Earth Science FLEX

**Class Format**
This is a flexible schedule class with NO live meetings.

This class will cover all four branches of Earth Science (Geology, Meteorology, Oceanography, and Astronomy) in this class for middle to high school students.

By Monday (8 am EST) of each week,  a Google Slide link will be posted. In this document, there will be links to a Deck.Toys, Pear Deck, or Nearpod presentation that will have embedded interactive lectures, short videos, and questions.  

By Wednesday of each week, students will be expected to post in the classroom a short written or video response to the materials.

By Friday of each week, students will be expected to submit the questions that are provided in the Google Slide link on Mondays. Students have the entire week to work on the assignment. 

Additionally, students are expected to respond to another student's post at least once during the week. I will be monitoring students' posts frequently in order to respond to questions or comments. 

Students are expected to check in with the teacher weekly via the Outschool classroom/private learner messaging, which will allow for more engagement between the teacher and learner.

Week 1: Minerals and their identification - What are minerals, how do they form, and how do we identify them?
Week 2: Mineral uses and Resources - Minerals are everywhere. Let's see how they impact your life. What are renewable and non-renewable resources?
Week 3: The Rock Cycle and Rock types - So what is the difference between a rock and a mineral? How do rocks form?
Week 4: Rock identification - How do we identify and classify rocks?
Week 5: Plate tectonics - What is going on underneath our feet? A look at the structure of the Earth and how it drives surface change.
Week 6: Volcanoes - Did you know there are different types of volcanoes and eruptions?
Week 7: Earthquakes and Faults - How do we locate and measure earthquakes? What are the different types of faults?
Week 8: Weathering and Soil - How are rocks broken down to form soil? What is soil?
Week 9: Groundwater - Did you know there is more freshwater under our feet than the amount we can see on the surface?
Week 10: Watersheds and rivers - Everyone lives in a watershed. Why should you care about yours? 
Week 11: Maps - Topographic maps, latitude/longitude, and GIS
Week 12: The Geologic timeline and Earth's history - How has the Earth changed over time?
Week 13: Fossils - What are the different types and how are they made?
Week 14: The Atmosphere - what are its characteristics and structure?
Week 15: Weather - a look at clouds and weather and the basics of forecasting and station models.
Week 16: Oceanography - What are the characteristics of ocean water? What is going on along the seafloor?
Week 17: Our neighborhood in space - A tour of the solar system and a brief look at our exploration of it.
Week 18: Stars - How do stars form, "live" and die? What is an H-R diagram? 
Week 19: Galaxies - A look at the Hubble Deep Field image. How are galaxies classified?

******This is a FLEX course. If grades are needed, please let me know upon enrollment or prior to the course beginning.   Thank you.********