Course Layout

We are excited for you to begin your study of God’s creation through the Earth Sciences. Before you begin make sure you understand how this course is laid out and the various types of assignments you will be given.

Units

• Unit 1: Science and the Bible
  • This unit covers the basics definitions required to understand Earth Science and briefly introduces you to why this field of study is important from both a practical and spiritual perspective.
• Unit 2: Rocks and Minerals
  • This unit introduces the basics of geology specifically rocks and minerals and their importance in the world. In this unit you will learn how to identify several rock and mineral specimens with real geology tools like a true geologist!
• Unit 3: Tectonics and Geologic Forces
  • Tectonics and geologic forces refer to the movement of the physical earth so in this unit we will study things like earthquakes and volcanoes. We will also learn about some of the ideas for how Noah’s Flood began!
• Unit 4: Earth’s History
  • This unit dives into the controversy surrounding Earth’s history. We will evaluate both conventional evolutionary time scales and biblical young-earth time scales based on real world data and Scripture. This unit is also where we get to learn about fossils and you get to use your new paleontology skills to study your very own fossils from the lab kit!
• Unit 5: Earth’s Surface: Water and Processes
  • In this unit we will discover everyday processes happening all around us, such as groundwater movement and weathering. These are the things that you will be able to see first hand in your own yard or driving around!
• Unit 6: Earth’s Features
  • This unit will look at the processes of Earth Science that take place in extreme areas of geologic activity such as deserts, glaciers and the oceans. We will also explore the resources God has provided for us and discuss how we can use them responsibly.
• Unit 7:The Atmosphere
  • In this unit we will seek to understand the basic processes of Earth’s atmosphere including its climate and weather patterns. We will also take a look at the issue of climate change and the issues surrounding it.
• Unit 8: Our Solar System and Beyond
  • During this unit we will take a quick tour of the universe with a focus on our solar system. We will wonder at the immensity of our Creator God and his eternal nature on display in his creation.

Lessons

Each of the above units contain a number of related lessons. Your goal should be to complete one lesson a week. There are 32 lessons; each lesson should take about 3 to 4 hours to complete. The lessons are made up of a mixture of the following assignments:

Readings

The reading assignments are taken primarily from The Heavens and the Earth with a few excerpts from other sources. They will cover the same material as Dr. Whitmore’s lectures but with more of a focus on vocabulary. (Tip: Taking notes on the reading will help you out with later assignments.)

Lectures

The lecture videos for this course are some of the videos used by Dr. Whitmore for his college Principles of Earth Science course. Because of this some of the reading assignments and lecture numbers on his slides do not line up with the assignments of this course. Your assingments are all laid out here in your Compass Classroom.

Note taking is required during the lecture videos and each lecture quiz will have a question asking if you took notes. If you need help learning how to take notes look at the study tips page. Dr. Whitmore brings the material to life with real world examples and personal experiences along with biblical integration. You have a chance through these lecture videos to learn directly from a renowned and godly scientist, don’t minimize this opportunity.

Quizzes & Vocabulary

Each lesson includes a 20-question multiple choice quiz on the content of the lesson, as well as a list of vocabulary words and an associated vocabulary quiz.

Labs

The labs in this course are designed to help you understand the material in a hands on and visual way. Some of the labs will only take a few minutes to complete while others may take a couple hours. All of the equipment needed is included in the lab kit with the exception of a few common household items. Have fun doing these labs! They are going to give you the skills that actual scientists use.

Scripture Studies

God is at the center of all things so it is important to continually remind ourselves of his presence even in a science class. These Scripture Studies are designed to reorient you to the truths found in Scripture. Each Scripture Study contains a prompt for you to think through while you read the assigned Scripture passages. Following the reading is a short-answer quiz for you to type up your response to the prompt.

Discussion Questions

We will provide questions for you to use in discussion with your parents or friends. These discussions will give you an opportunity to share what you’re learning so that you better understand the material. If you can explain something to someone who is unfamiliar with it, then you have truly learned that concept.

Extra Resources

We will offer books, articles, and additional videos to learn more about various topics.

Unit Reviews

There are two unit reviews during this course. They take place during week 16 and week 32. They are composed of a 50 question content exam and a 50 question vocabulary exam. A study guide is provided to help students prepare for the exams. This is also a time when lecture and reading notes are helpful.