Week 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to Earth Science
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.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Minerals, Gems & Precious Metals
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
The Formation of the Earth
In this class we go from the formation of the Sun and the Solar System, all the way through the formation of the Earth, the Moon and each supercontinent, including Pangea. And end up looking at what the Earth Might look like 250 million years in the future when Future Pangea forms.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
The Structure of the Earth
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 5
Lesson 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 6
Lesson 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 7
Lesson 7
The Carbon Cycle, Renewable Energy & Climate Change
In this class we study the Carbon Cycle and focus on how fossil fuels are formed and how geologists and geophysicists are really good a finding them. We then discuss climate change and renewable energy.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Igneous Rocks: Magma Chambers, Volcanoes, Killer Ash and Lava
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 9
Lesson 9
Weathering, Erosion, Landslides and Soil
In this class we move on to study Physical Geography and look at the diffirent 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 diffirent types of landslides.
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Rivers, Glaciers and Deserts
In this class we return to study Physical Geography and look at the forces that shape the surface of the Earth. We start with rivers and surface water and then move on to underground aquifers, before focusing on frozen water in glaciers and the formations they make. We finish by studying deserts where wind erosion is the dominant force sculpting the Earth's surface.
 Week 11
Lesson 11
Meteorology 1: Heat Transfer, Humidity & Rain
In this class we looks 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
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
Oceanography 1: From Coastlines to the Abyss
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 how waves form and why the coast is a constantly changing interface between sea and land.
 Week 14
Lesson 14
Oceanography 2: Ocean Life and Ocean Resources
In this class we focus on the resources in the ocean and the food chains that support ocean life. We looks 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 15
Lesson 15
Earth Systems - Snowball Earth, El Nino, Hurricanes
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.