Earth Science 2013/2014 Course Outline — Ms. Barth
Name______
Welcome to Earth Science! Your textbooks include Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe (2005), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill and Spaulding, N.E. and Naumowitz, S.N. (1997). Heath Earth Science; McDougall Littell.
Earth Science is the study of the Earth and its neighbors in space. It is an exciting science with many interesting and practical applications. Some Earth scientists use their knowledge of the Earth to locate and develop energy and mineral resources. Others study the impact of human activity on Earth's environment and design methods to protect the planet. Some use their knowledge about Earth processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes to plan communities that will not expose people to these dangerous events.
Today we live in a time when the Earth and its inhabitants face many challenges. Our climate is changing and that change is being caused by human activity. Earth scientists recognized this problem and will play a key role in efforts to resolve it. We are also challenged to: develop new sources of energy that will have minimal impact on climate; locate new sources of metals and other mineral resources as known sources are depleted; and, determine how Earth's increasing population can live and avoid serious threats such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, floods and more. These are just a few of the problems where solutions depend upon a deep understanding of Earth science.
5
Unit Outline
v Unit 1. Introduction to Earth Science and Scientific Method
Ø Chapter 1. The Nature of Science
§ Earth Science
§ Methods of Scientists
§ Communicating in Science
Ø Chapter 2. Mapping our World
§ Latitude and Longitude
§ Types of Maps
§ Remote Sensing
Ø Chapter 3. Matter and Atomic Structure
§ What are Elements?
§ How Atoms Combine
§ States of Matter
v EXAM – Chapters 1, 2, & 3.
v Unit 2a. Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Ø Chapter 28. The Sun-Earth-Moon System
§ Tools of Astronomy
§ The Moon
§ The Sun-Earth-Moon System
Ø Chapter 29. Our Solar System
§ Overview of Our Solar System
§ The Terrestrial Planets
§ The Gas Giant Planets
§ Formation of Our Solar System
v EXAM – Chapters 28 & 29.
v Unit 2b. Earth as a part of solar system
Ø Chapter 30. Stars
§ The Sun
§ Measuring the Stars
§ Stellar Evolution
Ø Chapter 31. Galaxies and the Universe
§ The Milky Way Galaxy
§ Other Galaxies in the Universe
§ Cosmology
v EXAM – Chapters 30 & 31.
v Unit 3. Lithospheric Composition
Ø Chapter 4. Minerals
§ What is a Mineral?
§ Identifying Minerals
Ø Chapter 5. Igneous Rocks
§ What are Igneous Rocks?
§ Classifying Igneous Rocks
Ø Chapter 6. Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
§ Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
§ Types of Sedimentary Rocks
§ Metamorphic Rocks
v EXAM – Chapters 4, 5, & 6.
v Unit 4a. Surface Processes on Earth
Ø Chapter 7. Weathering, Erosion, and Soil
§ Weathering
§ Erosion and Deposition
§ Formation of Soil
Ø Chapter 8. Mass Movements, Wind, and Glaciers
§ Mass Movements at Earth’s Surface
§ Wind
§ Glaciers
v EXAM – Chapters 7 & 8.
v Unit 4b. Water
Ø Chapter 9. Surface Water
§ Surface Water Movement
§ Stream Development
§ Lakes and Freshwater Wetlands
Ø Chapter 10. Groundwater
§ Movement and Storage of Groundwater
§ Groundwater Erosion and Deposition
§ Groundwater Systems
v EXAM – Chapters 9 & 10.
v Unit 5a. Atmosphere
Ø Chapter 11. Atmosphere
§ Atmospheric Basics
§ State of the Atmosphere
§ Moisture in the Atmosphere
Ø Chapter 12. Meteorology
§ The Causes of Weather
§ Weather Systems
§ Gathering Weather Data
§ Weather Analysis
Ø Chapter 13. The Nature of Storms
§ Thunderstorms
§ Severe Weather
§ Tropical Storms
§ Recurring Weather
v EXAM – Chapters 11, 12, & 13.
v Unit 5b. Climate and Oceans
Ø Chapter 14. Climate
§ What is Climate?
