RS4K Book 3 — Geology (Ch 14-17): Grade 3 atoms-first chapters. Foundation 100%, Gap 0.0%, Map Error 0.0%, Practices 85.7%, no FSEs. Kinetic theory at K-3, water cycle as same molecules, magnetosphere correctly explained. Recommended Deep.
| Program | RS4K - Science Book 3 — Geology |
| Publisher | Gravitas Publications Inc. |
| Author | Rebecca Woodbury, Ph.D., M.Ed. |
| Grade Band | Grades 3-5 |
Verdict: ✓ Recommended — Deep. Foundation_calc 100.0%, deep tier. Practices 85.7% green (book-wide score). Zero map errors. Zero confirmed FSEs.
Strict atomic-foundation scoring. The Geology quarter of Book 3 (Chapters 14-17) uses the universal atomic claims established in Ch 3 and Ch 10 as the explanatory anchor. Adjusted Gap 0.0%, Map Error 0.0%.
Chapters 14-17 cover Earth’s water cycle, kinetic theory at K-3 level (water molecules zipping around to explain evaporation), Earth’s magnetic field and magnetosphere, and Earth’s cycles. Water cycle is framed at the molecular level — H2O molecules moving between phases. Ch 16.4 covers Earth’s magnetic field in space — the magnetosphere correctly explained as the region where Earth’s magnetic field deflects the charged particles (protons and electrons) of the solar wind; heat and light from the Sun travel as electromagnetic radiation that passes through the magnetosphere.
"Water molecules zip around faster when heated — that's why water evaporates." (Ch 14-15 kinetic theory at K-3)
"Water moves around Earth through the water cycle — the same molecules used over and over." (Ch 15 water cycle)
"Earth's magnetic field is created by motion of liquid metal in the core." (Ch 16)
"The Sun is constantly sending out a very fast-moving stream of tiny charged particles called solar wind. These charged particles are mostly protons and electrons. Earth's magnetic field extends into space, and when the solar wind hits it, most of the charged particles are deflected and flow around the planet." (Ch 16.4 (updated edition))
FSE_CONFIRMED: 0. No factual science errors found in this quarter.
Map errors: 0. No OAO error (REI-substance, REI-agent, LAE, AEC all zero).
Practices: 85.7% green. Five of seven NGSS scientific practices PRESENT; mathematics and argument-from-evidence are PARTIAL. Every chapter operationalizes the question-hypothesis-experiment-data-conclusion arc through the RATATAZ Experiment series. The practices score is computed book-wide and applies identically to all five subject entries.
Nothing structural. The Geology chapters score clean on every WWG metric in the updated edition.
The five RS4K Book 3 subject entries (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology, Astronomy) all share Foundation 100%, Adjusted Gap 0.0%, Map Error 0.0%, Practices 85.7% — the curriculum’s architecture is uniform because Chemistry establishes the universal atomic claim in Ch 3 and Physics extends it to subatomic particles in Ch 10.
| Total Passages Scored | 15 |
| Raw Gap Error | 75.0% (9 of 12 mechanism passages do not name atoms in the passage itself but are SCAFFOLDED by Ch 3/Ch 10 atomic framings) FALSE = atoms/molecules not present before students are asked to explain. The student is navigating without a starting point. |
| Adjusted Gap Error | 0.0% (0 UNSCAFFOLDED — atomic foundation established in Ch 3 and Ch 10, used throughout) UNSCAFFOLDED = no atomic grounding at all. LESSON_ATOMS = atoms mentioned elsewhere in lesson but not connected to this concept. |
| Substance-Model Errors (REI) | 0 Curriculum treats a process or outcome as a substance - "heat flows," "energy is stored," "electricity flows like water." Student builds a substance ontology. |
| Label-as-Explanation (LAE) | 0 Curriculum provides a name and treats it as an explanation - "this happens because of gravity." Student believes knowing the name IS understanding the concept. |
| Vague-Entity Errors (AEC) | 0 Curriculum uses vague entities ("tiny particles," "building blocks") without specifying atoms or molecules. Student invents their own model with macroscopic properties. |
| Factual Science Errors (FSE) | 0 Statements that are scientifically incorrect - not imprecise framing, but wrong. Any confirmed FSE = Not Recommended. |
| Practices | 85.7% - Deep Seven practices scored PRESENT, PARTIAL, or ABSENT and averaged: asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics, constructing explanations and designing solutions, and argument from evidence. Higher is better, the opposite direction from gap and map errors. Reported but not part of the Foundation Score or the verdict. |
Kinetic theory at K-3 (water molecules zipping → evaporation). Water cycle as same molecules used over and over. Ch 16.4 correctly distinguishes solar wind (charged particles) from electromagnetic radiation (heat and light).
Atomic foundation established in Chemistry (Ch 3) and extended to subatomic particles in Physics (Ch 10), then used throughout the Geology quarter. Kinetic theory at K-3 (water molecules zipping → evaporation). Water cycle as same molecules used over and over. Ch 16.4 correctly distinguishes solar wind (charged particles) from electromagnetic radiation (heat and light). Practices 85.7% green (book-wide).
Recommended (Deep) — Deep by design -
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Scores, verdict, and the full pattern count for this unit are above: adjusted gap, REI / LAE / AEC counts, FSE status, and the seven-practice score. Passage-level detail for this unit is carried in the downloadable evidence file.
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