COURSE: EARTH'S VITAL RESOURCES INSTRUCTOR:
ELIZABETH BASCOME
CREDIT AREA: SCIENCE

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND MANY OF THE BASIC PROBLEMS OF MAN AND HIS ENVIRONMENT, IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE FIRST COMPREHEND THE NATURE AND STATE OF THE EARTH'S VITAL GEOLOGIC RESOURCES.

IN THIS COURSE WE SHALL SEEK TO IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THE NATURE OF A FEW ABIOTIC (NONLIVING) NATURAL RESOURCES (LAND, SOIL, MINERALS ROCK): HOW ARE THESE RESOURCES FORMED? HOW DO THEY CHANGE AND INTERACT WITH THE REST OF THE ENVIRONMENT? WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN MANAGING & CONSERVING THESE VITAL RESOURCES?

I- MAJOR TRUTHS, LAWS OF THE ECOSPHERE, POPULATION, GEOLOGIC CYCLES
II- LAND AS A RESOURCE, CONSTRUCTIONAL/DESTRUCTIONAL PROCESSES, SOIL DEPLETION , SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (II or III not both)
III- MINERAL/ROCK RESOURCES, FORMATION, RESOURCES & RESERVES, SUPPLY & DEMAND, EXTRACTION & ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION (II or III not both)
IV- GEOLOGY & SOCIETY, SEISMIC UPHEAVALS & HAZARDOUS LIVING, GEOTHERMAL- ROCK & MINERAL FUELS

DOMAINS : THE NATURAL WORLD; PATTERNS & SYSTEMS; ETHICS & VALUES.
SKILLS: POV; ANALYZING - DECONSTRUCTING - REDEFINING; WRITING & REVISION; INQUIRY LEARNING & PROBLEM SOLVING.
HABITS: PROJECTING INTO THE FUTURE, POV.

ASSESSMENT: PORTFOLIO , ESSAYS, LABS, QUIZZES, ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION,

PREPARATION MATERIALS : SCIENCE JOURNALS, VIDEOS, BOOKS, MASS MEDIA FILMS

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES: INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES, DISCUSSION, SMALL GROUP, WHOLE GROUP,

 

TITLE: EARTH'S VITAL RESOURCES
INSTRUCTOR: E. BASCOME

SUBJECT AREAS: Science Domains I The Natural World - Geology, Environmental Science, Geography II Patterns and Systems III Ethics & Values

COURSE TOPICS:

I- Major Truths, Geologic Natural Resources, & Population

A- Major Truths & 4 Laws of the Ecosphere
 

1) 3 ways the environment is used
2) Standard of Living & Earth's Geologic Resources
3) Exponential Growth & Human Population
4) Tragedy of the Commons & Limited Renewability

B-

Geologic Cycles

  1)Biogeochemical cycles
 

a- Hydrologic
b- Tectonic
   
  2) Constructional & Destructional Forces / Cycles
   

II- Essential Nutrients of Society

A- Geologic Natural Resource - Minerals
  1- Resources vs Reserves
  2- Supply vs Demand
  3- Constructional Processes - Mineral Formation
 

a Types & Identification
  4- Constructional Processes - Rock Formation / Cycle
 

a Types & Identification

  5- World Trends - Extraction & The Environmental
 

a- Sustainable Development & Strategies to Reduce Mineral Resource Consumption
 

b- Minerals, Politics & Future Generations
B- Geologic Natural Resource - Land
  1) Land as a Resource
  2) Destructional Processes - Weathering
 

a- Types & Results
  3) Destructional Processes - Erosion & Deposition
 

a- Types & Results
  4) Soil Depletion
 

a- Soil profile, Physical & Chemical Properties
 

b- Salinization
 

c- Desertification
  5) Sustainable Development
 

a- Soil conservation Techniques
 

b Economics of Land Renewability

III Society & Geologic Living

A- Seismic Upheavals & Hazardous Living
  1) Earthquakes - reasons & preparedness
  2) Volcanoes - reasons & preparedness
B- Geothermal Energy

IV Major Truths - Revisited

 

SKILLS & HABITS
SKILLS: Revision, Group Discussion, Points of Views, Viewing, Analysis-Deconstruction & Redefining, HABITS: Projection Into the Future, Making Connections/Looking For Context

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

I- Develop a course portfolio -Culminating Essay in one of the geologic resource areas

1) -Essay: Population, Resources & Society
2) -Examples of group work revised for individuality
3) -Critical analysis of readings/ points of view writing
4) -Revised Labs & Investigative Activity Reports

II- Cooperative group work
III- Video - Discussion
IV- Extensive reading & writing assignments

ASSESSMENT: EACH STUDENT WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE FOLLOWING:
Participation , Attendance, Essays, Homework, Quizzes, Lab & Investigative Activities, Completion & Presentation of Portfolio

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

EXCERPTS FROM TEXTS: OTHER BOOKS
PH Earth Science - Coble State of the world
Heath Earth Science - Naminowitz Planet Earth the New Geoscience
Earth Science Patterns in Our Environment Van Cleaves Earth Science For Every Kid
Environmental Science - Kuptchella  
Natural Resource Conservation - Owen  
Global Science - Christensen  
Environmental Geology - Montgomery  
Environmental Geology- Keller  

 

CURRICULAR MATERIALS
National Geographic Society Curricular Materials
Mineral Information Institute Curricular Materials
Society and Science Decision Making - Stahl
World Resources Teacher's Resources
Environmental Science Activities - Kutscher
Earth Science Activities - Horowitz
Hands-On General Science Activities w/Real World Applications - Walker

JOURNALS
EARTH
National Geographic
Discover
Science World
Science News

VIDEOS

Earth Revealed Series - Miracle Planet Eps.: Heat Within // Riddles of Sand & Ice
Planet Earth Series -321 Contact Eps. : Metals//Erosion
Land of Sleeping Mountains -Nova Eps.: Born Of Fire//Mt. St. Helens
Reborn//In the Desert Waves -Path of a Killer
Coast to Coast. - Geysers -Chemistry of the Earth
Understanding Volcanoes -Making Of a Continent
Fire on the Rim -Geochemistry
New Explorers ep. : River of Fire
Race to Save the Planet . : Environmental Revolution
Race to Save the Planet . :It Needs Political Decisions
Race to Save the Planet . :In the Name of Progress
Against All Odds . : Statistics & Probability
Voyages : Building for Earthquakes
20th Century. : Earthquake living On the Edge