Earth & Environmental Science curriculum

An earth and environmental science course covering geology, weather, climate, oceans, ecosystems, resources, hazards, and data-based environmental decisions.

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Middle school / high school earth science / AP Environmental Science bridge

Earth & Environmental Science curriculum

An earth and environmental science course covering geology, weather, climate, oceans, ecosystems, resources, hazards, and data-based environmental decisions.

Pacing

8 units, 20-30 weeks self-paced

Units

8 unit sequence

Practice

32 checked answers

Support

Self-paced or tutor-guided

Outcomes

Explain Earth systems through evidence, models, maps, and data.
Connect geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and human systems.
Use environmental tradeoff reasoning instead of slogans.

Unit sequence

Built for independent progress first, then tutor support where the student gets stuck.

01
Earth systems and scientific modeling
- Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.
- Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.
Practice: Build a systems diagram for one Earth process with inputs, outputs, and feedbacks.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Build a systems diagram for one Earth process with inputs, outputs, and feedbacks.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Earth systems and scientific modeling investigation, a measurement changes from 12 to 21. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Earth systems and scientific modeling"?
Classify rocks and minerals.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Explain plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Earth systems and scientific modeling" before asking a tutor for help?
Build a systems diagram for one Earth process with inputs, outputs, and feedbacks.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
02
Minerals, rocks, and plate tectonics
- Classify rocks and minerals.
- Explain plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.
Practice: Use a tectonic map to predict hazards and justify the prediction.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Classify rocks and minerals.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Use a tectonic map to predict hazards and justify the prediction.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Explain plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Minerals, rocks, and plate tectonics investigation, a measurement changes from 13 to 22. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Minerals, rocks, and plate tectonics"?
Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Explain plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.Classify rocks and minerals.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Minerals, rocks, and plate tectonics" before asking a tutor for help?
Use a tectonic map to predict hazards and justify the prediction.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
03
Weather and atmosphere
- Use air pressure, fronts, humidity, wind, and storms.
- Interpret weather maps and forecasts.
Practice: Analyze a weather map and write a 24-hour forecast with evidence.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Use air pressure, fronts, humidity, wind, and storms.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Analyze a weather map and write a 24-hour forecast with evidence.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Interpret weather maps and forecasts.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Weather and atmosphere investigation, a measurement changes from 14 to 23. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Weather and atmosphere"?
Use air pressure, fronts, humidity, wind, and storms.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Classify rocks and minerals.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Weather and atmosphere" before asking a tutor for help?
Analyze a weather map and write a 24-hour forecast with evidence.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
04
Climate and climate change
- Distinguish weather from climate.
- Use greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, proxies, and model evidence.
Practice: Explain one climate data graph with trend, variability, and uncertainty.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Distinguish weather from climate.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Explain one climate data graph with trend, variability, and uncertainty.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Use greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, proxies, and model evidence.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Climate and climate change investigation, a measurement changes from 15 to 24. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Climate and climate change"?
Classify rocks and minerals.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Use greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, proxies, and model evidence.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Climate and climate change" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Explain one climate data graph with trend, variability, and uncertainty.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
05
Water, oceans, and watersheds
- Use the water cycle, groundwater, ocean circulation, and water quality measures.
- Analyze flood, drought, and pollution risk.
Practice: Map a local watershed and identify two pressure points.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Use the water cycle, groundwater, ocean circulation, and water quality measures.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Map a local watershed and identify two pressure points.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Analyze flood, drought, and pollution risk.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Water, oceans, and watersheds investigation, a measurement changes from 16 to 25. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Water, oceans, and watersheds"?
Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Classify rocks and minerals.Use the water cycle, groundwater, ocean circulation, and water quality measures.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Water, oceans, and watersheds" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Map a local watershed and identify two pressure points.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
06
Ecosystems and biodiversity
- Use energy flow, nutrient cycles, populations, communities, and biodiversity.
- Explain ecosystem services and disturbance.
Practice: Build a food-web model and predict the effect of one population change.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Use energy flow, nutrient cycles, populations, communities, and biodiversity.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Build a food-web model and predict the effect of one population change.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Explain ecosystem services and disturbance.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Ecosystems and biodiversity investigation, a measurement changes from 17 to 26. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Ecosystems and biodiversity"?
Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Classify rocks and minerals.Explain ecosystem services and disturbance.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Ecosystems and biodiversity" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Build a food-web model and predict the effect of one population change.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
07
Resources, energy, and human impact
- Compare renewable and nonrenewable resources.
- Evaluate land use, waste, pollution, agriculture, and energy tradeoffs.
Practice: Write a decision memo comparing two energy or resource choices.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Compare renewable and nonrenewable resources.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Write a decision memo comparing two energy or resource choices.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Evaluate land use, waste, pollution, agriculture, and energy tradeoffs.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Resources, energy, and human impact investigation, a measurement changes from 18 to 27. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Resources, energy, and human impact"?
Classify rocks and minerals.Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Compare renewable and nonrenewable resources.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Resources, energy, and human impact" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Write a decision memo comparing two energy or resource choices.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
08
Environmental investigation capstone
- Ask a testable environmental question.
- Use data, limitations, and stakeholder impacts.
Practice: Complete a short environmental case study with evidence, claim, and recommendation.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with OpenStax Science and FlexBook textbooks and concepts. Take notes until you can explain: Ask a testable environmental question.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Complete a short environmental case study with evidence, claim, and recommendation.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Use data, limitations, and stakeholder impacts.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Data check
During a Environmental investigation capstone investigation, a measurement changes from 19 to 28. What is the change?
Scientific reasoning
Which claim is strongest in a science explanation?
a claim with evidence and stated assumptionsa claim because it sounds familiara claim with no dataa claim that ignores the model
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Earth & Environmental Science unit "Environmental investigation capstone"?
Use systems, feedback loops, reservoirs, and flows.Read maps, graphs, satellite data, and field observations.Classify rocks and minerals.Use data, limitations, and stakeholder impacts.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Environmental investigation capstone" before asking a tutor for help?
Complete a short environmental case study with evidence, claim, and recommendation.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.