Mr

Mr. Oliver

7th Grade, 8th Grade, Earth and Environmental Science

I was born and raised in the Willsboro and Essex area and graduated from Willsboro Central School in 1981. Following graduation, I attended Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Colorado where I received an Associates Degree in Natural Resources Management.

Once I had completed my degree in Colorado I joined the work force doing construction work in New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia. After saving enough money, I returned to college and received a degree in Environmental Systems from Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Following graduation from S.U. and SUNY-ESF I returned to the work force I once again saved money to finish my education at SUNY Plattsburgh with a Masters in The Science of Teaching.

I started working for Willsboro Central School in 1993 and I now teach 7th Grade Life Science, 8th Grade Physical Science, Earth Science and Environmental Science.

I currently live on a small farm in Reber with my wife, two children, cats, dog, horses and other critters.

My other hobbies include skiing, fishing, hunting, golf and many other outdoor activities.

EARTH SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE

During the year the Earth Science students will be looking at the earth as a system made up of many separate but interconnected components. The curriculum is broken into those components which are studied separately from each other but the inter-relationships are also pointed out.

The following list includes the major areas of study for the year: Models of the earth, the earths structure and motion, mineral and rock formation and identification, resource availability and usage, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering and erosion, hydrology, oceanography, the atmosphere and energy, energy and moisture budgets, weather and climate, astronomy and earth's history.

Using a combination of classroom lecture, discussion and hands on lab activities the students will learn the pertinent information pertaining to the class and learn to anticipate how changing any component in the system will affect the other components in the system.

