Earth and Space Science is a thorough introductory high school Earth Science course, following the Next Generation Science Standards, with inquiry-driven laboratory investigations and an emphasis on scientific argumentation and communication. In a typical high school, this would fulfill one semester's science requirements (0.5 credit), involving a time commitment of approximately 75-100 hours, depending on learner efficiency.  

Note that this is the fall semester of the class, and learners are expected to complete the spring semester, as well. 

Because this course will cover the year’s worth of material in 28 weeks (13 in the fall and 15 in the spring), it acts as a bridge between the speed and intensity of a typical high school course (spread over 36 weeks) and that of a typical college course (which runs 15 or 16 weeks), and will prepare learners to excel in future science coursework.  

A significant portion of each learner’s obligation each week will be writing or otherwise preparing to communicate scientific arguments to classmates for critique.  

We will work through the popular and user-friendly NextGen textbook also called Earth and Space Science, available from BioZone directly or from other book retailers such as Amazon at https://amzn.to/3kKpYbU .  All students are expected to have access to this textbook, whether purchased or borrowed, paper or electronic.  The Instructional Segments (IS’s) mentioned in this syllabus reflect the organization of the textbook, which is a necessary material for the course.  

Class will meet for approximately 55 minutes, four days each week.  Some sessions will be mandatory, others optional; however, attendance of a certain number of the “optional” sections will be required. (See Basic Layout of a Week, below.)

A note on investigations (that is, experiments): 
The textbook does not include investigations, but we will aim for one well-done inquiry-driven investigation each week (other than exam weeks), which will total 26 investigations. Some weeks will include “classic” cookbook-style labs in addition to the inquiry-driven investigation. Investigations will be written up in documents made available each week, and supply lists will be available well in advance.  No-cost options are often the least hands-on, but will be provided.  

Class Experience 
Each week, several Instructional Segments (chapters) of the textbook will be assigned, and students are expected to read and annotate their textbooks, ideally before class meets live for the week.  

The meat of each week’s work will be based on the week’s investigation: a question, perhaps a “classic cook-book style” lab activity, and guidance towards investigating answers.  Students will write up their findings, peer- and self-edit, and submit polished work for regular feedback from the instructor.  

Basic Lay-out of a Week
Weekly readings are listed in this syllabus and are ideally read before class Monday afternoon.  By that time, detailed information on the week’s investigation will be posted in the class forum.  The investigation is to be completed outside of live class meetings, and will require time in addition to that listed below.

Tuesday		Content Session 
Wednesday	Socratic Question Session 
Thursday 	Rabbit Trails - Additional Readings, Recent News, etc 
Friday 		Office Hours - I’m available for questions, proofreading, etc 

The Content Session is required.  Of the 26 weeks of normal class (i.e., not Week 13 of the Fall Semester or Week 15 of the Spring Semester, which are Exam Weeks), students are expected to attend a minimum of 60 “optional” sessions.  

Learners will be expected to participate in weekly forum discussions.  
 
Course Schedule
Fall Semester
Week 0: Forums open September 1st! Well, technically, forums open whenever you register for the course...
Week 1: September 7 - 10 	Nature of Science and the Universe			IS 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13
Week 2: September 13 - 17	Science Practices							IS 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
Week 3: September 20 - 24	The Big Bang & Stars 						IS 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19
Week 4: Sept 27 - October 1	More Stars, Assessment 					IS 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Week 5: October 4 - 8		Formation of the Solar System & Inner Planets	IS  26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 
**October 11 - 15 is Fall Break**
Week 6: October 18 - 22		Outer Planets, Gravity, and Laws					IS 33 through 40
Week 7: October 25 - 29		Movement of the Planets and Moons, Assessment	IS 41 through 47 
Week 8: November 1 - 5		Earth, Dating Earth								IS 48 through 52
Week 9: November 8 - 12	Earth’s History, Assessment 						IS  53 through 58
Week 10: November 15 - 19	Earth’s Structure and Shape						IS 59 through 66
	**November 22 - 26 is Thanksgiving Break**
Week 11: Nov 29 - Dec 3	Changes including Erosion, Assessment			IS 67 through 73
Week 12: December 6 - 10	Plate Tectonics, Assessment						IS 74 through 80
Week 13: December 20 - 24	MIDTERM EXAM 								IS 1 through 80 are fair game
	**End of Fall Semester**