This class is for any high school student who wants to learn Earth Science (geology, astronomy, natural hazards) from a licensed secondary education teacher who knows all of the cool things these subjects offer, as well as how to teach them to make them really fun and engaging.  We can even apply grades to the student's work to report on transcripts if that is requested. Students will choose a particular phenomenon of interest which covers a great deal of the requirements of the Colorado Academic Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. High school Earth science covers the processes and interactions of Earth's systems and the structure and dynamics of Earth and other objects in space. This includes:

1.  The history of the universe, solar system and Earth. As part of the solar system, Earth interacts with various extraterrestrial forces and energies such as gravity, solar phenomena, electromagnetic radiation, and impact events that influence the planet’s geosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere in a variety of ways.
2. The theory of plate tectonics helps to explain geological, physical, and geographical features of Earth.
3. Climate is the result of energy transfer among interactions of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
4. There are costs, benefits, and consequences of exploration, development, and consumption of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
5. The interaction of Earth's surface with water, air, gravity, and biological activity causes physical and chemical changes
6. Natural hazards have local, national and global impacts such as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and thunderstorms.