Earth Science (SC-1a)

• 8/11: Introduction to course, overview of syllabus, set norms, inquiry on prior knowledge
• 8/15: Lecture and reading on "The Formation of the Earth" plus Formation of the Earth Homework (DUE Thurs. 8/18 in class):

1. Describe how the Earth formed, in your own words
2. List and describe 2 major events that took place during the Hadean Eon
3. Why are there no traces of rocks from the Hadean Eon? What evidence exists to tell us what was going on at this time?
4. What is "differentiation"?
5. Describe how Earth's crust and oceans formed
6. What are stromatolites? Also, describe the 2 major effects that stromatolites had on the early Earth.

Here's a detailed website on the formation of the solar system as well as some cool general facts about the Earth:

http://astronomyonline.org/SolarSystem/EarthIntroduction.asp?Cate=SolarSystem&SubCate=Earth&SubCate2=E00

And here's a movie on solar system formation (including the Earth):

http://www.solarviews.com/cap/misc/ssanim.htm

The "straight story" on the formation of the Earth:

http://geology.about.com/od/nutshells/a/aa_earthbirth.htm

This website is fantastic and filled with great information on all of the different geologic eras, with a lot of details on the Hadean Eon:

http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/index.html

Here's a video on the formation of our solar system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFLOsRSuW0E&feature=related

Lastly, a GREAT series of videos from the History Channel's epic "How the Earth Was Made" (there's 5 parts in the series, this is the link to part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFTYl07Plww&feature=related

• 8/18: Lecture and reading on "Movement of the Earth's Crust"

Here's a few websites that have visuals and other information on the layers and structure of the Earth:

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate1.htm

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Earths_layers/Earths_layers1.html (interactive)

Layers of the Earth rap song! (No joke):

http://www.educationalrap.com/song/layers-of-the-earth.html

More info on the characteristics and properties of each layer:

http://wwwf.countryday.net/facstf/ms/schniebec/layers%20of%20earth/layers%20info%20page.htm

This video on Earth's magnetic field is kinda slow, but very informative and easy to understand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-V3yR2RZUE

Sweet animation of earth's magnetic field traveling around (there's good links to other similar videos, too):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpnxTdm6c5Y&feature=related

Good, short film on how the earth's magnetic field works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0DFDfQajw&NR=1&feature=fvwp

• 8/22: Finish "Movement of the Earth's Crust", lecture and reading on "Earth's Inconstant Magnetic Field", Magnetic Field Homework (DUE Thurs. 8/25 in class):

1. Describe what Earth's magnetic field is and what it does

2. What do we believe cause the Earth's magnetic field, and how does this process work?

3. Why do we think Earth's magnetic field reverses? How often do we think this happens, and what are the potential hazards of a pole reversal?

4. What evidence exists to prove that the Earth's magnetic field reverses?

• 8/25: Begin Structure of the Earth Group Poster Projects

Here are lots of pictures of the Earth's layers, to help give you a visual inspiration for your posters:

http://www.astronomy-pictures.net/layers-of-the-earth.jpg

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/gctext/Inquiries/Inquiries_by_Unit/Unit_2_files/image010.jpghttp://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/files/OGL98016.jpg
http://oceansjsu.com/images/exp5_interior_earth.gif
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/assets/channels/education/ae/Earth_interior.gif
https://www.etap.org/demo/grade6_science/lesson1/layers.jpg

http://www.solcomhouse.com/images/struct.jpg

http://www.weirdwarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/the-Earth-make-up2.jpg

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/earth/geology/structure-earth.jpg

• 8/29: Finish Structure of the Earth Group Poster Projects
• 9/1: Lecture and reading on "Continental Drift", Plate Tectonics Worksheet Homework (DUE Thurs. 9/8)
• 9/5: NO SCHOOL- LABOR DAY
• 9/8: Watch "Earth- The Biography: Volcanoes" with film questions, Plate Tectonics Homework (DUE Mon. 9/12):
  

1. Describe the 2 theories that led to the discovery of plate tectonics

2. What evidence exists to prove these theories?

3. Define the term "theory", and describe how this relates to the theory of Plate Tectonics

4. Describe the 3 ways that plates interact with each other, and give "real-life" examples of each

5. Describe the process of convection in your own words, and explain how this relates to Plate Tectonics

6. Explain how plate tectonics relates to the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes

Here's an incredible animation showing the drift of the Earth's continents from 400 million years ago all the way up to another 250 million years from now-when another Pangea will form!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSdlQ8x7cuk

Another sweet continental drift animation, with good info:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcDed4xVD4&feature=fvw

