Starting Segment 1 or Segment 2:
· Beginning with Science
o Science processes
o Observations and inferences
o Historical frame of reference- scientists and explorers
o Theory vs. law, science vs. pseudoscience
o Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere
Segment 1:
· Climate and Meteorology
o Structure of the atmosphere
o Trends in temperature and atmospheric pressure
o Factors influencing weather and climate
o Humidity, air pressure, air masses, temperature, long term conditions
o Global air circulation and winds, coriolis effect
o Severe weather formation, influence on human behavior
o Severe Storms; Lightning (Honors)
· Freshwater
o Water cycle
o Conservation (Honors)
o Water Quality
o Groundwater
o Surface water
· Rocks and Minerals
o Properties of minerals
o Rock cycle
o Soil and soil formation
o Rocks and minerals as resources
· The Universe
o Light waves
o Space exploration
o Gravitational forces
o Stars and Constellations (Honors)
Segment 2:
· Geologic Time
o Gregorian calendar
o Relative and absolute time (Honors)
o Origin and evolution of life
o Geologic time scale, geologic periods and history
o Fossils, fossil formation
o Reading series of events in sedimentary rocks based on principles of geology
· Oceans
o Composition of ocean water
o Ocean currents
o Sea floor features
o Using latitude and longitude to navigate and locate points on the globe/map reading
o Climate and current connection
· Our Solar System
o Organization of the Milky Way and types of galaxies in general
o Characteristics of stars - focus on ours - the sun
o The planets in our solar system
o Moon/Earth Relationships
o Moon phases
o Effects of moon on tides
o Kepler’s Law, Newton’s Law
o Sun/Earth Relationships
o Rotation and revolution characteristics
o Causes of seasons
· The Geosphere
o Layers of the Earth
o Carbon cycle
o Plate techtonics
o Continental drift
o Surface features
o Geologic events (Honors)