Earth Science 1 and 2

Course Description

This is a full year Earth Science course for students in grades 6-8.

Earth Science 1: From the Surface to the Core (first semester)

You walk around on the surface of the earth every day, but how well do you know it? From rocks and minerals to earthquakes and volcanoes to fresh water and salt water, we have an amazing planet. In Earth Science 1, you will gain a deeper understanding of the processes that are constantly at work to change the surface of the earth. You will learn about the layers below the surface as well as the soil and water that form the Earth’s crust.

Earth Science 2: From the Surface to the Sky (second semester)

You look at the blue sky during the day and the star-filled sky at night, but do you know what’s out there? In Earth Science 2 we’ll discuss these topics and more. We’ll start on the surface of the earth and work our way out through the earth’s atmosphere, talking about the causes of weather. Next, we’ll burst through the exosphere (the outermost layer of the atmosphere) and zoom off into space, where we will discover planets, moons, asteroids, stars, and galaxies. By the time you return to Earth, you’ll have a much better understanding of Earth – from the surface to the sky.

Course Structure

The live classes are a combination of game-based reviews of topics from the previous week, introductions to the upcoming week, or case studies to support the course materials. Although it is always best for students to attend the live classes, I will post the recording of the class so that students who can’t attend can watch later.

Lessons will be posted on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and will include an online introduction as well as a section to read in the textbook. I use many audio and video recordings to help students learn the correct pronunciation of new terms as well as to reinforce content from the book.

Who should enroll?

Earth Science is for curious students in grades 6–8 who have a strong desire to understand the earth and its place in our solar system. Fifth graders will be considered with prior instructor approval.

Technology Requirements

• High speed, broadband Internet
• Headset, microphone, and webcam (for live sessions)
• Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures

Evaluation and Feedback

I use “learning checks” at the end of most lessons to assure both the student and teacher that students understand the concepts presented in the lessons. Many of the learning checks are automatically graded by the computer. For the essay questions and projects, I generally grade every day, sending feedback to the students to help them understand questions they may have missed. A final grade will be based on the scores from learning checks, participation in activities and experiments, and attendance and participation in live classes. A Certificate of Completion with the final grade will be given at the end of the course.

Communication

I welcome any and all communication from parents. My goal is to partner with you in your student’s education, so if at any time you have questions or concerns, my virtual door is open. I will send periodic progress reports to let you know how your student is doing.

Required Texts

NOTE: Please contact Dr. Joseph before purchasing this book. kjoseph@aimacademy.online

• Earth Science, 2009 edition, Prentice Hall Science Explorer, ISBN 978-0-13-366858-2