Definitions of Earth Science and Space Science
What is Earth Science?
Earth Science is a broad term that includes geography, geology, oceanography, meteorology, and other natural sciences. Earth Science is the study of all things having to do with the composition, history, and behavior of our home, the Earth.
What is Space Science?
Space Science is a broad term that includes any study of outer space including the composition, history, and behavior of stars, planets, moons, and other non-Earthly bodies and materials.
Purpose Statement for this pathfinder
Why does this site exist?
This site is intended to help 9th grade students learn about the Earth and outer space. On this site you'll find resources that fit the Iowa Department of Education standards for 9th graders on the subjects. All of the resources on this site are available either online or through the Ames Public Library. If you aren't close to Ames, Iowa, check with your school or public library and see if they have these resources available. If your local library doesn't have them, ask them to borrow them through inter-library loan. Don't be afraid to ask for help accessing resources, librarians love to help!
Iowa Department of Education content standard 3 for 9th grade students states,
"Students can understand concepts and relationships in Earth/space sciences. Students can make inferences and predictions from data, make inferences and predictions fusing fundamental Earth/space concepts. Students can analyze scientific investigations, Earth/space investigations, and analyze and evaluate the adequacy and accuracy of information." Lastly, students are expected to be able to analyze and evaluate the adequacy and accuracy of Earth/space information.
Iowa Department of Education. (2008). Grade 9 State Standards, Benchmarks, and Grade Level Indicators.
Retrieved from http://educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1350&Itemid=1554#GradeLevelIndicators
