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- Course name
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Earth Science with Lab (Novare), Part One with MacBeth Derham
- Summary
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Earth Science for Middle School is a fast-paced course for science-loving students who don’t want to wait until high school to take a lab science. We will find our place in the universe and delve into the depths of our planet in order to understand the ever-changing Earth.
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Course description:
In Part One of this two-semester course, students will engage with the learning, language and tools used by geologists and other Earth Scientists to learn about our planet. We begin with a study of the planet as a whole and our place in the universe, continue with laboratory lessons on mineral identification and the rock cycle, and conclude the semester with a look inside the Earth, considering the impact that structure has on life. Using modern mapping techniques (GIS), students will understand the challenges of studying the Earth on a small-to-large scale.
Earth Science by Kevin Nelstead (Novare) ISBN: 978-0986352911. Available from Sophia Institute Press.
and Novare Earth Science Lab Kit: https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/novare-earth-science-lab-kit/ Other materials include maps and household items.
- Course name
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Earth Science with Lab (Novare), Part One with MacBeth Derham
- Instructor
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MacBeth Derham
- Semester
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Recorded
- Category
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Science ➤ Earth Science
- Grade levels
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Middle School
- Start time
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September 3rd, 2025 at 11:30 AM ET
- Course type
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Recorded, free with subscription
- Relative due dates
- Enhanced quiz security
- Enhanced assignment security
Honors Biology
Biology
Astronomy
To the Moon: Apollo Missions and the Future
Geology
A History of Scientific Thought for Middle School Students
Introduction to Earth Science
Planetary Science
Introduction to Ornithology
Invertebrate Zoology
Vertebrate Zoology
Cetaceans: Marine Mammals
The Dog
The Cat
- This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections or purchasers of the course. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment, and in violation of US and International copyright laws.
- You may print or download to your own storage extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.
- Upon completion of the course, you must delete all copies of course materials from any storage on which you saved permissible extracts.
Special notes
This is Part One of a two-semester course.
***Note: The work level in this course is a bridge between middle school and high school. Don't underestimate the effort needed.
Total classes
Duration
Prerequisites
None
Suggested grade level
Suggested credit
Outline
Course outline:
Week 1: Introduction to Earth Science
Week 2: Solar System and Seasons
Week 3: Moon Phases, Eclipses, and Calendars
Week 4: Visualizing Earth: Maps
Week 5: Lab 1: Interpreting Topographic Maps
Week 6: The Scientific Method and Stewardship
Week 7: Mineral Structures and Gems
Week 8: Properties of Matter
Week 9: Lab 2: Identifying Minerals
Week 10: The Rock Cycle and Lab 3
Week 11: Plate Tectonics
Week 12: Volcanoes
Week 13: Earthquakes
Materials
Homework
Weekly homework includes assigned reading, defining vocabulary words, and a weekly computer-graded quiz. The several laboratory experiments will be recorded in the student’s notebook, and will be graded by the parent for both form and content. An answer key is included.
***Note: The work level in this course is a bridge between middle school and high school. Don't underestimate the effort needed.
MacBeth Derham
macbethderham@gmail.com
About MacBeth Derham
MacBeth Derham studied biology at Mount Holyoke College and has taught natural history in the field for over 35 years. She currently teaches classes for her homeschool group, tutors math and science privately, and conducts a Marine Biology field school twice a year for local students.
From 2005-2020 she worked with The Front Lawn Players, a Shakespeare troupe made up of students ages 3-18, as both a speech coach and director. She spent the summer of 2017 in Oxford studying literature (including Shakespeare), philosophy, theology, and history. A more than reasonable amount of her time there was spent out of doors, in nature, walking the paths loved by Lewis, Tolkien, and friends. An amateur wildlife and travel photographer, many of her courses feature her own images of creature encounters from both home and abroad. Thanks to her children, she has a fine collection of animal skulls and skeletons.
Mrs. Derham speaks at homeschool conferences on the interdisciplinary need for nature study. She is a retired homeschooling mother of four very different grown children, grandmother of 4 west-coasters, and wife to Don.
Click here for more info about MacBeth Derham!
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Violation of the above copyright policies may result in expulsion without any refund and/or legal action.