Course Descriptions

First Semester
Have you ever wondered how gems and crystals are formed? Have you ever found a rock and wondered what processes shaped it? In the this course we'll watch crystals form under a microscope. We will learn how to identify rocks, gems, and minerals. We'll learn how minerals are used and map the sources of important mineral resources. We'll hear about environmental, social, and political implications of local and international mining. We'll grow plants in various soil types to evaluate nutrients and drainage.



Second Semester
The Earth's surface is a dynamic changing place with exciting events such earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and sink holes that can swallow a house. It is also a dangerous place which is all to easy to forget. We'll learn how and why these events happen. We'll look at examples of how people have been prepared, not prepared, and the architecture that can protect us. We'll collect oral histories of natural disasters and the affects on survivors. We'll learn to prepare ourselves and our families to prepare and survive through a disaster. Topics will include plate tectonics, mountain building, volcanism, earthquakes, natural disasters, and natural disaster survival. We'll explore the local geology of our area through a series of optional Saturday field trips to be arranged by students, parents, and instructor.