§ Climate Classification
§ Climatic Changes
§ The Human Factor
Ø Chapter 15. Physical Oceanography
§ The Oceans
§ Seawater
§ Ocean Movements
Ø Chapter 16. The Marine Environment
§ Shoreline Features
§ The Seafloor
v Unit 6. The Dynamic Earth
Ø Chapter 17. Plate Tectonics
§ Drifting Continents
§ Seafloor Spreading
§ Theory of Plate Tectonics
§ Cause of Plate Motions
Ø Chapter 18. Volcanic Activity
§ Magma
§ Intrusive Activity
§ Volcanoes
Ø Chapter 19. Earthquakes
§ Forces within Earth
§ Seismic Waves and Earth’s Interior
§ Measuring and Locating Earthquakes
§ Earthquakes and Society
Ø Chapter 20. Mountain Building
§ Crust-Mantle Relationships
§ Convergent-Boundary Mountains
§ Other Types of Mountains
v EXAM – Chapters 17, 18, 19, & 20.
And IF there’s time…!
v Unit 7. Geologic Time and The Environment
5
Ø Geologic Time Scale
Ø Fossils
Ø Human population and natural resources
Ø Climate, soil, other resources - effect on human distribution (historically and at present)
Ø Water issues -quality, quantity, distribution, including reclamation and conservation of water
Ø Mineral resources in AZ and worldwide
Ø Natural hazards and their impact on ecosystems
Ø Human activities and impact on ecosystem
Ø Conservation strategies
5
Required Notebook:
For the sake of your sanity (and mine), the method of organizing all the reading material, homework assignments, handouts, returned quizzes and tests, and required lecture/lab notes is in the form of a 3-ring binder with dividers and a spiral-bound or composition notebook. Your strategy for organizing these many materials must be logical and make sense for you, because you will be graded on your binder/notebook periodically as I check your organizing system and you can demonstrate that you have kept and organized everything. When in doubt, keep it! Binder Checks are worth up to 20 points (and those are really EASY points), so keep it tidy and you’ll thank me later
Assignments:
Assignments are usually due at the end of class, but some may take up to several days to complete. Assignments count towards 15% of your quarterly score, and don’t forget if they’re late they lose value!
Homework:
Unless otherwise specified, homework assignments tend to be due the day after they are assigned. Homework counts as 15% of your quarterly score, and even small assignments can add up, so make sure you keep track of due dates!
Participation:
Your participation includes being on time, involved in classroom discussion, on task during class assignments, lecture, and lab activities, and making sure to keep your workspace clean (at your desk and lab bench). Participation counts as 15% of your quarterly score.
Quizzes:
In this class, sometimes we will have pop quizzes (very likely the class following an assigned reading, FYI), but usually you will know about a quiz a couple days ahead of time so you can prepare. Quizzes are every unit, and count as 15% of your quarterly score.
Tests:
Each unit ends with an assessment, and the questions may pertain to lecture, reading assignments, or laboratory activities, so it is important to organize those materials, stay caught up, and begin studying at least a week before the test. Tests count as 20% of your quarterly score.
Final Exams:
Good news…your final exams are OPEN NOTES! Don’t get too excited, that means the final exam is going to be very difficult and your performance will definitely SUFFER if you don’t organize and study that material ahead of time. You only have 90 minutes to take the final exam, and you won’t want to waste time flipping through notes of stuff you never looked at. Be prepared…you’ve been warned!!! This one test will be worth 20% of your total semester grade.
Projects:
We have a number of projects each semester, most of which fall into three categories: current events, lab reports, and the research paper. Project points are worth 20% of your quarterly score.
*Current Events:
In each unit you will be expected to locate a recent article describing research published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal related to the topic that you are studying. This assignment must be typed, in complete sentences, and submitted the day it is due. Part of the assignment grade is a brief presentation to the class about the research and its relevance, so be prepared to discuss it! Each Current Event is worth 25 project points, and outlined expectations and a rubric will be distributed.
*Lab Reports:
Each semester, you will be expected to write a laboratory report to communicate the results of your research (incorporating individual, group or class results). Your report is to be typed, and include a well-developed conclusion section that addresses each expectation outlined in the assignment requirements handout. Each lab report is worth a total of 100 project points; this grade also includes participation in the lab activity.
