Credit Recovery - Earth Science B

Course Description

This introductory Earth Science course incorporates the body of knowledge and facts accumulated from people’s observations of the Earth around them and the skies above them. This body of knowledge and facts of the earth has evolved over centuries into the branch of science known as earth science.

Earth Science has several different branches of study: the solid earth (geology); the earth’s waters (hydrology and oceanography); the earth’s atmosphere (meteorology); and the universe beyond earth (astronomy). Using careful observation and experimentation, students will learn to effectively analyze and evaluate the earth’s natural phenomena and their causes, as well as, its relationship in the universe by focusing on the four major areas of study.

Course Objectives

After the sudent has completed this course, he/she will be able to:

  • Determine the relative ages of rocks and rock formations.
  • Demonstrate the difference between relative and radiometric dating.
  • Describe the techniques used for dating fossils.
  • Examine the ideas relating to the age of the Earth.
  • State the different layers of our atmosphere and describe their differences.
  • State what causes air pressure and how it is measured.
  • Discuss how scientists predict weather based on air pressure.
  • State how heat energy effects Earth's atmosphere.
  • Discuss how air pressure affects temperature.
  • Understand and explain the causes of severe weather conditions.
  • Describe and demonstrate how wind is measured.
  • Measure water vapor, precipitation and humidity.
  • List the types of weather fronts.
  • State how Earth's motion affects the length of day and night.
  • Discuss how Earth's tides are related to its moon.
  • Name and describe the planets and other objects in our solar system.
  • Describe how astronomers study the universe.
  • Determine longitude and latitude.
  • List the benefits of past space exploration, both manned and unmanned.
  • Discuss basic rocket propulsion.

Course Outline

Each unit in this course is typically divided into three or more sections, with each section containing information that will build upon material that was presented in the previous section.

Unit 5: Geologic Time

Section 1: Geologic Time Scale

Section 2: Relative Time Scale

Section 3: Numeric Time Scale

Unit 6: Atmoshphere and Climate

Section 1: Structure of Atmosphere

Section 2: Pressure

Section 3: Heating the Atmosphere

Unit 7: World of Weather

Section 1: Wind

Section 2: Moisture

Section 3: Weather & Forcasting

Unit 8: Astronomy

Section 1: Earth and Moon

Section 2: Solar System & Universe

Section 3: Exploring Space

Textbook

There is no textbook associated with this course.