Concepts of Earth Science: Minnesota Rocks and Waters Syllabus - Fall 2000

Concepts of Earth Science: Minnesota Rocks…and Waters Too!! Syllabus - Fall 2010 Instructor: Thomas Smith This class will focus on understanding and applying larger ideas that impact our lives in the earth-space system. We will start by investigating the realm of geology and what follows is what it will look like in and out of the classroom. Summary of Big Ideas…Geology Idea 1- What do you think you know…How do you do it…and Why is it important? > Earth Systems in Silence Project > Sidewalk Inquiry Idea 2 – Data Analysis, Observations and Scientific Inquiry >Using observations to tell a story >Making meaningful measurements >Take This Fish and Look at it! >Examining data to discover patterns Idea 2 – Earth Materials of Minnesota >Examining the rock cycle >Inquiring about all types of rocks and minerals >Utilization of rocks in Alex >Minnesota’s rock story >Process of crystallization Idea 3 – Minnesota’s Story in Geologic Time…a different view on dating!! >Understanding time >Window in history >Radiometric dating research >Modeling decay Idea 4 – Minnesota…Land of 10,000 Lakes…But why??? >Examining some properties of water >Minnesota’s glacial story...focusing on Douglas county >Till analysis inquiry Idea 5 – Understanding earthquakes…in Minnesota??!! >Earth interior models >Virtual Lab on seismology Idea 6 – The Really Big Idea…Plate Tectonics >Why plate tectonics? > PBL Inquiry >Volcanoes and plates >Evidences for this model Idea 7 – Volcanology > How volcanoes work > Where in the world? > Supervolcanoes and their connection to Minnesota Geology Final Research Project…Geological Issues in the 21st century

Course Grades 1) There will be quizzes given during this class. Each one will be worth about 20 points. 2) Labwork and classwork will make up 50% of your grade. The other 50% comes from the quizzes.

Grading Scale: 100-90 A…89-80 B…79-70 C…69-60 D

Makeup Policy For an excused absence, missed work must be made up before or after school within 5 days of the absence. For an unexcused absence, credit will be forfeited.

- You will be given a composition book for this class. It will serve as a journal for lab and field activities. It will be brought to class on a daily basis. Your journal will be graded after each quiz and will be worth 50% of your grade. Just about everything you write for this class will be put into your journal.

- Behavior in this class will utilize the code of conduct values at all times!! Respect… Honesty…Kindness…Responsibility…Fairness. So please refrain from doing anything detrimental to yourself, other students, or this school.

- You will be part of a study/lab/’puter group in this class. Safety in the lab and in using technology is something that is everyone’s responsibility!! If you demonstrate a chronic unwillingness to work cooperatively with others...you will be assigned to a study hall for the remainder of the class.

- All information for this class is maintained at the following web page. You will be expected to visit this site throughout the class to access handouts and to find out information missed due to absences. Minnesota Geology Website