Introduction to the Earth
In this component of the curriculum, students are introduced to the Earth in the context of the solar system. This is intended to be a brief overview of the Earth in space and of the large scale forces (gravity, magnetic field) that affect it. It can also serve as an introduction to the concepts of core/mantle/crust/ hydosphere/atmosphere.
Some may prefer to leave the solar system component until the end of the Earth Sciences sequence. Indeed it is natural to expand from a focused study of the Earth to the other planets. However, we think there is value to starting with a brief introduction to the solar system and planetary forces because of the influence they have on the Earth. In particular, by starting with an introduction to the solar system, it is possible to return to this topic at the end of the sequence and ask the students to apply their understanding of plate tectonics to other planets (e.g. Venus and Mars).