Earth and Environmental Science B

Content

Our Earth can be turbulent and unpredictable. Students will learn how the structure of the geosphere allows for changes on Earth over a timescale of 4.543 billion years. The geosphere's unpredictable nature gives rise to large-scale disasters that impact society and the environment. Through laboratory and fieldwork, students can engage in a hands-on approach to learning, developing and extending their inquiry skills.

Topics may include:

• Turbulent Earth: Natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and avalanches affect life on Earth

• Composition of the geosphere: Radioactive decay, the formulae of minerals, and the evidence of fossils can be analysed through the geosphere. Development of the geological time scale is based on this evidence.

• Processes in the geosphere: Investigate evidence that provides information about the Earth's structure and learn how scientists analyse this evidence to develop models that describe changes to the Earth’s structure.

Assessment

Investigations folio  40%

• SHE investigation 20%: 750 words if written or a maximum of 5 minutes for an oral presentation or the equivalent in multimodal form

• Completion practical report 20%: 750 words

Skills and applications tasks  60% 

• Lab skills and application 30%: Written and practical: supervised 100 minutes

• Field skills and application 30%: 750 words if written or a maximum of 5 minutes for an oral presentation, or the equivalent in multimodal form

Additional Information