Earth Science BCourse Syllabus

Course Description

Earth Science B, the second course of a two-semester series, introduces the major principles and skills involved in studying the sciences of meteorology and astronomy. In this course students will study the atmosphere’s structure and composition, water in the atmosphere including the water cycle, clouds and humidity, air pressure and winds, air masses and fronts, cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, the Earth’s night sky, tools for studying the universe, stars and galaxies, and the properties and motion of the solar system.

Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed the first semester of Earth Science.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • apply graphing analysis techniques to the study of the atmosphere
  • classify clouds according to form and height
  • analyze the water cycle and its processes
  • relate air pressure to winds and convection processes
  • explain the link between air masses and their source regions
  • describe common weather patterns associated with fronts
  • predict weather based on patterns.
  • describe formation and events related to storms
  • analyze sky patterns and motions
  • analyze data from astronomical tools
  • classify galaxies
  • explain the causes of the seasons
  • describe orbital motion and the forces at play

*NOTE: The suggested time frame for the completion of each unit is just an estimate. This syllabus is based on an 18-week semester. You may work on each unit at your own pace, but keep in mind that you must finish the entire course within the time specified by your school district.

Unit 1: The Atmosphere (Weeks 1 through 2)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • explain the chemical composition of earth's atmosphere
  • classify atmospheric reports as either weather or climate data
  • describe and name the temperature layers of earth's atmosphere
  • explain the pressure changes as altitude increases

Modules:

  1. Composition of the Atmosphere
  2. The Composition of the Atmosphere Video
  3. Weather and Climate
  4. Vertical Temperature Structure of the Atmosphere
  5. Vertical Pressure Graph
  6. The Atmosphere Test

Assignments:

Homework: Weathering and Climate / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Graphing Analysis / Homework / 5 points
Unit 1 Test – The Atmosphere / Exam / 10 points

Unit 2: Water in the Atmosphere(Weeks 3 through 4)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • explain the water cycle.
  • recognize the boiling and freezing points of water.
  • describe the process of evaporation and its heat exchanges.
  • describe relative humidity and its effect on evaporation and condensation.
  • calculate relative humidity using actual water vapor amounts and using a sling psychrometer.
  • explain the formation of clouds and the role of condensation nuclei..
  • classify cloud types according to shape and height.

Modules:

  1. The Water Cycle and Phase Changes
  2. Water Cycle Gizmo
  3. Freezing Point of Saltwater Mixture Gizmo
  4. Humidity and Cloud Formation
  5. Relative Humidity Gizmo
  6. Cloud Types

Assignments:

Homework: The Water Cycle / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Freezing Point of Saltwater Mixture / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Relative Humidity / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Cloud Types Classification / Homework / 5 points
Unit 2 Test – Water in the Atmosphere / Exam / 10 points

Unit 3: Air Pressure and Winds(Weeks 5 through 6)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • describe air pressure and its dependence on gravity.
  • explain how a barometer works and recognize its units.
  • describe standard atmospheric pressure in both mb and inches of mercury
  • calculate density and compare densities based on floating ability.
  • interpret a weather map and its symbols
  • explain wind and its origin.
  • determine the pressure gradient force based on isobars on a weather map.
  • describe a high and low pressure center and located them on a weather map.
  • explain the formation of a sea breeze and land breeze.
  • describe the coriolis effect and its cause.

Modules:

  1. Air Pressure
  2. Experiments: Finding Out if Air Has Weight Video
  3. Density
  4. Density Laboratory Gizmo
  5. Density via Comparison Gizmo
  6. Weather Map Analysis
  7. Weather Maps Gizmo
  8. Wind
  9. The Global Picture – Air Currents Video
  10. Pressure Gradient and Wind Speed
  11. Local Winds
  12. Coastal Winds and Clouds Gizmo
  13. Coriolis Effect

Assignments:

Homework: Air Pressure / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Density / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Weather map Symbols / Homework / 5 points
Unit 3 Test – Pressure and Winds / Exam / 10 points

Unit 4: Air Masses and Weather Fronts (Weeks 7 through 8)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • explain how air masses are classified
  • relate air mass characteristics to their name and source region of origin
  • describe the formation and characteristics of a front
  • compare and contrast cold and warm fronts and their associated weather
  • recognize the four main types of fronts and their symbols on a weather map
  • describe the formation of a dryline, its associated weather and its symbol on a weather map
  • describe a cyclone and its formation in relation to a low pressure center
  • compare and contrast the different types of cyclones and their characteristics
  • explain the formation of a Mid-latitude cyclone according to the Norwegian cyclone model
  • describe the weather patterns associated with a Mid-latitude cyclone
  • explain the formation of a hurricane
  • describe the sequence of weather events associated with a hurricane passing over
  • explain the formation of a thunderstorm and associated lightning and tornadoes

Modules:

  1. Air Masses Origins Map
  2. Fronts and Associated Weather
  3. Cold Fronts
  4. Warm Fronts
  5. Stationary Fronts
  6. Occluded Fronts
  7. Drylines
  8. Cyclones and Anticyclones
  9. Cyclone Types
  10. Weather Maps Gizmo
  11. Mid-latitude Cyclones and Forecasting
  12. Hurricanes
  13. Hurricanes Video
  14. Hurricanes Motion Gizmo
  15. Tornadoes and Thunderstorms
  16. Tornado Alley Video

Assignments:

Homework: Air Masses Matching / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Fronts / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Matching Cyclones and Properties / Homework / 5 points
Unit 4 Test – Air Masses and Weather Fronts / Exam / 10 points

Earth Science B Midterm Exam (Week 9)

Objectives:

Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • review information acquired and mastered from this course up to this point
  • take a course exam based on material from the first four units in this course (Note: You will be able to open this exam only one time.)

