Fulfill your High School Earth Science requirement at home with training from Penn Foster High School. We’ll guide you through the course with class notes, textbooks and unlimited instructor support. Each lesson has been specifically designed for independent study – you’ll learn Earth Science in no time.
Course Description
Designed for students who have little or no previous science background, Earth Science concentrates on four main areas of study:
Geology (Earth and its rocks and minerals, and how our planet was formed)
Oceanography (Earth’s oceans and their characteristics)
Meteorology (Earth’s atmosphere, weather patterns, and climate conditions)
Astronomy (space and everything in it)
The course includes an illustrated textbook, Earth Science: Reviewing the Essentials, which contains the assigned reading material. There is also a study guide with six lessons, study assignments, and self-checks, along with six multiple-choice exams.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Define Earth Science and explain how it relates to the sciences of geology,
meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy
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Describe specific characteristics of Earth; e.g., its shape, size, and subdivisions
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Outline the important details needed to make accurate maps of Earth
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Define mineral; identify the main characteristics of a mineral
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Differentiate between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
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Explain the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources
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Describe the theories of continental drift, seafloor spreading, and plate tectonics
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Define earthquake; explain how earthquakes are measured and predicted
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Identify the various types of volcanoes; explain where they form
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Differentiate between plains, plateaus, and mountains
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Distinguish between chemical weathering and mechanical weathering
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Describe how these weathering processes are involved in soil formation
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Define the various parts of a river; explain how rivers are involved in soil erosion
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Explain the location of groundwater on Earth
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Define the terms related to glaciers; explain how glaciers are involved in erosion
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Describe ocean characteristics; e.g., floors, temperatures, currents, tides, and waves
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Explain how scientists determine the age of Earth
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Describe the layers of Earth’s atmosphere; identify the characteristics of its moisture
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Explain how forecasters use atmospheric conditions to predict weather
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Describe the effects of global warming and acid rain
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Outline the characteristics of various types of storms
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Define climate; explain the characteristics of the different climate zones
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Describe the characteristics of stars; explain the tools scientists use to study them
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Discuss the movements of the planets in our solar system
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Describe Earth’s moon; explain how its phases and eclipses occur
Course Outline
Lesson 1: Matter, Minerals, and Rocks
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The Science of Planet Earth: Definition; Why Study It?; Scientific Observations; Measurement Systems
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The Dimensions of Planet Earth: Shape; Gravity; Size; Subdivisions; New Terms
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Maps and Navigation: Map Projections; Terrestrial Coordinates; Map Scales; Topographic Maps; Gradient; Magnetic Field
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Matter and Minerals: Definitions; States of Matter; New Terms
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Mineral Identification: Properties of Minerals; Most Common Minerals
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The Formation of Rocks: Igneous Rocks; Sedimentary Rocks; Metamorphic Rocks; The Rock Cycle; Change and Cycles; New Terms
Lesson 2: Natural Resources and Internal Phenomena
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Earth’s Natural Resources: Non-renewable; Renewable; Conservation
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Plate Tectonics: Earth’s Interior; Continental Drift; Seafloor Spreading; Plate Tectonics; Paradigm Shifts; New Terms
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Earthquakes: Definition; Seismic Waves; Measuring; Damage; Prediction; Learning from Earthquakes
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Volcanoes: Definition; Eruptions; Structures; Sources
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Landscapes: Plains; Plateaus; Mountains; How Mountains Form; New Terms
Lesson 3: Weathering, Erosion, and Water
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Weathering and Soils: Definition; Rate of Weathering; Formation of Soil; Soil Horizons
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Erosion and Deposition: Mass Movement; Wind; Earth’s Systems; New Terms
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Earth’s Rivers: Parts; Erosion by Rivers; Eroding Power; Deposition by Rivers; Sorting; Conclusions and Misconceptions
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Groundwater on Earth: Water in the Ground; Returning to the Surface; Conservation; Groundwater Erosion; New Terms
Lesson 4: Glaciers, Oceans, and Time
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The Work of Glaciers: Definition; Types; Erosion by Glaciers; Deposition by Glaciers; Glacial Lakes; Ice Age; Changing Face of Geology
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The Restless Oceans: Ocean Floor; Composition of Ocean Water; Temperatures; Currents; Tides; Waves; Erosion and Deposition by Ocean Waves; Conservation of Ocean Resources; New Terms
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Earth’s History: Formation; Fossil Record; Interpreting the Record; Changes in Rock Layers; Absolute Age
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Geologic Time: Magnitude; Geologic Time Scale; Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras; Organic Evolution; New Terms
Lesson 5: The Atmosphere and Climate
Lesson 6: Astronomy
- Stars and the Universe: How Far Away?; Definition; Brightness; Heat; Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram; Galaxies; Studying Stars
- The Solar System: System of the Sun; Rotation and Revolution; Inner Planets; Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids; Outer Planets
- Earth and Its Moon: Evidence for Rotation and Revolution; Seasons; Characteristics of Earth’s Moon; Living on Planet Earth; Fate of Our Planet and Universe; New Terms
How it Works
After registering for the Earth Science course, all of your learning materials will be shipped directly to you. If you like, you can also go to our website and download some of your study materials to get a head start. Your learning materials will guide you through the course content, explaining concepts and operations through a series of lessons. After each lesson, you’ll take an exam which you can submit by phone or our website. As you pass each lesson, you’ll proceed to the next topic until you complete the course.
There are six exams that need to be passed to complete your course in Earth Science and you’ll have up to 15 weeks to complete the course.
Support
If you should ever need help with your studies, you can e-mail or call our instructors who will gladly help you with any questions that you might have.
Study Time
Since there is no set class schedule, you study when and where it’s convenient for you. You can complete your course as quickly as you’d like.
Completion
When you have successfully completed your course, you will receive a letter of completion along with an official transcript listing your completed course(s) and grades. You can apply your course towards our Diploma Program or a diploma from your local High School (be sure to check with your school authorities regarding mandatory attendance policies and whether they agree that the Penn Foster High School Program is acceptable toward the completion of your high school education).
Accreditation
Penn Foster High School is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; has met the high standards of integrity and performance set by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Washington D.C., and is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.
Whether you’re looking for accelerated studies or credit recovery, regionally and nationally accredited Penn Foster High School provides the courses you need to complete your High School Diploma.
