Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
Course Description: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the scientific study of the planet
Earth. Students will learn the basic principles underlying the disciplines of geology, meteorology, climatology,
oceanography, and astronomy. This is a rigorous curriculum designed to allow highly motivated students to
conduct an in-depth study of the Earth and the Environmental Sciences. In Earth/Environmental Science
Honors, students are expected to work independently on a variety of assignments and accept greater
responsibility for their learning. In order to develop a greater understanding of the processes that shape our
everyday lives, the curriculum will integrate inquiry investigations and a variety of technologies with the study
of Earth as a system. The impacts of human activities on Earth systems will also be a focus. The results of
student investigations should be communicated though presentations and formal laboratory reports.
Enrichment and integration with other disciplines is encouraged.
Local Approval (LEA Representative)
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Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
Curriculum Content Portfolio:
Teacher Rationale for Curriculum Content (make additions/changes to reflect personal rational)
 Earth/Environmental Science Honors offers challenging, higher level coursework for students who
aspire to an advanced level of learning. It has been designed for students who have demonstrated an
advanced level of interest and achievement. Students will be provided with multiple opportunities to
take greater responsibility for their learning. The course should be distinguished by a difference in the
quality of work expected rather than the quantity of work required. Students and parents should be
informed that Earth/Environmental Science Honors is more demanding and has requirements beyond
those of standard science courses. Teachers of Earth/Environmental Science Honors should possess the
skills, knowledge, and dispositions to challenge and inspire thought processes of honors level students.
Standards and Objectives (add extensions of standards in order to meet the needs of advanced learners and
reflect the additional weighted credit for the course)
 EEn.1.1 – Explain the Earth’s role as a body in space.
o EEn.1.1.1 – Explain the Earth’s motion through space, including precession, nutation, the
barycenter, and its path about the galaxy.
o EEn.1.1.2 – Explain how the Earth’s rotation and revolution about the Sun affect its shape and is
related to seasons and tides.
o EEn.1.1.3 – Explain how the Sun produces energy which is transferred to the Earth by radiation.
o EEn.1.1.4 – Explain how incoming solar energy makes life possible on Earth.
 EEn.2.1 – Explain how processes and forces affect the lithosphere.
o EEn.2.1.1 – Explain how the rock cycle, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes impact the
lithosphere.
o EEn.2.1.2 – Predict the locations of volcanoes, earthquakes, and faults based on information
contained in a variety of maps.
o EEn.2.1.3 – Explain how natural actions, such as weathering, erosion (wind, water, and gravity),
and soil formation affect Earth’s surface.
o EEn.2.1.4 – Explain the probability of and preparation for geohazards, such as landslides,
avalanches, earthquakes, and volcanoes in a particular area based on available data.
 EEn.2.2 – Understand how human influences impact the lithosphere.
o EEn.2.2.1 – Explain the consequences of human activities on the lithosphere (such as mining,
deforestation, agriculture, overgrazing, urbanization, and land use) past and present.
o EEn.2.2.2 – Compare the various methods humans use to acquire traditional energy sources,
such as peat, coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fission, and wood.
 EEn.2.3 – Explain the structure and processes within the hydrosphere.
o EEn.2.3.1 – Explain how water is an energy agent (currents and heat transfer).
o EEn.2.3.2 – Explain how groundwater and surface water interact.
 EEn.2.4 – Evaluate how humans use water.
o EEn.2.4.1 – Evaluate human influences on freshwater availability.
o EEn.2.4.2 – Evaluate human influences on water quality in NC river basins, wetlands, and tidal
environments.
 EEn.2.5 – Understand the structure of and processes within our atmosphere.
o EEn.2.5.1 – Summarize the structure and composition of our atmosphere.
Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
o EEn.2.5.2 – Explain the formation of typical air masses and the weather systems that result
from air mass interactions.
o EEn.2.5.3 – Explain how cyclonic storms form based on the interaction of air masses.
o EEn.2.5.4 – Predict the weather using available weather maps and data, including surface,
upper atmospheric winds, and satellite imagery.
o EEn.2.5.5 – Explain how human activities affect air quality.
 EEn.2.6 – Analyze patterns of global climate change over time.
o EEn.2.6.1 – Differentiate between weather and climate.
o EEn.2.6.2 – Explain changes in global climate due to natural processes.
o EEn.2.6.3 – Analyze the impacts that human activities have on global climate change, such as
burning hydrocarbons, greenhouse effect, and deforestation.
o EEn.2.6.4 – Attribute changes in Earth systems to global climate change (temperature change,
changes in pH of ocean, sea level changes, etc.)
 EEn.2.7 – Explain how the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere individually and collectively
affect the biosphere.
o EEn.2.7.1 – Explain how abiotic and biotic factors interact to create the various biomes in NC.
o EEn.2.7.2 – Explain why biodiversity is important to the biosphere.
o EEn.2.7.3 – Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.
 EEn.2.8 – Evaluate human behaviors in terms of how likely they are to ensure the ability to live
sustainably on Earth.
o EEn.2.8.1 – Evaluate alternative energy technologies for use in NC.
o EEn.2.8.2 – Critique conventional and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices in
terms of their environmental impacts.
o EEn.2.8.3 – Explain the effects of uncontrolled population growth on the Earth’s resources.
o EEn.2.8.4 – Evaluate the concept of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in terms of impact on natural
resources.
Curriculum Plan (tentative)
Week
Topic
1
Introduction to Earth/Environmental Science; Earth as a System;
Careers in Earth/Environmental Science; Branches in
Earth/Environmental Science
2
Scientific Method; Scientific Measurement; Metric Conversions;
Significant Figures; Graphs; Process Skills; Scientific Technique;
Equipment; Safety; Law vs. Theory
3-4
Rocks and Minerals; Physical Properties; Crystal Structure; Rock Cycle;
Energy; Magma Density; Rock Texture; Soil Formation; Natural
Resources; Human Impact on Lithosphere; Acquisition of Resources;
NC Mineral Resources; Basic Chemistry
5
Theory of Plate Tectonics; Plate Boundaries; Landform Features
6
Earthquakes and Volcanoes; Seismic Waves; Epicenter; Magnitude;
Seismic Maps; NC Seismic Activity; Preparation for Geohazards
Essential Standard
*General overview of
course, including inquiry
skills.
*General overview of
course, including inquiry
skills.
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.2
Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
7-8
9
Geologic Time; Earth History; Diversity; Natural Selection and
Evolution; Origin of Life; Fossil Evidence; NC Geologic History; Dating;
Decay; Uniformitarianism; Stratigraphy; Unconformities; Geologic
Time Scale
Hydrosphere; Erosion; Deposition; Sedimentation; Stream Channels;
Water Quality; Groundwater; Water as an Energy Agent; Population
Influence; NC River Basins, Wetlands, and Tidal Environments
10
Oceanography; Ocean Currents; Temperature; Upwelling; pH changes;
Coriolis Effect; Shoreline Development; Sea Level History
11-12
Meteorology; Structure and Composition of Atmosphere; Air Masses;
Weather Systems; Weather Predictions; Air Quality; Global
Atmospheric Changes; Ultraviolet Radiation; Global Warming;
Greenhouse Effect; Climate Change
Astronomy; Theories of Formation; Planetary Motion; Earth Tilt;
Stellar Energies; Stellar Energy Influencing Life on Earth; Doppler
Effect
Ecology; Populations, Communities; Ecosystems; Biotic, Abiotic
Factors; NC Biomes; Conservation; Resource Use; Deforestation;
Sustainability; Stewardship; Renewable, Nonrenewable Resources; NC
Alternative Energy Sources; Agriculture; Aquaculture
13
14
15
Photosynthesis; Carbon, Nitrogen, Water Cycles; Energy Pyramids;
Trophic Levels; Food Chains, Webs
16
Ecological Relationships; Population Growth; Predator Prey
Relationships; Symbiosis; Carrying Capacity; Adaptations; Biodiversity;
Human Impact on Ecosystems
17
18
Review
Review, MSL/Common Exam
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.3
EEn.2.4
EEn.2.6
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.3
EEn.2.4
EEn.2.6
EEn.2.1
EEn.2.5
EEn.2.6
EEn.1.1
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.3
EEn.2.4
EEn.2.6
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.3
EEn.2.4
EEn.2.6
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
EEn.2.2
EEn.2.3
EEn.2.4
EEn.2.6
EEn.2.7
EEn.2.8
Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
Instructional Materials and Methods Portfolio:
Teacher Rationale for Instructional Materials and Methods
(Make additions/changes to reflect personal practice and rationale)
Instructional Materials and Methods (Instructional Resources, Methods, Strategies, Equipment, Technology)
(Make additions/changes to materials and methods to reflect personal practice and rationale)

