* * * * * * * * * * *

Course Syllabus

I. STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH.
A. Ecology - "everything is connected"
B. The Tragedy of the Commons and stewardship of the environment
1. The Lorax
C. Natural Resources
1. Renewable
2. Non-renewable

II. EXPLORING THE EARTH AND THE METHODS OF SCIENCE.
A. The Scientific Method
B. The four "spheres" of the earth and scientific ways of knowing about them.
1. Biosphere
2. Geosphere
3. Hydrosphere
4. Atmosphere

2nd QUARTER:

III. THE BIOSPHERE
A. Ecosystems and communities
B. Diversity and habitats
C. Change and succession
D. Carrying Capacity and populations

IV. THE EARTH IN SPACE
A. Origin and development
B. Evolution
C. Orbit around the Sun
D. Rotation and tilt
E. The Moon

V. THE SOLAR SYSTEM, GALAXY, AND UNIVERSE
A. The Solar System - Origins, status, and changes
B. The Milky Way and other galaxies of stars
C. The Universe

2nd SEMESTER - 3rd QUARTER:

VI. THE GEOSPHERE
A. Geology
1. Rocks and minerals
2. Plate tectonics
B. Soils

VII. THE HYDROSPHERE
A. Oceans
B. Lakes and rivers and river basins
C. Groundwater
D. Water conservation and water quality

4th QUARTER:

VIII. THE ATMOSPHERE
A. Origin and changes
B. Climate and interactions with geosphere and hydrosphere
C. Weather
D. Air Quality

IX. ENERGY
A. Sources
B. Uses, impacts of use, and conservation

X. STEWARDSHIP AND EXPLORATION REVISITED
A. The Ecology of Commerce
B. Industrial Ecology