Earth and Environmental Science
Syllabus
Dr. Beaty
Fall 2016
Text: Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe. 2005.
Glenco/McGraw-Hill. New York. 1002 pp.
This course will follow established North Carolina Essential Standards and Common Core Curriculum for
Earth and Environmental Science and will include a standardized end of term NC final exam to determine
proficiency. In addition to the end of term exam, interim testing will also be conducted to evaluate student
progress and identify potential strengths and weaknesses. Updated grades will be available to
parents/guardians through parent portal and will also be communicated with the parents/guardians through
weekly progress reports in effort to help ensure adequate progress by the student. The course will follow
the below schedule to prepare students for the end of term assessment.
Date
08/24/15
08/25/15
08/26/15
08/27/15
08/28/15
08/31/15
09/01/15
09/02/15
09/03/15
09/04/15
09/08/15
09/09/15
09/10/15
09/11/15
09/14/15 I
09/15/15
09/16/15
09/17/15
09/18/15
09/21/15
09/22/15
09/23/15 PD
09/24/15
09/25/15
09/28/15
09/29/15
09/30/15
10/01/15
10/02/15
10/05/15 G
10/06/15
10/07/15
10/08/15
10/09/15
Topic
Reading Assignment
Introduction
The Scientific Method
Ch. 1 pp. 5-13
Measuring in Science
pp. 14-23
Measuring in Science (Cont.)
Writing Day
Matter/Elements
Ch. 3 pp. 53-59
Compounds/States of matter
pp. 60-69
Galaxy and Earth formation
Ch. 22 pp. 577-583
Earth formation and organization (cont.)
Atmosphere formation and early life
pp. 584-596
Writing Day
Geologic Time Scale
Ch. 21 pp. 553-561
Geologic Time Scale Lab
pp. 563-572
Writing Day
TEST I
Continental Drift
Ch. 17 pp. 443-454
Plate tectonics
pp.455-466
Plate tectonics continued
Volcanoes
Ch. 18 pp. 471-479
Volcano types
pp. 480-490
Earthquakes
Ch. 19 pp. 495-499
Moving Earth continued
pp. 500-510
Locating epicenters
pp. 511-518
Writing Day
Locating Epicenters (cont.)
Earthquake Lab
Mountain building
Ch. 20 pp. 523-534
Mountain types
pp. 535-542
Test II
Weathering
Ch. 7 pp. 153-161
Erosion & Deposition
pp. 162-173
Erosion & Deposition continued
BENCHMARK TEST
Writing Day
10/12/15 R
10/13/15
10/14/15
10/15/15
10/16/15
10/19/15
10/20/15
10/21/15 PD
10/22/15
10/23/15
10/26/15 I
10/27/15
10/28/15
10/29/15
10/30/15
11/02/15
11/03/15
11/04/15
11/05/15
11/06/15
11/09/15
11/10/15
11/12/15
11/13/15
11/16/15
11/17/15 G
11/18/15
11/19/15
11/20/15
11/23/15
11/24/15 R
11/30/15
12/01/15
12/02/15
12/03/15
12/04/15
12/07/15
12/08/15
12/09/15
12/10/15
12/11/15 I
12/14/15
12/15/15
12/16/15
12/17/15
12/18/15
Soils Development
Soils (Cont.)
Mass Movement
Ch. 8 pp. 181-190
Wind
pp. 191-197
Writing Day
Glaciers
pp. 198-206
Human Impacts on the Lithosphere Ch. 27 pp. 711-723
Test III
Energy Resources
Ch. 26 pp. 683-689
Writing Day
Alternative resources
pp. 690-697
Energy Conservation
pp. 698-706
Surface Water
Ch. 9 pp. 211-221
Lakes
pp. 222-224
Writing Day
Wetlands
Groundwater
Ch. 10 pp. 239-248
Groundwater systems
pp. 249-260
Human Impacts on Freshwater
Ch. 27 pp. 730-736
Test IV
Physical Oceanography
Ch. 15 pp. 385-398
Seawater
pp. 397-406
Currents and Climate
Writing Day
Earth and moon system
Ch. 28 pp. 753-757
Earth moon system continued
pp. 758-769
Spectra and Stars
Ch. 30 pp. 813-820
Stars continued
pp. 821-828
Writing Day
The sun’s composition
pp. 805-812
Solar phenomenon
The atmosphere
Ch. 11 pp. 271-277
The atmosphere continued
pp. 278-284
The atmosphere continued
pp. 285-294
Test V
Meteorology
Ch. 12 pp. 299-319
Weather maps
pp. 312-329
Weather mapping continued
BENCHMARK TEST
Storms: Thunderstorms/Tornados
Ch. 13 pp. 329-340
Hurricanes
pp. 341-346
Hurricanes in North Carolina
pp. 347-354
Hurricane map
Climate
Ch. 14 pp. 359-368
Climate continued
pp. 369-380
Global Climate Change
01/04/16
01/05/16
01/06/16
01/07/16
01/08/16
01/11/16
01/12-15/16
Human Impact on the Atmosphere
Test VI
Biomes
Biomes (cont.)
Review
Review
EXAMS
Ch. 27 pp. 724-729
Grading: Grading will be as follows: Each homework, class work, quiz, or daily grade
will be counted once per assignment; each test grade will be counted twice, and
notebook, term paper, and/or project grades will be counted 3 times each.
Expectations: All students must read to stay up with the class material [follow the above
syllabus]. A notebook (~1 ½” 3 ringed binder is required) will be kept and include all
class notes, notes from all the reading, defined vocabulary, and a record of all returned
work with corrections attached. This notebook is cumulative and must be maintained upto-date and may be checked at any time. Students who are having difficulty or find
themselves getting behind need to see me immediately and seek out additional
tutorial help.
Laptops: With the adoption of the 1:1 initiative, each incoming freshman student will
receive a laptop computer for their use. It is required that each student bring the laptop to
class each day. Several assignments and communications will be carried out through this
digital medium and it must be maintained in working order for the student to be
successful.
Homework: In addition to the daily readings listed above, students will be assigned
homework periodically but not every day. It is the student’s responsibility to have this
work completed and turned in to the appropriate box on time [prior to the next class
period!]. Any late work, if accepted, will be severely penalized!!!
Honors Earth/Environmental Science:
In addition to the course layout above, the honors Earth/Environmental Science course
will have a marine science/oceanography focus component throughout this semester.
Each student will be required to watch an online broadcast of a weekly seminar series
held at Duke Marine Laboratories in Beaufort, NC. The topics will vary each week and
be presented by top scientists in the field. Series of questions and discussions will be
developed around this seminar series on a weekly basis. Participation in the discussions
and writings are mandatory. Exposure to real scientists and their discussion of their work
is valuable in showing students what science is all about. Furthermore, during this
semester each student will pick a topic related to marine science/oceanography and write
a 3-5 page term paper with appropriate format and citations. Details for the research
paper will be given later in the semester.