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 basic definitions required to understand Earth Science. You will learn about what Earth Science is, the areas of study it includes, and why this kind of science is important to us 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 like a true geologist!
• Unit 3: Tectonics and Geologic Forces
  • Tectonics and geologic forces involve movement of the physical earth. In this unit, we will study earthquakes, volcanoes, and the kinds of geologic forces that were at work before, during, and after Noah’s Flood.
• Unit 4: Earth’s History
  • Earth’s history is surrounded by controversy. In this unit, we will evaluate both conventional evolutionary time scales and biblical young-earth time scales based on real world data and Scripture. You will also have the opportunity to study fossils and learn how to identify them using your lab kit!
• Unit 5: Earth’s Surface: Water and Processes
  • Various processes on Earth’s surface are at work all around us. Groundwater movement, weathering, rainfall, and many more processes all work together in a dynamic, ever-changing system. This unit will help you recognize these processes– many of which happen even in your own backyard!
• Unit 6: Earth’s Features
  • This unit covers specific processes within Earth Science that occur in areas of extreme geologic activity, such as deserts, glaciers, and the oceans. You will explore the various resources that God has provided for us and how we can use them responsibly.
• Unit 7: The Atmosphere
  • This unit focuses on specific processes within Earth Science that occur in Earth’s atmosphere. You will learn about weather patterns and the forces behind them, as well as Earth’s climate, climate change, and how Christians can respond to it.
• Unit 8: Our Solar System and Beyond
  • In this unit, you will embark on a quick tour of the universe! You will learn about our solar system, what lies in and beyond it, and the various conventional explanations for the origin of the universe. Ultimately, you will discover the brilliance of our Creator and His eternal nature as it is displayed in all of 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 readings 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 level 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 within this course. Your assignments are all outlined here in your Compass Classroom.

Note-taking is highly recommended during the lecture videos. Not only will this help you focus on the lecture content, but your notes will be a helpful reference as you study for the quizzes and unit reviews within this course. Dr. Whitmore brings the lesson material to life with real-world examples and personal experiences along with biblical integration. Through these lecture videos, you have a chance to learn directly from a renowned and godly scientist. Don’t minimize this opportunity!

Quizzes & Key Terms

Each lesson includes a 20-question multiple choice quiz on the content of the lesson, as well as a list of Key Terms, their definitions, and an associated Key Terms quiz.

Review Questions

At the end of each chapter of The Heavens and the Earth are a number of review questions. We have referenced these questions and included a number of them, or a number of similar questions, in the relevant lessons. After writing down your answers to the review questions, you will have the ability to compare your answers to the answer key included in the following step.

Labs

The labs in this course are designed to help you understand the material in a more hands-on, visual way. Some of the labs will only take a few minutes to complete; others may take a couple of 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– especially in a science class! 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 discussion question for you to think about, write about, and discuss with your parent or teacher.

Extra Resources

We will offer books, articles, and additional videos to learn more about various topics. Any extra resources for a particular lesson will be found at the end of that lesson and denoted by {+}. These steps are recommended, but optional for students to complete.

Unit Reviews

At the end of each unit, there is a unit review lesson. These reviews are composed of a 30 question content exam and a 30 question vocabulary exam. Students are recommended to look over their lecture and reading notes and study what they have missed in past quizzes in order to prepare for these exams.

Additionally, there are two larger unit reviews during this course. They take place during week 16 and week 32. Each covers 4 units of material. These reviews are composed of a 50 question content exam and a 50 question vocabulary exam.