*Research Paper:
You will be expected to complete one research paper on a topic assigned by your teacher. Your paper must satisfy all outlined requirements for the full 100 project points available. In addition, you are expected to create a visual presentation (poster, PowerPoint, model) to describe your research to the class (not optional, mandatory!). This is worth an additional 25 project points, totaling at 125 points.
Grading:
Your grade in this class is based on the total number of points accumulated. The official grading scale:
100—98 A+ / 89—87 B+ / 79—77 C+ / 69—67 D+97—93 A / 86—83 B / 76—73 C / 66—63 D
92—90 A- / 82—80 B- / 72—70 C- / 62—60 D-
59—0 F
An Incomplete grade (I) may be given if there is a justifiable reason for the student missing work and there is a reason to believe he/she will be willing and able to make up the work within a designated time.
Late work turned in after the due date will receive 50% for one day late and 0% credit after that. To be eligible to earn any extra credit, you must not have more than 3 missing assignments for the semester, so turning in an assignment very late for no credit has its advantages.
Make-up work must be submitted as soon as possible, and is excused only for the number of days you were out of my class. For example, if you were absent for two days but only missed one of my classes (e.g. block day), you have one additional day to make up any assignments/homework/quizzes/tests. It is your responsibility to make an appointment with me to make up quizzes and tests within that time frame; I will not let you wait several days until academic assistance to make it up.
My office hours are from 7-7:30am (before classes) Monday-Friday; after school 2:30-4pm Monday-Thursday, until 3:30 Fridays.
Classroom Expectations:
I know every teacher is a little different when it comes to those rules that are strictly enforced versus those that aren’t the highest priority. My major expectations revolve around mutual respect, and so here is what you should expect me not to budge on:
Please be on time to class.
If you are late, even one second after the bell rings, I expect you to have a pass. Without that, you are not permitted into my class. Please kindly get a late pass from wherever you were, or the office. You are permitted no more than 4 unexcused tardies (with pass) per semester, after which I am required by school policy to refer you to the Assistant Principal for a detention that goes on your academic record. Being late to class IS disruptive and it is disrespectful to me and all the students who made it there on time.
Please keep your cell phones/electronic devices on silent and inside your bags.
There is absolutely no reason for you to look at your phone during class; I have a clock in the front of the room, calculators in my desk, and a computer with a SmartBoard to look up cool stuff on the Internet. You can wait until the end of class to check texts and social network sites. I am sly and have an uncanny ability to spot people on their phones, and I WILL TAKE YOUR PHONE/iPOD/WHATEVER. It will be yours again at the end of the day in the front office, and by that time the principal will know you had it out in class. If it happens twice you will be invited to enjoy an afternoon detention in my class dusting or cleaning glassware. If it happens three times, your parents will be notified to pick up your phone/iPod/whatever from the office. Any further incidents and I may not invite you back into my classroom.
Be advised that there may be opportunities to listen to your headphones while working on class assignments but ONLY as a reward for being wonderful, attentive, and respectful. If I have not specifically allowed it, it is not permitted.
Please take off your hat when you walk into my class.
Your hat is wicked cool, trust me I love it. Please do not wear a hat in my class. Your hair looks just as good.
If you chew gum, please chew responsibly.
Understand that this is a PRIVILEGE and I will only allow gum during class (NEVER during labs or in the lab section of the classroom), and the moment I discover gum on the floor or pressed up on the underside of a desk, all gum-chewing will effectively be prohibited. If you’re done chewing your gum, kindly walk to a trash can and dispose of it. It is up to everyone to keep this classroom in good shape and keep this privilege for each other.
Your clothing must adhere to the dress code policy.
There are lots of ways to dress and express your individual fashion sense that do not involve exposing inappropriate amounts of skin. If you come into my classroom with a dress code violation, just be aware that I will call you out, and send you to the nurse or to your PE locker to get something else to wear. Obvious examples of this include bare midriffs (front AND back), excessive cleavage, exposed bras, shorts/skirts that are ridiculously short, clothing advertising illicit behavior or anything sexual, or clothing with swear words. Wear whatever you want outside of our campus, but dress appropriately for your occupation as a student.