8

toc = 8th Course Description = In this course the focus will be on the use of knowledge and evidence to construct explanations about the earth's composition, processes, and systems that have operated over time. Students will study encompass earth history, astronomy, weather and water. In the earth history unit, students will work with relative dating and absolute dating and use geological timelines. In astronomy, students will study gravitational affects of the moon, the solar system and galaxies and milestones of human space exploration. In the weather and water unit of study, students will study properties of air, atmospheric layers and heat transfers. All three units will include data collecting, graphing, observation and using scientific instruments.

= Vocabulary =

= Concept Maps =

= Topic List =

Earth Science

 * Plate tectonics
 * Earthquakes and volcanoes
 * Deposition
 * Erosion
 * Stream table labs
 * Lab reports
 * Glaciers

Geology

 * Elements (periodic table) as it relates to minerals and rocks
 * Atomic structure of crystals
 * Mineral identification through lab tests
 * Lab reports
 * Identifying rock types and their origins

Paleontology/ Earth History

 * Evidence of Earth’s age
 * Index fossils (relative dating)
 * Fossils and carbon-dating (absolute dating)
 * Geological/biological timeline of Earth

Astronomy

 * Solar system (our sun, planets and their natural satellites)
 * Earth’s moon (phases, tides, and gravitational effects)
 * Birth, life and death of stars
 * Galaxies
 * Constellations
 * Milestones in human exploration of space

Meteorology

 * Properties of air
 * Heat transfer
 * Moisture in the air
 * Atmospheric layers including ozone
 * Air pressure
 * Clouds
 * Air masses
 * Use of weather data-gathering instruments
 * Observation
 * Data collection
 * Graphing
 * Reason for the seasons
 * Climate

Water

 * Oceanography
 * Fresh water
 * Significant pollution causing change to all life forms
 * Depletion of ozone layer affecting all life forms