Earth Science
This course explores the major principals of the earth sciences, including geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. The course focuses on earth –shaping processes, atmospheric dynamic, oceanographic circulation, and earth’s place in the solar system. It is designed to develop an awareness and appreciation for these geosystems and their important interrelationships, as well as an understanding of the scientific approach to problem solving. Emphasis will be placed on interactions between systems in order to better understand the earth as a single, multidimensional system. The course will include hands–on discovery labs, group and individual reports, and will closely adhere to the ESLR’s which are an important aspect of the SOTA curriculum.
Scope and Sequence:
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Academic skills |
Performance Standards |
Concepts |
Student outcomes/content standards |
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Design & conduct scientific inquiry labs. |
Tests, Quizzes, research papers |
Astronomy & Planetary exploration reveals Solar system structure scale, and change over time |
Earth’s place in the universe. Content Standard number 1 |
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Lab Report Writing |
make models of Earth’s Cycles/Poster Presentations |
Plate tectonics, overtime change patterns of land, sea, and Mountains |
Dynamic Earth processes Content Standard 3 |
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Make and present graphs. |
Group Projects & Presentation. |
Energy from solar radiation enters and eventually escapes as heat. |
Energy in the Earth’s system Content Standard 4 |
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Charts Forming Questions |
Compare & Contrast Energy Systems. |
Heating of the Earths surface & atmosphere by the sun, drives atmosphere & ocean, produced wind & ocean currents. |
Content Standard 5 |
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Interpretive thinking Interpreting Data |
Scientific Investigation. |
Climate ®ional weather depend on many factors. |
Content Standard 6 |
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Collecting evidence & Data. |
Elements on earth moves, among reservoirs in the solid earth, oceans, atmosphere within. |
Bio-Chemical Cycles Content Standard 7 |
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Changes in Earths atmosphere effect conditions for life |
Structure & composition of the Atmosphere. Content Standard 8 |
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Geology underlines the states wealth of Natural Resources & natural hazards. |
California Geology Content Standard 9. |