In this multi day class we will cover Earth Science topics through the use of slide show presentations, hands on demonstrations and projects for students to participate, activities such as Ka hoot will also be utilized. Students will keep weekly notes in a journal along with interactive activities and write-ups. Each class will end with students sharing what they learned during our time together. This class will meet twice a week for 45 minutes for 4 weeks and cover the following topics: 

Week 1- Class introductions- Students will participate in a get to know you activity where they will get to know the teacher and other students.  We will review the idea of what students know about fossils and their roll in our earth's history. We will begin discussing what a fossil is and the different types of fossils. Students will complete a sorting activity where they will identify/categorize the different fossils. 

Week 2- What is the Geological Time Scale? Through a slide show the teacher will explain what the time scale is and how to read it. Students will then complete an exploration of the time scale by completing a search and find activity using the time scale. Class will end with a question and answer activity about the time scale. 

Week 3-  Discuss the ideas of Relative Dating and Absolute dating.  Students will complete a hands on activity using M&M's and a shoebox to demonstrate Absolute dating.  Students will need M&M's and a shoebox (box with a lid) to complete the activity. 

Week 4- What is the idea of Evolution? Teacher will use a slide show to present students with the idea of Darwin's Theory of evolution. We will discuss homologous, analogous and vestigial structures.  Students will complete a research activity where they identify the differences in the three structures.  Through a slide show the last 15 minutes of class the students will be introduced to Natural Selection and Artificial Selection. 

Week 5- In this week students will participate in a hands on activity where they will look at observations Darwin made of Finches and their different beaks. (This activity my require extra hands, off camera of course per Outschool policy) Students will complete a lab write-up while participating.  Supplies will be needed for this activity. (rubberbands, fork, tweezers, macaroni, pinto beans, clothespin, binder clip)  

Week 6 - What is taxonomy? In this class teacher will present a slide show discussing the taxonomic classification of organisms. We will look at the different levels of taxonomic classification and discuss ways to remember the levels. Students will complete activities where they will classify different organisms using charts to determine the organism being described. We will also discuss binomial nomenclature and students will need to name the different organisms.  

Week 7- It is a cladogram and how can it be used to classify organisms? Through a slide show presentation teacher will discuss what a cladogram is and how to read one.   Students will then complete a chart of different organisms and use the chart to create their own cladograms. 

Week 8- What is a Dichotomous Key? The first 10 minutes of this class the teacher will discuss how to read a dichotomous key. The next 10 minutes students will complete an activity where they will need to use a key to classify organisms. The next 15 minutes students will create their own key and will share with the rest of the class. Students will try and solve each others keys. The last 10 minutes of this class will have a question and answer session to see what the students have learned over the previous 8 weeks.