HONORS EARTH And ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

HONORS EARTH and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (KUNKLE) In addition to completing the regular course work, honors students are asked to delve deeper into the curriculum. To obtain honors credit in Earth and Environmental Science, students have to complete two projects in addition to the regular curriculum work. Students may complete the projects in any order they choose, but must turn in one at each due date. Students are free to seek my help and advice any time throughout the semester. Should they complete all the work in class on a particular day (this has only happened once) they could also work on it then, and I would be there to assist them. Due dates: Semester 1 Assignment – October 14, 2013 Semester 2 Assignment – December 20, 2013

Semester 1: Evaluating Scientific News Find 3 articles about topics that interest you and are related to Earth and Environmental Science. The article should be from a scientific journal, or other reputable source. If you find and article and aren’t sure, please see me before you do all the work. To evaluate these articles, you should type a 1 page summary for each answering the following questions in paragraph form: 1. What was the article about? 2. Why is it important? 3. How will it impact our lives? 4. What actions need to be taken? The typed page should be single spaced, times new roman, 12 point font with 1” margins. Please attach the article behind your paper, turn in three separate bundles.

Semester 2: Evaluating the Data Pick a controversial issue, such as global warming, hybrid cars, destruction of the rainforest etc., and collect data that supports BOTH sides of the argument. Once you have the data, evaluate and choose which side is better supported and write a thesis statement. Once you have this approved by me, write a 2-page report, using the data you collected from both sides to argue your thesis. Your fourth page will be a works cited page so make sure you keep track of where you got your data! (The first page is a title page) You may add additional graphs or data tables to support your argument, but they do not count as part of the report. The typed pages should be single spaced, times new roman, 12 point font with 1” margins, you may be creative with your title page.

Syllabus Each unit students will maintain an organized binder and set of Pictionary cards, these will be collected on test day and graded. Unit 1: Scientific Method and Maps  Create a simulated controlled experiment with correct set up  Analyze a topographic map of Grandfather Mountain Assessments:  Quiz on Scientific Methods  Unit Test Unit 2: Astronomy  Analyze how the mass of an object affects Barycenter location  Analyze an HR diagram and classify stars based on patterns  Calculate the phases of the moon using a Moon Dial  Create a RAFT using Astronomy words in pairs to show relationships among vocabulary Assessments  RAFT (must be typed)  Lab Report (must be typed)  Test Unit 3: Lithosphere  Create a Rock Cycle movie tracing a path of rock through the rock cycle  Classify soil types using a texture triangle  Create a RAFT using Lithosphere words in pairs to show relationships among vocabulary  Analyze recent volcanic data and make conclusions on relationships to tectonic plates  Calculate the epicenter of an earthquake (after interpreting seismographs)  Analyze how technology advances in Engineering can be used to survive earthquakes Assessments:  Lab Report (must be typed)  Movie  RAFT(must be typed)  Quiz  Test Unit 4 Human Impact on Lithosphere  Create a “How to Survive a Geohazard” project  Analyze the renewable and nonrenewable resources we use on a daily basis  Create a presentation on an assigned energy source  Evaluate the building of more nuclear power plants  Evaluate a sustainable or unsustainable Agricultural practice and present your findings Assessments:  Geohazard Project  Energy Source Presentation  Nuclear Power Plant Essay  Agricultural Project  Test Unit 5: Hydrosphere  Create a water purification system (lab)  Create a ground water vs. surface water RAFT  Determine and analyze sources of pollution  Pollution Project  Analyze how land use affects water quality (lab)  Compare and Contrast water usage between countries  Analyze personal water usage Assessments:  Lab reports  Pollution Project  Personal water usage analysis  Test Unit 6: Meteorology  Analyze the relationship between wind and atmospheric pressure  Create a skit demonstrating how a front is formed and what kind of weather it produces  Create and analyze a weather map  Analyze conditions that produce severe weather  Analyze how air density affects wind, fronts and storm systems  Differentiate between the greenhouse effect and global warming Assessments:  Meteorology RAFT with paired words  Front Skit  Test Unit 7: Sustainability  Create a story about an assigned Biome  Create an ecosystem with a stable food web, analyze how it will respond to an “event”  Analyze population graphs  Calculate and analyze your ecological footprint  Evaluate human activities and their impact on the environment Assessments:  Biome story  Ecosystem Project  Test