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
Spring Semester
Week 1: January 3 - 7		Water & Erosion, Cycles				IS 81 through 85
Week 2: January 10 - 14		More Surface Processes, Assessment 	IS 86 through 90
Week 3: January 18 - 21		Energy from the Sun & Atmosphere 	IS 91 through 95
Week 4: January 24 - 28		Life! And Atmospheric Changes		IS 96 through 100
Week 5: Jan 31 - Feb 4		More Life, Assessment				IS 101 through 105
Week 6: February 7 - 11		Humans, Resources, and Nonrenewable Resources	IS 106 through 112
	**February 14-18 is Winter Break**
Week 7: February 21 - 25	Environment & Agriculture					IS 114 through 119
Week 8: Feb 28 - March 4	Limited Resources, Assessment, Natural Hazards	IS120 through 125
Week 9: March 7 - 11		Case Studies, Assessment					IS 126 through 131
Week 10: March 14 - 18		Human Inputs and Outputs					IS 132 through 136
Week 11: March 21 - 25		Oil, Deforestation, Remediation				IS 137 through 141
Week 12: March 28 - April 1	Land Reclamation, Assessment				IS 142 through 145 
	**April 4 - 15 is Spring Break**
Week 13: April 18 - 22		Climate - Change and Models	IS  146, 147, 148, 149, 150
Week 14: April 25 - 29 		Solutions to Climate Change, Assessment, Review	IS 151 through 155
Week 15: May 2 - 6 		FINAL EXAM		ALL INSTRUCTIONAL SEGMENTS ARE FAIR GAME 
	**End of Spring Semester**