EARTH SCIENCE & EARTH SCIENCE HONORS

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Course Code: 2001310
Honors Course Code: 2001320
AP Course Code:
Description:

Why did early explorers risk their lives to reach the North Pole? Why does our earth look so beautiful when seen from space? What is really down at the bottom of the ocean? Discovering new things about our earth has been the dream of scientists and explorers for centuries. Today, it is your turn to continue that journey of discovery.

In this course, you’ll take a look at the sky above, the oceans below, and the rocks beneath our feet. Since the beginning of time our earth has been changing. You’ll discover that our earth is still changing, sometimes by natural forces, sometimes by the things that we humans do. What does not change, however, is the need to take good care of our planet.

In this course you’ll learn to think like a scientist. You’ll examine ancient fossils and perform scientific labs. You’ll explore the past, present and possible future of this place we call home. And you won’t have to go to the North Pole to do it.

Prerequisites: None

Estimated Completion Time: 2 segments / 32-36 weeks or 1 block/18 weeks

Major Topics and Concepts:

Segment 1:

* The Nature of Science
o Science processes
o Observations and inferences
o Historical frame of reference- scientists and explorers
* General characteristics of the Atmosphere
o Structure of the atmosphere
o Trends in temperature and atmospheric pressure
* Factors influencing weather and climate
o Humidity, air pressure, air masses, temperature, long term conditions
o Global air circulation and winds, coriolis effect
* Severe Storms; Lightning (Honors)
* Oceans
o Composition of ocean water
o Ocean currents
o Sea floor features
o Using latitude and longitude to navigate and locate points on the globe/map reading
o Climate and current connection
* Hydrology
o Water cycle
o Watersheds
o Waves and erosional forces
o River systems as parts of watersheds (Honors)
o Groundwater, springs, and sinkholes (Honors)
o Aquifers (Honors)

Segment 2:

Plate Tectonics
Historical Aspect
Plate boundaries and movements
Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis
Geology
Minerals
Rocks, rock cycle
Soil, soil formation
Erosion and erosional forces
Geology of Florida (Honors)
Geologic make up of Florida (Honors)
Karst geology - development and land features (Honors)
Mineral/geologic resources of Florida (Honors)
Time
Relative and absolute time
Relative and absolute dating methods (radiometric dating techniques) related to scientific age estimates of fossil and earth age
Geologic Time
Geologic time scale, geologic periods and history
Fossils, fossil formation
Reading series of events in sedimentary rocks based on principles of geology
Paleontology-Fossils of Florida (Honors)
Archeology-Study of past cultures (Honors)
Origins of the Universe
Scientific theories of universe origin
Space exploration methods
Remote sensing
General introduction to objects in the universe such as nebulae, galaxies, gas cloud, and comets
Our Solar System
Organization of the Milky Way and types of galaxies in general
Characteristics of stars - focus on ours - the sun
The planets in our solar system
Moon/Earth Relationships
Moon phases
Effects of moon on tides
Sun/Earth Relationships
Rotation and revolution characteristics
Causes of seasons
Applying remote sensing procedures (Honors)
Tools of space exploration (Honors)

Course Assessment and Participation Requirements: Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, VLACS guides students to reflect on their learning and to evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, essays, labs, oral assessments, and discussions. Instructors evaluate progress and provide interventions through the variety of assessments built into a course, as well as through contact with the student in other venues.