Sample Units, Lessons, Assignments
(Make and attach additions/changes to assignments to reflect personal practice and rationale)

Student Work Samples
(Attach additions of personal classroom assignments to reflect practice and rationale)
Honors Level Implementation Guide
Course Title: Earth/Environmental Science Honors (30385A)
LEA Name and Number: Public Schools of Robeson County (LEA 780)
Assessment Portfolio:
Teacher Rationale for Assessment Practices
(Make additions/changes to reflect personal practice and rationale)
Assessment will be made using a variety of means and methods, informal and formal, as listed below. A wide
variety of assessment methods will be used to ensure that individual and whole classroom learning is being
achieved. Course grading criteria used is district approved for all honors level courses in Secondary Science
departments. The criteria will be communicated to students and parents through each individual teacher,
and/or school, course syllabus.
Assessment Practices (Grading Practices, Rubrics, Scoring Guides, Formative/Summative Assessments)
(Make additions/changes to assessments to reflect personal practice and rationale)
 Grading Criteria (upon Board approval)
o Tests – 45%
o Projects – 20%
o Quizzes – 15%
o Labs/Classwork/Homework – 20%
 Informal Assessments
o Anticipation guides/Pre-tests
o Surveys
o Questionnaires
o Exit slips
o Journals
o Notebooks
o Portfolios
o Debates/Discussion groups
o Student self-assessment
 Formal Assessments
o Lab reports
o Research papers, including independent and group research
o Lab practicals
o Quizzes
o Tests, including multiple choice, short answer, and constructed responses
Assessment Samples (Pre-Assessment, Description of Formative/Summative Assessments)
(Make and attach additions/changes to assessments to reflect personal practice and rationale)

Student Work Assessment Samples
(Attach additions of personal classroom assessments to reflect practice and rationale)