REAL Science Odyssey: Earth & Environment 2 textbook

REAL Science Odyssey: Earth & Environment 2 textbook

Pages: 230

Grade level: 6th - 10th grade

Course type: textbook

Author: Blair H. Lee, M.S.  

The RSO Earth & Environment 2 curriculum is contained in three separate books:

1. Earth & Environment 2 textbook (this item)
2. Earth & Environment 2 Workbook
3. Earth & Environment 2 Teacher Guide

What is RSO Earth & Environment 2?

RSO Earth & Environment 2 is a 23-week earth and environmental science course. It is designed to be paired with the 12-week RSO Astronomy 2 course for a complete, year-long curriculum.

The student textbook (this item), student Workbook, and Teacher Guide contain all the information you need to teach earth and environmental science this year. This course was written so that it can be taught by any educator — even if you do not have a science degree.

While learning the fundamentals of earth and environmental science, students also learn and practice the methods used by scientists to establish the facts and theories that form the foundation of those fundamentals. The labs are closely paired with the written material so students can see how the results of experiments lead to a better understanding of how the physical world works. These experiments also demonstrate how scientific principles are applied in real-world contexts.

Together, these components create a complete science course that teaches the core principles of earth and environmental science while also emphasizing the scientific processes used to develop those principles.

This course challenges middle and high school students to conduct independent research, think critically, and make connections between scientific concepts and the real world. Each lesson builds on the last, introducing new vocabulary and concepts in a logical progression. Math, a fundamental tool for all scientists, is integrated throughout.

Labs, found in the Workbook, guide students in using the scientific method and discovering for themselves how the physical world works.

Who Can Use RSO Earth & Environment 2?

RSO Earth & Environment 2 is designed for homeschool middle and high school students, roughly grades 6–10. The lessons are written at a level appropriate for independent readers in these grades.

Workbook assignments—especially labs—may require additional guidance from a parent or teacher. As always, we encourage you to discuss the big ideas and questions presented in each lesson to deepen understanding and engagement.

Course Structure

RSO Earth & Environment 2 homeschool science curriculum consists of three products:

• The textbook (this product), containing 23 progressive, narrative lessons designed for your middle or high school student to read independently.
• The Workbook, containing labs, Famous Science Series independent research projects, Show What You Know quizzes, and five unit assessments.
• The Teacher Guide, containing lesson plans, materials lists, scheduling suggestions and more.

Science Skills Covered

RSO Earth & Environment 2 starts with the basics and then covers progressively more complex concepts as you move through the course. Every unit reinforces aspects of the scientific method and critical thinking. Each lesson explores a big idea or question in depth through reading, experiments, and conversation.

Planning and Scheduling

RSO Earth & Environment 2 consists of three books: the student textbook, the student workbook, and the teacher guide. If working with a group, several students can share a textbook, but we recommend each student have a copy of the workbook for written assignments, lab findings, and assessments.

This course is comprised of 23 chapters designed as a “long” semester to be paired with the 12-chapter RSO Astronomy 2 as a “short” semester. This assumes that each chapter is completed within one week plus some extra time for review and testing.

Important Copyright Information

If you choose the eBook version of this course, you are purchasing a license to use the PDF for your own children. You may make copies for your own children, but you may not share (email, download, print and distribute, resell, etc.) this eBook or any portion of this eBook to others. Licensing is available for group, school, and co-op use. Please contact Pandia Press for details on group licensing (info@pandiapressbooks.com).