Honors Earth Science

This course meets the requirements for the Core 40 or Honors diploma at BHS North. This course is for the advanced reader, specifically at the 11th or 12th grade level. It is designed to introduce the student to all the disciplines of Earth/Space science, specifically geology, astronomy, meteorology, paleontology and oceanography. Earth Science represents the study of our changing and dynamic world. Even as a student begins this course, he or she comes to realize that the world we live on has changed!

Student grades are based on written assignments; there is also opportunity for lab participation, and testing. Grades are based on a ‘point’ system. Points are given for each assignment; these are totaled at the end of the marking period then compared to the total points possible. The Indiana academic standards for Earth/Space science are covered.

Although the content covered in Honors and CP Earth Science are similar, students are expected to keep pace with the class, be willing to do research and prepare well for chapter tests. The text we are using includes a CD (GEODe: Earth Science v.2) which reinforces key concepts by using tutorials, animations and interactive exercises.

SEMESTER I
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Earth Science
Chapter 2 - Minerals;Building Blocks of Rocks
Chapter 3 – Rocks; Materials of the Solid Earth
Chapter 11 – Geologic Time
Chapter 12 – Earth’s History: A Brief Summary
Chapter 8 – Plate Tectonics

SEMESTER II
Chapter 7 – Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior
Chapter 9 – Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity
Chapter 4 – Weathering, Soil and Mass Wasting
Chapter 5 – Running Water and Groundwater
Chapter 6 – Glaciers, Deserts and Wind
UNIT 6 – Earth’s Dynamic Atmosphere
Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20
UNIT 7 – Earth’s Place In The Universe
Chapters 21, 22, 23, and 24

*Topic descriptions are similar to descriptions for CP Earth Science
There will be comprehensive exams at the end of semesters 1 and 2
Text: Earth Science, (Pearson) Prentice Hall, Edward J. Tarbuck and Frederick K. Lutgens, illustrated by Dennis Tasa
ISBN 0-13-197212-X copyright 2006