Here's a good animation on plate tectonic systems:

http://www.videopediaworld.com/video/31709/Spin-Around-the-Solar-System-Earths-Plate-Movements

Seafloor spreading with Bill Nye (from Discovery Channel):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CsTTmvX6mc

Great explanation of seafloor spreading in 60 seconds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlzg5_hVaPU&feature=related

Investigating the mid-ocean ridges:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9o5BV1aotM

And I saved the best for last, here's an AWESOME show on plate tectonics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsZq1pNufNg

• 9/12: Lecture and reading on "Volcanoes"

Here's a great volcano video from National Geographic:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/environment-natural-disasters/volcanoes/volcano-lava.html
Great footage of kilauea erupting into the sea in Hawai'i:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=488BkTUsMa4
Here's a cool animation of how mountains form:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngV66m00UvU
And another nice animation of the Himalayan collision:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1tNHYX4R2o&feature=related

• 9/15: Unit Quiz One and Binder Check, begin watching "IMAX: Ring of Fire" with film questions
• 9/19: Finish "IMAX: Ring of Fire", begin watching "Supervolcano" with film questions
• 9/22: "Supervolcano" continued
• 9/26: Finish "Supervolcano", begin lecture and reading on "Earthquakes"

Here's a video of a gnarly earthquake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbd0uSPG5yQ&feature=related

Good National Geographic video on earthquake destruction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtBXTvtFaCU

Another great Nat Geo video on earthquakes:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/environment-natural-disasters/earthquakes/earthquake-101.html

• 9/29: Volcano Eruption Lab, finish "Earthquakes", Locating the Epicenter Homework (DUE Mon. 10/3)
• 10/3: Watch "Living Rock" with film questions
• 10/6: Begin lecture and reading on "Earth's Atmosphere"
• 10/10: Midterm Exam and Binder Check, "Earth's Atmosphere" continued
• 10/13: No Class- All-School Event
• 10/17: Finish "Earth's Atmosphere", Atmosphere Homework (DUE Thurs. 10/20):

1. Describe three characteristics of the Troposphere

2. Describe how convection in the Troposphere occurs

3. What is the ozone layer? What does it protect us from?

4. Describe why materials that reach the Stratosphere linger for so long

5. Why do we know so little about the Mesosphere?

6. What does the Mesosphere protect us from, and how?

7. What is the ionosphere? How does it relate to auroras?

• 10/20: Watch "Earth: The Biography- Atmosphere" with film questions
• 10/24: Begin Layers of the Atmosphere Group Poster Projects
• 10/27: Math AIMS- No regular class
• 10/31: Layers of the Atmosphere Projects continued
• 11/3: Finish Projects
• 11/7: Lecture and reading on "Weathering" and "Erosion Caused by Water", Weathering homework (DUE Thurs. 11/10):

1. List and describe the two different types of weathering

2. Describe the process of oxidation in your own words

3. Is soil formation a form of mechanical or chemical weathering, and why?

4. Describe the process of cave formation in your own words. Also, is it a type of chemical or mechanical weathering, and why?

5. Describe the difference between weathering and erosion. How are they related?

Here's a video on weathering and erosion:
http://www.videopediaworld.com/video/17559/River-Biomes-The-Food-Chain-Of-The-River-Biome
And one on water erosion specifically:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFpCJsc_k64
Normally erosion occurs over really large periods of time, but in this case, a huge section of land is eroded away right before your eyes! Pretty scary landslide...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-zpnEgWy20
And a clip from "Planet Earth: Caves" about how limestone is eroded to form caverns and cave features:
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/planet-earth-caves-limestone-erosion.html

• 11/10: Watch "Planet Earth: Fresh Water" with film questions
• 11/14: Lecture and reading on "Erosion Caused by Glaciers", watch "Earth: The Biography-Ice" with film questions
• 11/17: Unit Quiz Two and Binder Check, "Earth: The Biography- Ice" continued
• 11/21: Finish "Earth: The Biography- Ice", Streamtable Lab Activity
• 11/24: No School- Thanksgiving Break
• 11/28: Lecture and reading on "Weather Conditions and Measurements", Using A Weather Map Activity (DUE Thurs. 12/1)
• 12/1: Lecture and reading on "Earth's Movement in Space"
• 12/5: Watch "Earth: The Biography- Oceans" with film questions
• 12/8: Lecture and reading on "Sources of Fresh Water", Water Use Activity
• 12/12: Final Exam and Binder Check, Class Evaluations
• 12/15: No Class- TBA