My 8th grader will be covering some Earth Science this school year with the help of Edward Tarbuck. Since he will not likely encounter Earth Science again in his formal education, I wanted him to cover it thoroughly. Tarbuck’s book fits the bill. The book I chose is a college-level text that is designed for undergraduate non-science majors. It has plenty of colorful pictures and diagrams to explain the concepts. I went with an older edition because the new ones are priced over $100. The 11th edition by Edward Tarbuck and Frederick Lutgens can be found for bargain prices if you go for a used copy.
This is pretty much an independent course of study for my son. He will refer to this page to see what to do next. Once the chapter is read, he and his younger brother will watch the videos. In the middle of each school day, my boys watch some kind of educational video together while I work. My 6th grader is going to be going through this list for his science and they also have a history documentary list to watch. While this Earth Science list is based around my 8th grader’s readings, my 6th grader will watch and gain more exposure to the topics so he will be more familiar with them when he goes through the book in a couple years. My 2nd grader will likely join in on anything she finds interesting.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science pg 1-28
- Greatest Discoveries Earth Sciences by Bill Nye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgUI5yt-otg
- Big Ideas 3: Earth’s Systems Interact https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnpF0ndXk-8
- How the Earth Works as Seen from Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7kFl2KOhRA
- Geology Kitchen Layers of the Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzm-VkphoGw
Chapter 2: Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks pg 29-50
- Geology Kitchen What is a Mineral? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXSwnkieZc
- Geology Kitchen Identifying Minerals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjA2-MrWAVU
- Geology Kitchen Mineral Formation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOolvYfkle0
- Identifying Minerals – Earth Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKkRRdQLFo
- Diamond Mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f48PopFqzNk
- Gold Mining and Processing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx3OeQ_Vlj0
- Gem Hunter Episode 1:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnnDP3dlfV4
- Mineral Identification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnM8ebB06MU
Chapter 3: Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth pg 51-82
- Rock Cycle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm6cCg_Do6k
- Geology Kitchen 3 Types of Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg_jKJFbA2A
- Geology Kitchen Igneous Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxbmvG5gpAs
- Identifying Igneous Rocks – Earth Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjyF-te4lQI
- Geology Kitchen Clastic Sedimentary Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOuPsJwYu9I
- Geology Kitchen Chemical and Biological Sedimentary Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=202gSE4NBWE
- Identifying Sedimentary Rocks – Earth Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3eR19ZfBqE
- Geology Kitchen Metamorphic Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e15n7-zq0mA
- Identifying Metamorphic Rocks – Earth Rocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUydPhIaQQU
Chapter 4: Weathering, Soil, and Mass Wasting pg 83-113
- Geology Kitchen Weathering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guYOWnoaG7c
- Bill Nye Erosion
- Erosion and Soil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im4HVXMGI68
- Don’t Call it Dirt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSRmFSKBypI
- Erosion Lab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNJe6hrdL3M
- World Bank: No Till Agriculture Prevents Soil Erosion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpltrgkLqWc
- World’s Most Killer Landscapes Ever Recorded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ_ykqJuGI0
- When Nature Strikes Back Landslides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd7eHG2b_tQ
Chapter 5: Running Water and Groundwater pg 114-152
- What is a Meander? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STgbHFvUMlE
- Why Do Rivers Curve? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a3r-cG8Wic
- How a Delta is Formed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGHAO15hROs
- How Levees Fail and How We Fix Them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1IxIKLV68E
- 2011 Missouri River Flood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPxrVpct_6w
- Flood Disaster in Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMHRpK2yjis
- What is Groundwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNWAerr_xEE
- How Rivers Work: The Role of Groundwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci-ABWPG7LQ
- Yellowstone National Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znckAR_dyNg
- How Does a Geyser Work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQB5OWyGVWU
- Geothermal Blue Lagoon Iceland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTNh-PHj6vc
- All About Wells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUIhtw9cisU
- Artesian Wells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etTnu3sz2yg
Chapter 6: Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind pg 153-186
- Ice Age Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5jfHzKDDJ8
- Glacier National Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBnGzklDHnM
- Greenland: The Melting Point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCW-tYO-ZOE
- How the Sahara was Made https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eUjXt49Qew
- Desertification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9RxnuBiFbg
- Rolling Back the Desert in Senegal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbwuHVjh8zw
- The Shrinking of the Aral Sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp_mlKJiwxg
- Libyan Sahara Water from the Desert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5dx7jQF1WQ
Chapter 7: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior pg 187-214
- Earthquakes 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgB1IWr6O4
- Bill Nye Earthquakes
- Mega Disasters Kobe Earthquake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt7wky6Ubkg
- LA’s Killer Quake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr6cjmWY4ac
- Pacific Ring of Fire and its Earthquakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH1jWhTH8Dg
- Down to the Earth’s Core https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKyEckDRbo
- Naked Science – Earth’s Core https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wxI5pCRvL0
Chapter 8: Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Theory Unfolds pg 215-248
- Colliding Continents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSJNBMOjJs
- Earth Making of a Planet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRphWSYCns
- Earth 100 Million Years from Now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcDed4xVD4