Assignment:

Earth Science B Midterm Exam / Exam / 18 points

Unit 5: The Earth’s Night Sky (Weeks 10 through 11)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • analyze the night sky patterns of constellations using sky maps
  • identify the major constellations
  • analyze and interpret sky motions
  • explain the ecliptic and its importance to astronomical mapping.
  • relate the Ecliptic to the Zodiac
  • explain the apparent daily motions of the sky
  • relate apparent motions in the sky to actual motions of the planets
  • explain the causes of the phases of the moon
  • analyze the tides and their causes

Modules:

  1. Introduction to the Night Sky Video
  2. Constellations and Mapping
  3. Major Constellations
  4. January to March-Stargazing Video
  5. July to September-Stargazing Video
  6. October to December-Stargazing Video
  7. Sky Motions
  8. Zodiac
  9. Ecliptic
  10. The Ecliptic Line
  11. Daily Motion
  12. The Moon
  13. The Moon Video
  14. Moon Phases Gizmo
  15. Tides on Earth Gizmo

Assignments:

Homework: Identifying Major Constellations / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Sky Motions / Homework / 5 points
Unit 5 Test – The Earth’s Night Sky / Exam / 10 points

Unit 6: Tools for Studying the Universe (Weeks 12 through 13)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • explain how astronomical tools have enhanced our understanding of the universe
  • identify the two main types of optical telescopes
  • identify the parts of an optical telescope
  • describe the difference in the arrangements of reflecting telescopes
  • describe the Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • explain the use of early recording devices attached to the eyepiece
  • describe a CCD and its use in astronomy
  • explain the use of spectrometers and photometers in analyzing light

Modules:

  1. Measuring and Viewing Celestial Objects Video
  2. Astronomical Tools
  3. Light and Optics
  4. Telescope Types
  5. Electromagnetic Spectrum
  6. Analysis and Recording Devices
  7. Photographic Plates and Film
  8. CCD’s
  9. Photometers and Spectrographs

Assignments:

Homework: Telescope Types / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Electromagnetic Spectrum / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Special Tools for Studying the Universe / Homework / 5 points
Unit 6 Test – Tools for Studying the Universe / Exam / 10 points

Unit 7: Stars and Galaxies (Weeks 14 through 15)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • analyze the stages in stellar evolution, a star's life cycle.
  • classify stars according to their current stage of stellar evolution
  • determine a star's location on the H-R diagram.
  • describe the characteristics of the stellar groups in the H-R diagram.
  • describe the life cycle of our sun.
  • classify galaxies according to shape (form).
  • describe a galaxy's general characteristics.
  • describe the Milky Way Galaxy's characteristics

Modules:

  1. Preview of Objects Seen in the Seasonal Sky Video
  2. Properties of Stars
  3. Star Formation
  4. Stellar Evolution
  5. Star Death and Black Holes
  6. H-R Diagram Gizmo
  7. H-R Diagram
  8. Doppler Shift Gizmo
  9. Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
  10. Other Galaxies and the Hubble Space Telescope
  11. Classifying Galaxies
  12. Cosmology and the Big Bang Theory

Assignments:

Homework: H-R Diagram Interpretation / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Galaxy Identification / Homework / 5 points
Unit 7 Test – Stars and Galaxies / Exam / 10 points

Unit 8: Our Solar System and Earth’s Motions (Weeks 16 through 17)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • relate Earth's motions to the seasons.
  • describe the major dates associated with the seasons
  • detail the formation of historical and modern theories about the solar system
  • apply Kepler's laws of physics to the motions of the planets
  • explain the theory of the development of our solar system

Modules:

  1. Earths’ Motions and the Seasons
  2. Seasons – Why Do We Have Them? Gizmo
  3. Greek Astronomy
  4. Copernican Revolution
  5. Galileo’s Evidence
  6. Tycho’s Observations
  7. Kepler’s Laws
  8. Rotation and Revolution of the Near Earth Planets Gizmo
  9. Our Solar System
  10. The Sun
  11. Mercury
  12. Venus
  13. Earth
  14. Mars
  15. Asteroid Belt
  16. Jupiter
  17. Saturn
  18. Uranus
  19. Neptune
  20. Pluto
  21. The Eight Inner-Most Planets Orbiting the Sun
  22. Solar System Exploration Gizmo

Assignments:

Homework: Seasons / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Rotation and Revolution / Homework / 5 points
Homework: Solar System Properties / Homework / 5 points
Unit 8 Test – Our Solar System and Earth’s Motions / Exam / 10 points

Earth Science BFinal Exam (Week 18)

Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • review information acquired and mastered from this course
  • take a course exam based on material from all units in this course (Note: You will be able to open this exam only one time.)

Assignment:

Earth Science B Final Exam / Exam / 25 points

Disability Statement

If you have a disability or condition that may affect your ability to succeed in this course, please contact your teacher. It’s important that you discuss the problem with him or her so accommodations may be made to give you every opportunity to perform well. Your teacher and virtual school program coordinators are committed to helping students with disabilities succeed, and every request will be treated with respect and confidentiality.

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