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Welcome to Earth and Environmental Science!
This course is designed to give 9th-grade students a deeper understanding of the Earth’s systems and how they interact. Throughout the semester, we’ll explore topics like geology, meteorology, oceanography, environmental change, and human impact on the planet. Students will engage in hands-on labs, group projects, and real-world investigations to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Aligned with the North Carolina Essential Standards, this course helps students make connections between science and everyday life, encouraging them to become informed and responsible stewards of the environment.
Whether we’re tracking hurricanes, testing soil samples, or modeling ecosystems, students will learn how science explains the world around them—and how they can make a difference in it.
I’m excited to be on this learning journey with you!
Course Outline: Earth & Environmental Science
Course Outline: Earth & Environmental Science
Unit 1
Unit 1
🌌 Unit 1: Astronomy (10 days)
We’ll kick off the semester by exploring the universe! Students will learn about the solar system, the life cycle of stars, gravity, and how Earth’s motion affects our seasons and tides. It’s a great way to launch our thinking beyond Earth and into space.
Unit 2
Unit 2
🌍 Unit 2: Dynamic Earth: Plate Tectonics (9 days)
In this unit, we dive into the forces that shape our planet. We’ll study Earth’s layers, plate movements, earthquakes, volcanoes, and how continents shift over time. Students will explore how Earth is always changing—sometimes slowly, sometimes dramatically.
Unit 3
Unit 3
🪨 Unit 3: Impacts of the Rock Cycle and Soil on Earth’s Systems (10 days)
Students will investigate how rocks and soil are formed and why they’re essential for life on Earth. We’ll look at weathering, erosion, and how different soil types affect ecosystems and agriculture.
Unit 4
Unit 4
💧 Unit 4: Hydrosphere (8 days)
Water is life! This unit focuses on the movement, distribution, and importance of water in Earth’s systems. Students will study the water cycle, river basins, groundwater, and human use of water resources.
Unit 5
Unit 5
🌦️ Unit 5: Climate – Part 1 (7 days)
We’ll begin exploring climate by understanding how Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and energy from the sun work together to shape weather and climate patterns. We’ll also look at how climates vary around the world.
Unit 6
Unit 6
🌡️ Unit 6: Climate – Part 2 (3 days)
This short follow-up unit dives deeper into climate data and long-term patterns. We’ll discuss natural and human-made climate change and the importance of understanding global climate trends.
Unit 7
Unit 7
🌱 Unit 7: Ecosystems (10 days)
In this unit, we’ll explore how living organisms interact with each other and with their environments. Students will learn about food chains, energy flow, biomes, and how ecosystems respond to changes.
Unit 8
Unit 8
🦋 Unit 8: Biodiversity (9 days)
Students will investigate the variety of life on Earth and why it matters. We’ll explore how biodiversity supports ecosystems, the threats it faces, and what we can do to protect it.
Unit 9
Unit 9
🏙️ Unit 9: Human Impact on Earth (12 days)
We’ll end the semester by looking at how human activity affects Earth’s systems. Topics include pollution, land use, deforestation, climate change, and sustainability. Students will think critically about their own role in caring for the planet.
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