Course Description

Earth Science explores how a number of sciences, including geology, physics, chemistry, and biology impact the world and universe around us. In this interactive and engaging course, students study air, water, and the physical processes that shape the physical world, and how human civilization has affected the balance of nature. Students learn about the modern science behind topics from the Earth’s history, such as continental drift, ice ages, fossil dating, and geological timescale. Students will also look at processes that affect life today, such as weathering and erosion, the rock cycle, weather patterns, and climate. They will explore regular phenomena, the cause of the seasons and natural disasters. The students will examine the formation, acquisition and use of natural resources, as well as alternative energy sources. The students will also look at Earth as a small part of a larger universe in an exploration of astronomy. They will examine the Solar System and the stars and galaxies beyond it.

Course Breakdown

• Soil formation
• Weathering and erosion
• River systems
• Atmosphere and its cycles
• The Sun and its effect on the atmosphere
• Human impact on the atmosphere
• Formation of wind patterns
• Formation of weather
• Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes
• Predicting weather patterns
• Climate forecast project Basics of oceanography
• Landforms and food webs of the ocean
• Marine ecosystems project
• Structure of the solar system
• Bodies in the solar system
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Stars and galaxies
• Human impacts and programs
• Energy sources
• Impacts on ecosystems

Course Goals

1. Summarize the effects of weathering and erosion on the three different rock types.
2. Describe river systems and how they affect Earth’s surface.
3. Compare atmospheric cycles and the ways humans interact with those cycles.
4. Investigate the conditions which create different weather phenomena. Identify the biologic and geologic features of the ocean.
5. Analyze the movement of the oceans using tidal and current patterns.
6. Summarize the formation of the universe, its laws, and all of the objects within it.
7. Compare benefits and drawbacks of using alternate forms of energy.
8. Describe the impact humans have on Earth.