Week 2: Course Basics

Week 2: Course Basics
This week you should refer to the resources listed under Readings & References, and you need to complete the activities listed under Assignments. This week's activities focus on...

Meeting and naming your team
Understanding Earth's spheres and how they connect and function as a "system"

Readings & References
Read: An Introduction to Earth System Science.

Assignments
Do: If you have not done so already, meet with your team members in "Teacher as Researcher" and choose a team name.

Do: Continue collecting the soil and containers you and your students will need for your terrariums.

Portfolio
Using the Earth Week web site or your local newspaper, identify a natural event (volcano eruption, flood, earthquake, etc.) that took place recently in the world.

Go to the Classroom then to Portfolio Space. After you enter your private portfolio, list your ideas concerning how you think the event would affect the spheres, how the spheres would in turn affect the event, and how the spheres may affect each other. Try to list your ideas in the same fashion that was used for the Yellowstone fires event in An Introduction to Earth System Science.

Please note that this assignment is a non-graded, individual exercise. Its intent is to help you establish a baseline of knowledge. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know." If you already knew all of this information, then you would have no reason to be taking this course.

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Last updated July 24, 2000