This week's Tasks : October 20th - 26th, 2014

Welcome to Unit #3 and Week #7 for the course! Some of you will be sad to know that we must now move on from Astronomy. Our next unit is titled "Recording Earth's History and Earth's Materials". Over the next five weeks, you will be asked to perform many tasks that are similar in format (but not content) to many of the tasks that you completed in the first two units. Please pay attention to the instructions that I will provide to you. Remember, that not submitting assignments on time will be assessed a 10% penalty up until five (5) days late. After 5 days late, you will receive a "0" on the assignment.

Tasks will include demonstrating, interacting, communicating, describing, analyzing, recognizing and organizing your understanding of concepts within this unit of study. It is really important that you use yourtime management skills to complete all tasks in a timely manner. Good luck and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

1. Open, read and complete all handouts for the following Powerpoint slideshows.

a. PPT: Fossils and the Rock Record (student worksheet)

"The Wave" is a sandstone rock formation located in the United States of America near the Arizona-Utah border, on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes, on the Colorado Plateau. It is famous among hikers and photographers for its colourful, undulating forms, and the rugged, trackless hike required to reach it. Source: Wikipedia

2. Complete the Chapter 21 Study Guide - you will need to print this directly or you can complete it using google docs. Although I will not be collecting or evaluating the Study Guides, I highly recommend completing them as I often use questions directly from these guides on quizzes and unit tests. These guides are useful for keeping up with all course content.

Access to Textbook Chapters for this week's content

Chapter 21: Fossils and the Rock Record

3. Discussion and Debate: Please log in to the chat room in the LMS and contribute regularly to the class discussions / debate for this week. Students will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of their responses. Students are expected to post at least 2 comments under each discussion / debate topic and must respond to at least 2 others comments in the class. Students are also expected to make specific references to external websites, journal articles, books or magazines that support their point of view (doing so will help you achieve that LEVEL 4!)

This week's discussion topic is:

a. Debate & Discussion Topic #8: Fossils and Evidence of Mass Extinctions

4. Unit Activities / Assignments: Please complete the following activity this week and submit to Mr. Durk via the DROP BOX on the LMS. To access this activity go to Class Tools, Content, Look for Assignment #5: Comparing Time

Assignment #5: Comparing Time

5. Complete weekly Video Journal Submissions: You are required to take detailed notes on the various informative videos that you will be watching this semester. Some videos you will need to take notes, others you will be asked to answer specific questions. You should be prepared to watch and copy / prepare notes for approximately two (2) hours of relevant videos each week in the course.

VIDEOS TO WATCH THIS WEEK - Please add comments and point form notes to your "Video Journal" for each. Submit your Video Journal to Mr. Durk via the DROP BOX. (DUE: 11:59pm on October 26th).

1. The Siberian Traps and the Volcanic Mass Extinction Theory (44 min.)

2. Fossils and Geologic Time - Online Lecture (35 min.)