In the first four weeks of this class, students will explore a variety of rocks and minerals that compose the world around them, from the Grand Canyon to the types of stones used in countertops and pencils. They will learn about the different ways rocks are formed, including volcanic eruptions and centuries-long sedimentation. Additionally, students will discover some of the most common minerals used and gain a better understanding of geology and the role of a geologist in understanding the natural environment. Students will have the opportunity to use a fun and interactive tool that will allow them to access class materials, participate in virtual field trips, and take practice assessments.

     Some of the minerals that the students will learn about are some of the more commonly used minerals like silver, quartz,  and fluorspar. Students will also have a chance to learn about rocks and minerals that are used in everyday life such as in building materials, cars, roads, and appliances. They will also learn and discover the different processes that form the three different types of rocks;  igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Students will learn about weathering and erosion and how they affect the environment.  In addition, we will also explore the other chemical processes of rocks such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and carbonation. Finally, students will explore the science that goes into identifying and distinguishing the different types of rocks and minerals but looking at characteristics such as texture, coloring,  and shape. 

     In the second four weeks of this class, students will learn about the geological processes that formed some of our most amazing underwater structures.  They will explore topics such as plate tectonics, hydrothermal vents, seafloor spreading, and different geological events that brought about some of the most fascinating ocean structures. Students will explore how amazing areas such as the mid-ocean ridges, hydrothermal vents, and underwater volcanoes are geologically important to our environment and how they can provide a broader understanding of how our biological systems in the marine world have changed as a result of their presence. 

In addition, students will get an introduction to the amazing world of underwater technology used by researchers to discover these amazing places and how continual research has changed the way life in the deep sea has existed and evolved. 

  Students will work with Nearpod, an interactive software program that allows students to participate in discussion boards, answer short quizzes, and watch interactive videos that pertain to course material.  There are no prerequisites for this course, just a love for animals and the environment.
     Students will also work with Gimkit, a website that allows students to participate in interactive quizzes that will reemphasize the material presented to them in the recordings. 
     Students will also work with CK-12 an interactive learning platform, that allows students to answer practice tests, read articles, and work in interactive textbooks. Assignments will be assigned in this platform weekly. Each student will be provided with their own login information to access their assignments and readings, which the teacher will set up.