HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
GEOLOGY SYLLABUS
Course Description:
Geology is the study of Earth’s surface and interior. This course emphasizes the
dynamic processes that shape the earth, and the results of those processes.
Land mass formations, waterways, plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, and
the formation of rocks and minerals will be learned. Students will identify
common rocks and minerals, including those found in Missouri. Topographical
maps of local areas will be used to determine the likelihood of flooding at specific
locations. Laboratory experiences, internet research activities, and outdoor
investigations are included.
Course Materials:
Modern Earth Science published by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
Investigating Groundwater: The Fruitvale Story published by Addison-Wesley
Project Earth Science – Geology published by NSTA
Video clips from united streaming
Course Expectations:
Acquire the knowledge and skills to gather, analyze, and apply information and
ideas
 Develop questions and ideas to initiate and refine research
 Conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas
 Design and conduct field and laboratory investigations to study nature and
society
 Use technological tools and other resources to locate, select and organize
information
 Comprehend and evaluate written, visual, and oral presentations and
works
 Discover and evaluate patterns and relationships in information, ideas and
structures
 Evaluate the accuracy of information and the reliability of its sources
 Organize data, information and ideas into useful forms (including charts,
tables, graphs, outlines) for analysis and presentation
 Apply acquired information and ideas to different contexts in the school,
the workplace and everyday life
Acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within and beyond
the classroom
Acquire the knowledge and skills to recognize and solve problems
 Identify problems and define their scope and elements
 Develop and apply strategies based on ways others have prevented and
solved problems
 Develop and apply strategies based on one’s own experience in
preventing and solving problems
Geology
April 2008
1
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Evaluate the processes used in recognizing and solving problems
Reason inductively form a set of facts and deductively from general
premises
 Examine problems and proposed solutions from multiple perspectives
 Evaluate the extent to which a strategy addresses the problem
 Assess the costs, benefits and other consequences of proposed solutions
to problems
Acquire the knowledge and skills to make decisions and act as responsible
members of society
Sample Course Activities/Projects/Assessments:
Analyze graphs of oil-well production to identify profitable wells
Prepare a multimedia presentation on recyclable materials and how each is
recycled
Investigate the amount and type of trash thrown out in one week
Compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources and discuss the
effect of recycling
Mining and ore extraction lab
Compare and contrast the groundwater problem caused by mining and mine
tailings in Colorado with lead mining in Missouri
Rock Identification Lab – identify rocks based on physical properties
Construct models of the three types of plate boundaries
Create a concept map that illustrates the properties of three types of volcanoes
Analyze earthquake data to compare S and P waves, determine strength, and
locate epicenters
Research how the New Madrid seismic zone developed and how it is affecting
the people of Missouri
Determine the watershed, surface waters, and flood plains using topographic
maps of the Florissant and St. Charles quadrangles
Make inferences about a region’s geologic history by comparing the regional and
local geologic columns
Mineral identification lab-identifying minerals based on physical properties
Course Outline:
1. Dynamic processes which shape Earth crust
 Earth’s zones
 Theory of plate tectonics
 Isostasy
 Folding and Faulting
 Mountain formation
 Earthquakes and seismic data
 Volcanoes
2. Minerals of Earth’s crust
 Characteristics of minerals
 Mineral identification
 Mineral families
Geology
April 2008
2
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 Classification of common minerals
Rocks
 Formation and features of three major types of rocks
 Rock identification
 Rock cycle
Mineral Resources and Energy
 Common types of ore formation
 Major types of mining operations and their uses
 Impact of mining on groundwater and surface water supplies
 Impact on society
Dynamic processes that reshape Earth’s crust
 Weathering and erosion
 Water and erosion
 Groundwater and erosion
 Glaciers and erosion
 Wind and erosion
Topographic maps
 Interpretation and construction
 Applications
History of Earth in the rock record
 Relative age
 Absolute age and radioactive decay
 Fossils
 Geologic time
Course Curriculum Map:
Dynamic processes which shape the Earth – 3 weeks
Minerals of Earth’s crust – 2 weeks
Rocks – 2 weeks
Mineral Resources and Energy - 2 weeks
Dynamic processes that reshape Earth’s crust – 2 week
Topographic maps – 3 weeks
History of Earth and the rock record – 2 weeks
Lesson Protocol:
Engagement 2-5 minutes
Exploration 20-30 minutes
Explain 10-15 minutes
Expand/Extend/Elaborate 10-15 minutes
Evaluate 10-15 minutes
Course Power Vocabulary:
mineral
cleavage
recyclable
Geology
properties
hardness
ore
April 2008
luster
mining
groundwater
3
mine tailings
Plate Tectonics
mantle
magma
epicenter
deformation
erosion
beach
flood
water table
topography
surface water
rock record
geologic history
Geology
rock
Seafloor spreading
boundary
seismology
seismograph
compressional
deposition
dune
porosity
well
watershed
island
radioactive decay
era
April 2008
rock cycle
convection current
volcanism
earthquake
mountain building
tensional
glacier
discharge
permeability
Karst topography
flood plain
contour map
fossil
period
4