Syllabus

first semester

            It is the purpose of this syllabus to inform students of the major topics that will be covered for an entire semester at a time.   Many topics are not covered in the text because of the dynamic nature of this course. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for the student to keep a complete notebook. Many notes are based on information that is far too current to be found in the textbook.

UNIT 0 - Introduction to Science

          A. Fundamentals of Science.

          B. The Scientific Method.

          C. The mechanics of experimentation.

          D. Note: This unit is not covered in the textbook.

UNIT 1 - What is Earth Science?

          A. Branches of Earth Science.

          B. Divisions of Earth.

          C. Our Solar System & The Nebular Hypothesis.

          D. Origin of Earth's oceans.

          E. Origin of Earth's atmosphere.

          F. Earth's structure.

UNIT 2 - Earth's Characteristics

          A. Earth's shape.

          B. Earth's circumference.

          C. Earth's specific gravity.

          D. Earth's temperature layers.

UNIT 3 - Chemical Structure of Earth's Minerals

          A. The Bedrock layer.

          B. Atomic Structure

          C. Molecular composition and chemical bonding.

          D. Properties of elements and compounds.

          E. Crystalline Structure.

UNIT 4 Mineral Identification

          A. Breakdown of rock-forming minerals.

          B. Physical properties of minerals.

          C. Simple identification tests.

          D. Special identification tests.

UNIT 5 - The Formation of Rock

          A. Uniformity Theory

          B. Igneous Rock

          C. Sedimentary Rock

          D. Metamorphic Rock

          E. The Rock Cycle

UNIT 6 - Paleontology

          A. Measuring geologic time.

          B. Using relative time.

          C. Calculating absolute time.

          D. Fossil formation.

          E. Using geologic time scales.

UNIT 7 - Earth's Fresh Water

          A. Distribution of Earth's water.

          B. Using and conserving fresh water.

          C. The work of groundwater.

          D. The water cycle.

          E. River systems, (with emphasis on The Susquehanna).

UNIT 8 Earths Oceans - Independent Research Topic. 200-point Presentation.

Second Semester Syllabus

Unit 9 - Resources and Energy

          A. The Natural Environment

          B. Types of Resources

                    1. renewable vs. nonrenewable

                    2. recyclable

                    3. reusable

                    4. natural vs. synthetic

                    5. basic

          C. Energy

                    1. biomass

                    2. fossil fuels and byproducts

                    3. alternatives

Unit 10 - Introduction to Astronomy

          A. Telescope basics

          B. Types of telescopes:

                    1. reflector vs. refractor

                    2. space vs. earth mounted

                    3. tower telescopes

                    4. radio, Xray, and infrared telescopes

          C. Cosmic units of measure

          D. The Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum

                    1. properties of light

                    2. reading star spectra

Unit 11 - The Universe

          A. Stellar Constellations

                    1. circumpolar stars

                    2. stellar distance

                    3. physical properties of stars

                    4. stellar magnitude

                    5. star formation

          B. Stellar Phenomena

                    1. novas and supernovas

                    2. neutron stars and black holes

                    3. pulsars and quasars

                    4. variable stars and pulsating stars

                    5. eclipsing binary stars

C. Galaxies

          1. types of galaxies

          2. the local group

Unit 12 - The Sun and its Solar System

          A. Components of the Solar System

          B. Properties of the Sun

                    1. Sun observing instruments and units

                    2. Sun's dimensions

                    3. layers of the Sun

                    4. nuclear fusion of Hydrogen

          C. Features of the Sun

                    1. prominences, sunspots, and flares

          D. The Planets

                    1. properties of the planets

                    2. motion of the planets

                    3. satellites of the planets

          E. Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids

                    1. compositions

                    2. orbital paths

                    3. Earth-crossing orbital paths

Unit 13 - Earth's Moon

A.   The Moons properties.

1.    Diameter

2.    Gravity

3.    Periods of rotation and revolution.

B.   The Moons history

C.   Moon formation theories

1.    Daughter

2.    Capture

3.    Sister

D.   Lunar features

E.   Lunar phases

1.    waxing

2.    waning

3.    lunar month

F.    Eclipses

1.    Solar

2.    Lunar

G. The Moons tidal pull

1.    high and low tides

2.    Spring vs. Neap tides

3.    tidal range

Unit 14 Earths Motions

A.   Period of revolution

1. exact measurement and direction

2. Leap day

3. perihelion and aphelion

4. axis tilt and seasonal change

5. parallelism

B.   Period of rotation

1. exact measurement

2. day and night lengths

3. Foucault pendulum experiment

4. The Moon and tidal changes

          C. Equinoxes and Solstices

          D. Insolation angle of the Sun's rays

                    1. horizon

                    2. altitude

                    3. zenith distance

                    4. zenith

          E. The Torrid Zone

                    1. Tropic of Cancer

                    2. Tropic of Capricorn

Unit 15 - Mapping the Earth's surface, (being modified to align with PSSA standards).

Unit 16 - Meteorology

A. Review basics of the atmosphere.

                    1.Composition

                    2. Air Pressure

          B. Atmospheric Temperature Layers

                    1. exosphere

                    2. thermosphere

                    3.mesosphere

                    4. stratosphere

                    5. troposphere

C. Heating of the atmosphere

                    1.Types of Heat Transfer

                             a. radiation

                             b. conduction

                             c. convection + advection

                    2. Angle of Insolation

                    3. Warming and cooling of different substances

D. Wind Formation

                    1. Differences in air pressure

                    2. Global Wind Patterns

                    3. Jet Stream

E. Water in the Atmosphere and Weather

                    .1 Absolute humidity

                    .2 Relative humidity

                    .3 Psychrometers

                    .4 Dew Point

          F. Clouds

                    1. formation

                    2. types

          G. Air Masses

                    1. types that affect continental U.S.

                    2. pressure systems

                    3. fronts

                             a. types

                             b. associated weather

H. Severe Weather

                    1. Thunderstorms

                             a. cloud formation

                             b. lightning

                    2. Tornadoes

                    3. Hurricanes