Week 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to Earth Science & the Formation of the Earth
In this class I give an overview of the course, covering the basics principles of Earth Science and the main topics we will cover. I also point out the many exciting careers that studying Earth Science can lead to and do a brief introduction into the formation of the Earth.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Geology 1: Mineral & Gems - Definition & Identification
In this class we define what a Mineral is and what makes some minerals precious Gems. We then look at where and how precious metals are mined.
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Geology 2: Rock Types & the Principles of Geology
In this class we cover the 3 main rock types (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) and explore how they relate and transform into each other. We then look at the main Principles of Geology and examine how they help us understand the rock formations around us.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Environmental Science 1: Soil, Erosion & Weathering
In this class we move on to study Physical Geography and Environmental Science and look at the different forms of weathering and how they lead to soil formation. We then look at how this soil can be too easily lost to erosion and different types of landslides.
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Environmental Science 2: Running Water, Rivers & Aquifers
In this class we turn our attention to running surface water and how rivers and streams shape the surface of the Earth around us. We look at the different stages of rivers and see how they relate to erosions and sedimentation, which is a crucial part of the rock cycle.
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Geology 3: Plate Tectonics - Science in Progress
In this class we look at one case study of how science progresses by following the story of Alfred Wegener and how his theory of Continental Drift, eventually became accepted and developed into modern Plate Tectonics. We then examine the 3 main plate boundaries and look at examples of the formations these make around the globe.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Geology 4: Igneous Rocks: Lava Lakes, Killer Ash & Volcanoes
In this class we study Intrusive Igneous Rocks that form from magma chambers that cool inside the ground. Then we look at Extrusive Igneous Rocks and the main lava and pyroclastic formations.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Geology 5: Sedimentary Rocks: Fossils, Faults & Folds
In this class we cover the basics of the different types of sedimentary rocks and how to identify them. We then learn about different types of fossils, faults and folds and learn how to become rock detectives.
 Week 9
Lesson 9
Geology 6: The Dinosaur Extinction: Asteroid or Volcanoes?
In this class we revisit sedimentary rocks but focus on the evidence left in the rock record around 66 million years ago when the Dinosaurs went extinct. We analyse the evidence for whether the dinosaurs were made extinct by a huge meteor strike or was it millions of years of volcanic activity instead.
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Oceanography 1: The Ocean Floor & Ocean Currents
In this class we look at the structure of the oceans, all along the seafloor to where the coast is eroded by waves. We look at global ocean currents and what difference they make to the climates near them.
 Week 11
Lesson 11
Meteorology 1: Atmosphere, Clouds  & Rain
In this class we look at how the atmosphere and clouds work. We start by looking at the basics of heat transfers across the Earth and then see how this control humidity and condensation. We finish by looking at cloud formations and why sometimes it rains and sometimes it doesn't.
 Week 12
Lesson 12
Meteorology 2: Weather Patterns & Tornadoes
In this class we apply what we learnt in the last class to local, regional and global weather systems. We study air pressure and how this determines where the big storms gather. We then look at tornadoes and how and where they form.
 Week 13
Lesson 13
Space Science 1: Introduction to Astronomy
In this class we analyse the early Astronomers that changed our view of ourselves and our place in the universe. We study the early theories that moved us from an Earth-centric view of the Solar System to the Helio-Centric view we hold today.
 Week 14
Lesson 14
Space Science 2: the Solar System, Galaxy & Universe
In this class we examine how the Solar System and all the planets formed, before heading out beyond the Solar System to look at different shaped Galaxies and how we know the Universe is expanding.
 Week 15
Lesson 15
Earth Systems 1: Hurricanes, El Nino & Snowball Earth
In this class we bring everything we have learnt together and look at interconnected Earth Systems. We explore how the oceans, atmosphere, the continents and the biosphere interact to make this amazing planet that we live on.
 Week 16
Lesson 16
Dramatic Earth Science Events 1
In this class we look at Earth Science events that have made the news in the last few years that illustrate topics we have covered in the course so far. This class may be moved to the end of Semester 2 in late April / early May, depending on the schedule in December.