EARTH SCIENCE CURRICULUM

TOPIC	INTRODUCED	COMPETENCY	REINFORCEMENT
1-The Earth as a system	Earth System Science Interactions among the 4 Earth spheres. *H₂O cycle, energy cycle, carbon cycle	*Open vs. Closed Systems: -Hydrosphere -Atmosphere -Lithosphere -Biosphere	*Energy sources, both conventional and non-conventional models, law of thermodynamic cycles, systems
2-Methods of Science	*Peer Review	*Instrument Usage- Balance, microscope, graphing » construction and analysis	*Scientific Method
3-Models of the Earth	*Parallels, meridians, maps, GPS, GIS	*Types of maps latitude and longitude map analysis - distance, elevation, slope, profiles, gradients, topographical features	*Locating positions using latitude and longitude, using maps
4-Earth Structure	*Theories on formation lithosphere, asthenosphere	*Location and physical properties of all of the the Earth's layers	*Layers and characteristics of all Earth layers
5-Earth's Motions	Axial tilt, rotational speed, revolutional speed (periods of rotation and revolution) Evidence of rotation and revolution Effects of rotation and revolution Elipse and Eccentricity	Equinox and solstice dates Time zones	*Graphing skills
6-Matter			Structure of atoms Bonding and compound elements
7-Minerals	Mineral structure and composition Mineral formation "The 8 major mineral elements" The rock forming minerals	Crystal formation and internal arrangement of atoms Properties used for mineral ID *Mineral Identification	*Use of keys for identification
8-Rocks	Rock composition and types Rock cycles Intrusions Rock and Mineral Resources	Rock classification and identification Key characteristics *Rock type formation	Rock vs. minerals Resources - natural vs. manmade *Renewable and non-renewable resources
9-Plate Tectonics	Continental Drift Plate Tectonics Earthquake/volcanic zones Supporting evidence for continental drift and plate tectonics Types of plate boundaries Causes of plate movement History of land masses Continental growth	Recognize the relationships between plate boundaries and areas of activity Geologic features associated with plate boundaries	Earth layers Earth as a system Construction and analysis of graphs Convection currents
10-Volcanoes	Magma formation and characteristics Lava types and lava flows Extraterrestrial volcanoes Volcano types and characteristics *Tectonic forces on other planets	Types and characteristics of magma and lava Types and characteristics of volcanoes	*Geologic features associated with plate boundaries
11-Earthquakes	Causes of earthquakes Earthquake waves and characteristics Earthquake measurements Locating earthquakes Fault types and movement Earthquake hazards and emergency planning	Characteristics of earthquake waves Richter Scale vs. the Mercelli Scale *Triangulation for locating epicenters	Plate tectonics Plate boundaries *Rate, graphing skills
12-Mountain Formation	Forces driving mountain building Stress types *Mountain types and characteristics	*Mountain types in relation to the stresses that build them	Plate movement Earthquakes, volcanoes fault types Rock types Intrusions
13-Weathering and Erosion	Types of weathering Climate and weathering Cave formation Soils Agents of Erosion Types of Erosion *Land forms resulting from erosion	Weathering rates Factors effecting weathering Soil formulation and types Types of erosion and factors effecting erosion *Shoreline currents, waves	Rock types and characteristics Rock cycle Mineral types and characteristics Rate Slope, discharge Soil conservation
14-Surface Water	Relative aging of streams and characteristics Methods of stream erosion Deposition of sediments Flood plan development *Disaster precaution/planning	Relationships between stream "age" and energy Solution, suspension and bedload Velocity of streams and particle size Patterns of depositions *Flood plain features	Topographic maps and map skills Kenetic and Potential Energy mass, density
15-Ground Water	Porosity, permeability, capillarity Water budgets Ground water conservation Water pollution	Soil characteristics and how the effect porosity, permeability, capillarity Zones of water springs, geysers Water budget and climate Water budgets and water cycle	Pollution Water cycles *Graphing skills
16-Glaciers	Glacier types and formation Land forms *Ice ages	Glaciers as agents of erosion Depositional features and patterns Glacial movement Growth and decline	Weathering and erosion Map skills
17-The Atmosphere	Composition of the atmosphere Layers of the atmosphere Sulfur cycle Insolation Isotherms Specific and relative humidity Dew point temperature Formation of precipitation Cloud types Orographic effects	Characteristics of each layer Factors affecting insolation Relationships between angle of insolation and intensity, duration, temperature, seasons and latitude Construction of isotherm map Finding relative humidity Dew point and cloud base altitude *Geographic effects on climate	Temperature Water vapor (states of matter) Pressure Condensation Evaporation Sublimation Climate types Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle Heat energy transfer Pollution Graphing skills
18-Movement of the Atmosphere	Air pressure Driving forces behind wind Measuring wind velocity Coriolis effect Isobars Wind patterns: -Global -Local -Daily *Pressure systems and wind movement	Measuring, recording and changing air pressure Construction and interpretation of station models	Pressure Velocity *Friction
19-Weather	Air mass, source regions, type and characteristics of air masses Fronts and frontal movement/interaction Jet stream Severe weather: -Winter -Thunderstorms -Tornados -Hurricanes Relationship between weather variables: -Pressure -Temperature -Humidity -Wind -Cloud Cover -Precipitation -Dew Point Weather prediction	Air mass characteristics Frontal map construction Construction of synoptic weather maps Prediction	Station models Iso lines Climate Climate change *Energy exchanges
20-The Earth's Oceans	Modern vs. historical Research studies Salinity Composition Temperature profiles Deep surface Ocean currents Ocean's effect on global and local climate *Sea floor topography	List and describe physical and chemical features of ocean layers Cold vs. warm water currents	Oceanography Properties and states of matter Solution suspension Weathering Hurricanes Mineral and rock formation *Topographic features
21-Astronomy	Formation of the universe and solar system Stars and their characteristics Terrestrial vs. Jovian planets The moon: -eclipses -solar eclipses Meteoroids, meteriors, asteroids, comets Impact events *Orbits and ellipses	Models of the solar system Heliocentric vs. Geocentric Star classification Orbital dynamics *Construct ellipses	Solar system Formation of earth Seasons E.M. spectrum Velocity Trajectory
22-Geologic Time and History	Index fossils Correlation Eon Era Period Epoch *Realitive vs. Absolute dating	Realitive dating of rock layers Calculate absoluted age using known decay rates	Rock types and formation Radioactivity half-life Plate tectonics Deposition of sediments *Extinction

PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE

The Physical Science class explores and learns about introductory Physics and Chemistry. For convenience sake we break the course into three separate but interconnected areas of study.

The first section deals with the basic information needed as a foundation for their learning more specific content. This section includes topics such as lab safety, scientific methods, experimentation and using the SI system of measurement (the metric system).

The second section is introductory physics. Some of the areas of study for this section are motion (including acceleration, momentum and Newton's laws of motion), energy, forms of energy, energy transfer, work and machines and waves, light and sound.

The final section that we will learn about deals with general chemistry. We will be focusing on atomic structure and the periodic table, solids, liquids, gasses, classification of matter, chemical bonds, elements and their properties, writing and naming chemical formula and compounds.

LIFE SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE

During Science class in the 7th grade the students at Willsboro Central will
be learning about Life Science.

The course starts out with a unit on the basic unit of life, the cell. The students will learn the various organelles that make up the cell as well as their functions. Also covered in the unit is cellular reproduction including Mitosis and Meiosis.

Once we have learned the basic cellular information we will move on to body systems, including: the immune, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, digestive and reproductive. During the chapter on the human reproductive system we will focus on structures, function and development, as well as fetal development. The chapter will conclude with a viewing of the Nova Special "The Miracle of Life".
Prior to showing the video, a permission slip will be sent home in case any parents object to their child's exposure to the content. The parents will also have the opportunity to preview the video if they wish.

The students will also learn about plants, plant structures and their functions, classification of organisms, heredity, bacteria, protists, fungi and ecosystems.

johnoliver@willsborocsd.org