Grade 11: Earth Science

Here is a comprehensive contents outline for a Grade 11 Earth Science course, aligned with the British Columbia (BC) curriculum in Canada.

The BC Grade 11 Earth Science course is formally called Earth Science 11. It is an introductory course that explores the origins, structure, and dynamic processes of our planet, as well as its place in the universe.

The following outline breaks down the content into the core units as they are typically presented.

Earth Science 11 – Course Contents Outline

Big Ideas of the Course:

• The transfer of energy through the atmosphere creates weather and is affected by climate change.

• The distribution of water has a major influence on weather and climate.

• Plate tectonic theory explains the consequences of tectonic plate interactions.

• The formation of the universe can be explained by the big bang theory.

Unit 1: Astronomy – The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

• Key Concepts:

  • The Big Bang Theory: Evidence for the origin and expansion of the universe.

  • The Life Cycle of Stars: Nebulae, protostars, main sequence, red giants, supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes.

  • Structure and Components of Our Solar System: Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

  • Earth-Moon-Sun System: Phases of the moon, tides, eclipses, and seasons.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Questioning, Predicting, and Processing data.

Unit 2: Geology – Plate Tectonics and Earth’s Structure

• Key Concepts:

  • Earth’s Internal Structure: Crust, mantle, core (lithosphere vs. asthenosphere).

  • Continental Drift and Sea-Floor Spreading: Historical evidence (fossils, rock formations, paleomagnetism).

  • Plate Tectonic Theory: Major tectonic plates and their boundaries.

  • Plate Boundaries and Associated Features:

    • Divergent: Mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys.

    • Convergent: Mountains (fold, fault-block, volcanic), volcanoes, trenches.

    • Transform: Earthquakes, fault lines (e.g., San Andreas).

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Evaluating, Applying and innovating.

Unit 3: Geology – Rocks, Minerals, and Earth’s Resources

• Key Concepts:

  • Minerals: Definition, properties for identification (hardness, streak, lustre, cleavage), and the rock-forming silicates.

  • The Rock Cycle: A model illustrating the formation and transformation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

  • Igneous Rocks: Intrusive (e.g., granite) vs. Extrusive (e.g., basalt).

  • Sedimentary Rocks: Clastic (e.g., sandstone), chemical (e.g., rock salt), and organic (e.g., coal); fossils.

  • Metamorphic Rocks: Foliated (e.g., slate, gneiss) vs. Non-foliated (e.g., marble).

  • Earth’s Resources: Origin and uses of fossil fuels, metals, and groundwater.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Planning and conducting, Processing and analyzing data.

Unit 4: Atmosphere and Weather (Meteorology)

• Key Concepts:

  • Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere: Troposphere, stratosphere, etc.

  • Energy Transfer: Radiation, conduction, convection.

  • Weather vs. Climate.

  • Air Masses and Fronts: Cold, warm, stationary, and occluded fronts.

  • Weather Systems: High and low-pressure systems, air circulation (Coriolis effect).

  • Severe Weather: Formation of thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

  • Weather Maps and Forecasting: Interpreting station models and synoptic maps.

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Evaluating, Communicating.

Unit 5: Oceans and The Hydrologic Cycle (Oceanography & Hydrology)

• Key Concepts:

  • The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle: Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection.

  • Properties of Ocean Water: Salinity, temperature, density.

  • Ocean Currents: Surface currents (driven by wind and Coriolis effect) and deep ocean currents (thermohaline circulation driven by density).

  • Ocean Floor Topography: Continental shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain, mid-ocean ridges, and trenches.

  • The Ocean’s Role in Climate Regulation: Heat capacity, currents moderating coastal climates (e.g., North Atlantic Drift).

• Curricular Competencies Focus: Applying and innovating, Communicating.

Additional Potential Topics (Varies by School/Teacher)

• Earth’s History: Geologic time scale, relative and absolute (radiometric) dating, fossil record.

• Climate Change: Natural vs. anthropogenic causes, evidence, and potential impacts.

• Natural Resources and Sustainability: Management of water, energy, and mineral resources.

Curricular Competencies (The “Doing” of Science)

Throughout all units, students will be expected to develop these skills:

• Questioning and Predicting

• Planning and Conducting

• Processing and Analyzing Data and Information

• Evaluating

• Applying and Innovating

• Communicating

This outline provides a solid foundation for what a student can expect to learn in BC’s Earth Science 11 course. The emphasis is on understanding Earth as an integrated system of interconnected spheres: the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and their place in the cosmos.