Course Details

1. Describe how the scientific method is applied to the study of Earth science and how it is used to analyze Earth's systems.

2. Describe the formation of rocks and minerals and the changes they may undergo as they are affected by the processes of the rock cycle.

3. Explain the processes of weathering, erosion, and mass wasting and the effects these processes have on rocks and landforms.

4. Explain the wide range of changes on Earth and its lifeforms since its formation and the timing of those changes as determined using absolute and relative dating methods.

5. Analyze oceanographic data to characterize the composition, sea floor topography, structure and systems of the world's oceans, including their currents, waves, and tides.

6. Use pressure, moisture, and temperature data to describe the structure and circulation of Earth's atmosphere, climate, climate change, and weather systems.

7. Explain the scientifically accepted ideas of the formation of the solar system and describe the characteristics of the sun, planets, moons, and other materials found within it.

8. Explain how plate tectonics is an overarching concept in Earth Science and how the forces within the Earth create earthquakes, volcanoes, crustal plates, rocks, minerals, and ocean basins.

9. Evaluate the causes and effects of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, tornadoes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.

1. Describe the scientifically accepted ideas concerning the formational processes of the solar system, general descriptions and arrangements of the planets and the details of the Earths formation.

2. Recognize the characteristics of the materials composing the Earth and be able to describe the conditions under which those materials form and where they can be found.

3. Identify, diagram, evaluate and explain the wide range of geologic, oceanographic and atmospheric processes and features that occur on Earth and describe the manner in which they are created and evolve.

4. Read and interpret geologic, oceanographic and atmospheric data from maps and charts of those types in order to deduce the features or conditions present and describe those features and phenomena of Earths surface.

5. Describe the processes and characteristics of plate tectonics and how plate motions influence geologic, oceanographic, and atmospheric features and events on Earth.

Since you are all planning on becoming teachers, one of the most useful things would be a collection of labs/activities that you can use in your classroom when you are ready to take off on your own. We will build this together as a class and share materials so that the effort is a collaborative one. We will talk details during the first couple weeks of class and the details of what you decide will be placed here as our final agreement.