Examples & Definition | Britannica." Encyclopedia Britannica. Gregory F.
Herzog, n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2021.

Name of Educators: Bhavesh B., Honey T., Rinchi A., Shagun M., Tabassum K. Academic Year: 2020-21