 Week 17
Lesson 17
Earth Science Cycles: Oceans, Atmosphere, Land & Climate
In this class I give an overview of the Earth Systems that combine to make this beautiful planet of ours. We examine the water, air, rock and other cycles, as well as look at how climate has changed over time.
 Week 18
Lesson 18
Geology 1: Minerals, Mining, Gems & Precious Metals
In this class we analyse the definition of a mineral and examine why some minerals are not gems and some gems are not minerals. We then look at precious metals and study why they are so rare and how we find and mine them.
 Week 19
Lesson 19
Environmental Science 1: Glaciers, Ice Sheets & Climate Change
In this class we get colder and focus on Glaciers and Ice Sheets and look at the formations that glaciers make in mountain ranges. We then look at the relationship between the big ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica and what they are melting and what will happen when they do. 
 Week 20
Lesson 20
Environmental Science 2: Deserts, Wind & Drought
In this class we get drier, but not necessarily hotter, since deserts can be hot or cold. We look at why the deserts are located at plus and minus 30 degrees latitude and what formations are made where wind is the main erosional force. Finally we look at droughts and why and where they happen.
 Week 21
Lesson 21
Geology 2: Structure of the Earth - Earthquakes & Magnetism
In this class we focus on how we can use seismic waves to tell us the structure of the Earth. And how the Earth’s Magnetic field is generated and why it is important.
 Week 22
Lesson 22
Geology 3: History of the Earth - Evolution of Life
In this class we go over what the fossil record tells us about the evolution of life on Earth. All the way from single celled cyanobacteria, through the Cambrian Explosion, covering Dinosaurs, right up to modern humans.
 Week 23
Lesson 23
Geology 4: Sedimentary Rocks: Fossils & Famous Fossil Sites
In this class we delve into Sedimentary Rocks, but we focus this time on Fossils and how they are made in different ways. We then look a famous fossils and famous fossils sites and how fossils can be used to date rocks.
 Week 24
Lesson 24
Geology 5: Igneous Rocks- Inside Volcanoes
In this class we dive down under the ground to study how dikes and sills feed volcanoes. We then surge up and examine the anatomy of a volcano, before looking at some volcanic features and rocks they form.
 Week 25
Lesson 25
Geology 6: The Geology of North America
In this class we piece together the geological history of North America by tracing how it was made by old cratonic crusts colliding together. We take virtual field trip in a plane so we can see these amazing rock features from the air and can cover more ground.
 Week 26
Lesson 26
Oceanography 1: Ocean Life, Resources & Tides
In this class we focus on the resources in the ocean and the food chains that support ocean life. We look at the resources the ocean offers and how these are being over exploited in some cases. We finish by looking at tides and why and how they happen.
 Week 27
Lesson 27
Meteorology 1: Global Climate Zones
In this class we study the Koppen Climate Classification system that splits the Earth’s Climate into 5 main types. We analyse global weather patterns to see how these climate zones come about and why it is all linked to the rotation of the Earth.
 Week 28
Lesson 28
Meteorology 2: the Carbon Cycle and Climate Change
In this class we learn how extracting fossil fuels leads to accelerated carbon release into the atmosphere. We then look at the effect this will have on global climate and how switching to renewable energy can prevent this happening.
 Week 29
Lesson 29
Space Science 1: Tour of the Solar System - Venus & the Moon
In this class we examine the main features of scientific interest about the Moon and Venus. We also examine the missions that have helped us understand the Moon and Venus and what future space missions may tell us about them.
 Week 30
Lesson 30
Space Science 2: Tour of the Solar System – Mars
In this class we focus on Mars for the whole class, because we know much more about Mars than anywhere else in the Solar System. We look at how we can apply all the Earth Science principles that we have learnt to Mars and how Mars, in return, can tell us a lot about Earth.
 Week 31
Lesson 31
Earth Systems 1: Resources- Renewables vs Non-Renewables
In this class we analyse the different between renewables and non-Renewables as a way of exploring consumerism and sharing finite resources between different people and different generations. We’ll look at the definitions and how the different Earth Cycles determine how limited out resources are.
 Week 32
Lesson 32
Dramatic Earth Science Events 2
In this class we look at Earth Science events that have made the news in the last few years that illustrate topics we have covered in the course so far.