Earth Science Courses of Study for Science Teachers
by Russ Colson
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"The three courses of lessons below provide a rigorous review of the practices of earth science and offer ideas for activities and investigations that can be adapted to your own elementary, middle school, or highschool classroom."
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Earth Science Today
is a succinct overview of the four branches of earth science (Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Weather and Climate, and Astronomy and Planets) appropriate for preparation of an elementary teacher. The lessons include abbreviated textual summaries of key earth science ideas along with problems and exercises. The material addresses the elementary earth science standards for the state of Minnesota. Appropriate text for a 3 semester credit course.
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Earth Science Essentials (ESE1)
is a rigorous self-guided course for secondary science teachers wanting to expand or renew their understanding of the fundamentals of earth science, including key concepts in petrology, paleontology, stratigraphy, geochemistry, geophysics, volcanology, plate tectonics, geochronology, phase chemistry, phase transitions, precipitation, pressure and wind patterns, coriolis effects world energy balance, climate, stellar spectra, planetary processes, and geomorphology, addressing many of the secondary earth science standards for the state of Minnesota. Material is presented with recorded lectures in the field and lab as well as interactive texts with problems to solve and concepts to apply to real-world situations. With ESE1, you can do more than learn about earth science, you can engage in it with in-the-field video lectures and investigative Science Reasoning Puzzles. The course materials include Extra Resources such as optional discussion topics and lab activities, which can give you ideas for your own classes. Appropriate for a 3 semester credit course if 1-2 of the extra resource labs are completed (or 4-5 credits if most or all of the extra resource labs and materials are completed).
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Earth Science Extras (ESE2)
is a collection of rigorous self-guided lessons that supplement the coursework in ESE1, providing additional exploration of astronomy including H-R diagrams, nucleosynthesis, Keppler's Laws, and stellar distances, Human-Earth interaction, soils, surface and groundwater hydrology, more advanced geochemistry of environmental and archaeological application, structural geology, geological mapping and interpretation, mapping in physical geography, paleogeographic reconstruction, additional lab work including identifcation of rocks, minerals, and fossils in hand sample and under the petrographic microscope, more advanced mineralogy and petrology material, more advanced phase geochemistry, and a virtual still-picture tour of the geology of Minnesota. Combined with ESE1, these materials address secondary earth science standards for the state of Minnesota as well as the secondary earth science teacher preparation standards. As with ESE1, material is presented including interactive texts with labs, problems to solve, and concepts to apply to real-world situations. Appropriate for a 4-5 semester credit course, with widely ranging difficulty level of the lessons.
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The course materials for Earth Science Today, Earth Science Essentials, and Earth Science Extras were developed by Dr. Russ Colson, coauthor of the
NSTA Press book Learning
to Read the Earth and Sky, professor (emeritus) of geology, meteorology, and planetary
science at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and winner of the 2010
US Outstanding Masters Universities and Colleges Professor of the Year Award. The materials for this course, including video lectures, interactive texts,
and extra resources, are offered here for free. If you use or
modify these materials, please cite Russ Colson, the title of the course of study, and the appropriate link. You can contact me, Russ Colson, at colson@mnstate.edu.
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· "The courses of lessons below use the same materials as in the courses above, but are repackaged to provide a focus on traditional areas of earth science study."
· Problems in Introductory Geology
This course of self-study provides for a review of introductory geology material (both physical and historical geology) through lectures and interactive text problems that apply understanding of geological concepts and approaches to real world and simulated problems. It is appropriate for a sophomore or junior level college review of the broad field of geology, including paleontology, stratigraphy, petrology, geochemistry, volcanology, geophysics, geochronology, structural geology, mineralogy, and a virtual tour of Minnesota geology. Appropriate for a 2 semester credit college course.· Problems in Water, Land, and People
This course of self-study provides for a review of introductory physical geography material through lectures and interactive text problems that apply understanding of physical geography concepts and approaches to real world and simulated problems. It is appropriate for a sophomore or junior level college review of the broad field of physical geography, including geomorphology, soils, climate, meteorology, hydrology, natural resources, natural hazards, contour mapping, and remote sensing. Appropriate for a 2 semester credit college course.· Problems in Planetary Science
This course of self-study provides for a review of important concepts in astromony and planetary science for preparation of secondary earth science teachers, including problems in spectroscopy, measuring distances in space, H-R diagrams, nucleosynthesis, Kepplers Laws, phases of the Moon, Seasons on Earth, Planetary geological processes, geochemical differentiation and planetary models. Appropriate for a 1 semester credit college course.· Problems in Geochemistry
This course of self-study provides for a review of principles of geochemistry and statistics, including how chemical composition can be applied to environmental problems or interpretion of archaeological finds, and a review of phase diagrams, including fence diagrams, 1- and 2-components phase diagrams, Bowen's Reaction Series, and the Le Chatelier Principle. It is appropriate for a junior or senior level college review of geochemistry and statistics. Appropriate for a 1-2 semester credit college course.· Problems in Mineralogy and Petrology
This course of self-study provides for a review of atoms, bonds, mineral structures, atomic substitution rules, symmetry types and classes, rock types and interpretations, virtual examination of minerals and fossils under a petrographic microscope, and phase diagrams appropriate for a junior or senior level college review. Appropriate for a 1-2 semester college course.· Problems in Economic and Environmental Geology
This course of self-study provides for a review of hydrology, phase diagrams, pollutant migration, geochemistry, environmental law, EPA water quality criteria, remote sensing, and other issues related to water quality science. It is appropriate for a junior or senior level college course. Appropriate as a 1 semester credit course.
MSUM's Earth Science Education Website
MSUM's Environmental Studies Website
July 21, 2023