Week 2: Orientation

Week Two: Orientation
Connections Among the Earth Systems
This week, refer to the resources listed under Readings, and complete the activities listed under Assignments. This week you will:

Name your Event Team if you haven't done so already
Understand how Earth's spheres connect and function as a "system"
Analyze the impact of an event on Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere
Explore problem-based learning modules that contain ESS issues

Assignments
1. Meet with your team members in the Classroom Course Space, if you have not done so already, and choose an Event Team name.

2. Read "An Introduction to an ESS Analysis" and do an ESS analysis of the Yellowstone Forest Fires event.

3. Look over the Exploring the Environment™ (ETE) site. It contains problem-based learning modules available for grades 5-12. Each interdisciplinary module asks students to address an Earth science issue. Issues vary in complexity and scope, but all are designed to engage students in student-centered research.

4. Review the Middle School Earth Science Explorer. Linked from the ETE homepage, it is designed for grades 5 and 6, but may be valuable to teachers of other grades. It provides a model for you to create your own classroom applications

You will want to locate other resources locally and on the Internet to supplement these. Post the resources you find in Resource Space in the Classroom.

Readings

Welcome to NASA's Earth Science Enterprise: Educational CD-ROM. Under the introductory section: "Earth System Science"

Teaching Science Through Inquiry by David Haury addresses the investigative nature of science education.

"Designing Science Lessons." Forecasting the Future. pp. 111-113.

Web Site

Earth Week Click on "Classroom Companion" for student worksheets and activities to be used in conjunction with the Earth week online news articles.