Gateway Science Center EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE
Earth/Space Science to be covered:
Topic 0 - The Basics A. Measurements in Earth Science 1. How to use the Metric System (Mainly for Mass, Volume, Distance, know the most common prefixes, and basic scale) 2. How to Convert our Standard Measure to Metric and visa versaB. Formula Manipulation - Student will learn the importance of and the skill to manipulate formulas.C. Significant Figures and Scientific Notation 1. Students will learn how to read and identify significant figures. 2. Significant Figures with Addition. Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. 3. Scientific Notation - Conversion to and from Scientific Notation and the uses of in (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division)Topic I - IntroductionA. ObservationsB. Density - How to find the density of Solids and LiquidsC. The Changing EnvironmentD. Human Interaction with the EnvironmentTopic II - Earth BasicsA. Size and Shape of Earth - Measurable proof the Earth is not a flat surface.B. Spheres of Earth and their layers - (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Geospheres of Earth (Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mantel and Cores)C. Navigation on Earth's Surface - (Concepts of Latitude and Longitude, Importance of Polaris)D. Understanding Fields - (Using Gradients, reading Isoline Maps and Topographic maps, Developing Profiles of such maps)Topic III - AstronomyA. The Universe - A brief study of Universal Creation (Big Bang Theory vs Steady State Theory), Galaxies and their formations, Staller Formation and Life Cycles , How to use the H-R Diagram, Nebulae, Formation of our Solar System, A brief introduction to the planets of our Solar System, Asteroids and Comets (How are they tied to our Oceans?), Moons of our Solar System, Discovery of Exoplanetary Systems around distant Stars (Example Proxima Centauri b).B. The Earth (A closer look) - Apparent Motions of Celestial Objects(Sun, Moon, Planets and Stars) and their explanations.Absolute Motions of Celestial Objects and their explanations.Earth's Moon - Motions, Connection with Tides and Time.Topic IV - EnergyA. Energy and Earth Processes - Electromagnetic Energy, Transfer of Energy as Waves, Transformation of Energy (example Electrical to Mechanical), Temperature and Heat, Heat and the Change of Phase of Matter (a focus on Water), Earth's Energy resources Natural, Renewable and Future.B. INSOLATION and the Seasons - Solar Radiation and INSOLATION, Variations in INSOLATION, Heath Budgets and Climate Change (Natural and Human Influenced) C. SeasonsD. A brief look at how INSOLATION and Human Migration Influenced Human EvolutionTopic V - Weather, Water, and ClimateA. The Atmosphere - Temperatures of, Pressure and Density, Wind , Circulation in Troposphere, Moisture of, Air Masses and Fronts Storms and Severe Weather, Weather Predictions -Precautions- and Preparedness .B. The Water Cycle - A General View, Long Island's (specifically Suffolk County) close ties to the Water Table.C. Climate - Our Natural Climate Shifts (Global Snowball Periods), Ice Ages, Interglacial Periods (Global Warming). Natural and Human Influenced.Topic VI - Weathering, Erosion, and DepositionA. What is Weathering - Agents of Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Physical (Mechanical) Weathering, Environments suited for both forms of Weathering. B. What is Erosion - Agents of ErosionC. What is Deposition - Factors causing Deposition, How Sediments Sort When Deposited, A Model of Erosional-Depositional System, Depositional Agents and their Characteristic Features.Topic VII - Earth's Dynamic CrustA. Minerals of Earth - How to Identify minerals from rocks and from each other, Atomic structure and crystal design, Mineral Recourses and some important uses for them.B. Rocks of Earth - How to identify Igneous - Metamorphic - Sedimentary from each other and how they fit in the rock cycle.C. Earthquakes - What are they?, How to find their Epicenters, What Causes them, their tie to Volcanoes around the world, using Earthquakes to "See" the interior of the Earth, Plate Tectonics and the evidence for it.Topic VIII - Geologic HistoryA. Relative Dating of Rocks and Events -B. CorrelationC. Geologic History from the Rock RecordD. Absolute Dating of rocks using Radioactive DecayE. The Timeline for the Evolution of Life on Earth. (A brief review from Biology)Topic IX - Landscape Development and Environmental ChangesA. Measuring Landscape CharacteristicsB. Landscape regionsC. Factors of Landscape DevelopmentD. BedrockE. People, Environment Change, and Landscapes