Our Earth (Wed 9am EST Fall Semester) With Open Tent Academy

https://www.opententacademy.com/event/earth-wednesday-winter-2025-10-weeks-grades-6-12/

Details

Start:

Wednesday, September 11 2025 @ 9:00AM EST

End:

Wednesday, December  11 2025 @ 10:30AM EST

Cost:

$250.00

Event Categories:

2024 – 2025 Classes, NCAA Approved Courses, Science / Engineering, Winter 2025 Classes

In this course students will focus on the basics of Earth Science using plenty of hands-on activities, interactive assessments, projects, collections and more to help with comprehension.

Students will begin learning about the layers of the Earth, how volcanoes play a part in the cause of tsunamis, how the Statue of Liberty has been affected by chemical weathering, how rocks change over time, and how to predict the weather. This survey course can serve as a lab credit, introduction to Earth Science, or accompany a current Earth Science class. 

This class will meet for live instruction once a week. During class time, students will talk about different related topics and participation in group discussions. After the live meeting, students will work in Canvas on 5-7 weekly assignments. Along the way, students will add assignments, notes, and diagrams to their science spiral notebook. This course will be heavy with hands-on activities, so plan to be amazed by “Our Earth”.

Goals:

Identify and describe the components of the physical Earth as a system (inner core, outer core, mantle, crust)

Describe the physical characteristics of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, including crystal size and shape, mineral and chemical composition, density, and origin.

Describe how convection, density, and the law of conservation explain the movement of materials within the rock cycle.

Describe the constructive and destructive processes that drive the rock cycle, including sedimentation, lithification, crystallization, deformation, deposition, erosion, melting, cooling, metamorphism, subsidence, and weathering,

Explain plate tectonics in terms of magnetic reversals and outer core circulation, mantle convection, sea floor spreading, and subduction.

Describe how the Theory of Plate Tectonics explains the location of earthquakes, volcanoes, hot spots, mountains, mid-ocean ridges, deep-sea trenches, and island arcs.

Explain the role of gravity and natural agents (water, wind, glaciers) on Earth (landform changes) and how they impact the rock cycle.

Identify and describe the components of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere.

Explain and give examples of the dynamic balance between matter and energy within the atmospheric and hydrospheric systems.

Give examples of how changes in one part of the atmosphere or hydrologic cycle affect other Earth systems and human activity.

Topics / Labs:

• Week 1: Earth Layers, Clay/ Play-Doh Earth Layer Model
• Week 2: Plate Tectonics, Alfred Wegener, Pangaea Puzzle Piece
• Weeks 3 & 4: Volcanoes, Tsunami, Seafloor Topography, Sea Floor 3D Model, Tsunami Water Table
• Week 5: Types of Rocks, Rock Collection
• Week 6: Rock Cycle, Starburst Rock Cycle Demonstration
• Week 7: Weathering-Chemical vs Physical Weathering, Penny Lab
• Week 8: Erosion, Deposition,Water Cycle
• Week 9: Climate, Habitats, Temperature, Wind Current
• Week 10: Weather,Severe Weather, Dust Storm News Report Activity, Be A Meteorologist For The Day

NOTE: This class must reach the minimum of five students by August 1st to run. If we do not reach this minimum, parents will be notified via email.

Open Tent handles enrollment for this course. Please visit their website to register.