Middle School Earth Science: Introduction to the Atmosphere

This course is designed for small communities of learners and is a hybrid of individualized tutoring and traditional instruction covering middle school science content. Each section has no more than six learners which provide a foundation for strong relationships, social-emotional learning, and truly individualized instruction during this critical developmental period. These classes are specifically designed for the inclusion of neurodivergent learners including dyslexia-friendly font, explicit executive functioning skills instruction, and support for AAC users.
This series is designed according to the Next Generation Science Standards organized by subject area. In year one, students cover the earth science settings including astronomy. This curriculum is designed to allow students to develop skills to help them in traditional academic settings including high school or colleges such as note-taking and self-led learning. The class meets two days a week and homework reading and activities are completed on two additional weekdays. Students will complete a science notebook which is a hybrid of a Waldorf-style main-lesson book and more traditional note-taking strategies.
This course focuses on an introduction to the atmosphere combining key earth science ideas with introductions to physical and chemical processes. Learners will understand how the atmosphere enables life, the layers of the atmosphere, characteristics of the atmosphere and each layers, how pollutants and air quality impact life on earth, and other key ideas. 
Week 1: Learners will discover the importance of the atmosphere, the formation of the atmosphere, the composition of the atmosphere,  the layers of the atmosphere, and key ideas like temperature and pressure. 
Week 2: Learners will focus on energy in the atmosphere and how the atmosphere helps earth regulate an energy balance including a discussion of heat as energy. Learners will also understand how greenhouse gases disrupt the energy balance. 
Week 3: Learners will focus on movement in the atmosphere and understand the physical processes that lead to circulation and winds. Learners will discuss different types of local and global winds, how they're created, and how they impact humans, animals, and history. 
Week 4: Learners will focus on air quality and pollution. We will discuss forms of air pollution, common causes, and their impact. We will also discuss acid rain and the ozone layer. 
Week 5:Students will complete a hands-on student-led final project showcasing their knowledge of the ocean using a medium of their choice.  Students will write an essay in the format of  a scientific article on their project.