- Marianas Trench The Deepest Spot on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2qdlYkl2HY
- Mid Ocean Ridges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQsbT9j3P44
- Sea Floor Spreading https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzvDlP6xd9o
- Sea Floor Spreading with Bill Nye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyMLlLxbfa4
Chapter 9: Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity pg 249-282
- Geology Kitchen Volcanoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ8um1NCAAI
- Iceland Erupts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlH7pCK4H-s
- When Sleeping Giants Wake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fk-Z5_YIm0
- Journeys into the Ring of Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2FSI2cnJGw
- Earth Story – Ring of Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6UObH0xxZU
Chapter 10: Mountain Building pg 283-308
- History of the Rocky Mountains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efQUU4Zus4Y
- Italy’s Mystery Mountains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlcBF3dgGhs
- Mount Everest and its Geological Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KRTfKZfIp0
Chapter 11: Geologic Time pg 309-334
- How the Earth was Made https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys5hmBkyvag
- Relative Dating of Rock Layers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYSeM63Fv0s
- Radiometric Dating https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1920gi3swe4
- David Attenborough First Life Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-yMiyquG4
- David Attenborough First Life Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfCCvKYTYZQ
- Dendrochronology and Climate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRYsAn5QLYo
Chapter 12: Earth’s History: A Brief Summary pg 335-358
- Geologic Eras Animated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY3MZ_wNFW8
- Geologic Time Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PQURsc2SYs
- Planet Earth Geological Development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgkGV8FBN8g
- Story of the Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57merteLsBc
- Before the Dinosaurs: Walking with Monsters series
- Walking with Dinosaurs series
- Walking with Prehistoric Beasts series
Chapter 13: The Ocean Floor pg 359-382
- The Deepest Place on Earth Marianas Trench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWiHhIkQe5k
- Deep Sea Exploration 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCbJMtCdvMY
- Deep Sea Exploration 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOIOXvU0_qk
- Deep Sea Exploration 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9lXaThM5Vo
- Light the Ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB0eK0qac8U
Chapter 14: Ocean Water and Ocean Life pg 383-401
- Why is the Ocean Salty? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPF6cSan6tc
- Mega Structures Desalination Plant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFCjuCytK6g
- Planet Ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH1s9GCqPKo
- Creatures of the Deep Ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id_84WyrofI
- Disney Nature Ocean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJtdFk7Qjl8
- Hydrothermal Vents Deep Sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTR6gGDWcJk
- The Iron Hypothesis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtw8WSINBiI
Chapter 15: The Dynamic Ocean pg 402-434
- Nasa The Ocean: A Driving Force for Weather and Climate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vgvTeuoDWY
- Ocean Currents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu_Ga0JYFNg
- Watching the Tides: Ocean on the Spot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcbN9SVkqYU
- The Power of the Oceans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YSEYdNh7SQ
- Nature’s Great Events: The Great Tide http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zub9n_bbc-natures-great-events-4-of-6-the-great-tide_tv
- Science of the Surf: Where Do Waves Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv_Sis0Hntk
- Science of the Surf: Waves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXuQC1qRuEM
- Science of the Surf: How Tides Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IyRE9azhwQ
- Beachcombing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq6FgbJNKV0
Chapter 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature pg 435-464
- Weather of the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esMX5NIsHdk
- The Devastating Effects of Pollution in China https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4DtOhe2LfQ
- Common Air Pollutants and Their Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtdKRvWC1yQ
- The Antarctic Ozone Hole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU0eNa4GrgU
- Conduction of Heat with the Science Geeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMsKIfxliA4
- Convection of Heat with the Science Geeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liKcJKjvFcY
- Heat Radiation with the Science Geeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nX2Lee5MwY
- Energy from Solar Radiation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J23odHiEC-k
- Solstice and Equinox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_NN8pZxTP8
- Why are Sunrises and Sunsets so Colorful? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-Mbh__whxE
- The Greenhouse Effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYMjSule0Bw
- Wild Weather Temperature https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FIKrL31dUg
Chapter 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation pg 465-500
- Latent Heat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEnVe0fGTbQ
- Latent Heat of Fusion and Evaporation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lAxBTLgYfU
- Humidity vs. Dewpoint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8W-xl4mcJ8
- Calculating Relative Humidity and Dew Point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZh9ksAy9kc
- Clouds and Patterns of the Weather https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIc0Oss4boQ
- Cloud Types https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur0k7UDrrvg
- What is the Difference Between Fog and a Cloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmgLVLReuOU
- The Science of Fog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19c09UgIB-4
- What is precipitation? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesRrocIFtc
- What is precipitation? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7svKuB6uck
- Doppler Radar Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHIb8j9B0Ok
Chapter 18: Air Pressure and Wind pg 501-526
- Bill Nye Atmospheric Weather https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeAp3CuGjk8
- Air Pressure Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQ8FWnM0fA
- High and Low Pressure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjODDPznqNM
- High Pressure and Low Pressure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYyCurh_SU
- Factors That Affect Wind: Pressure Gradient Forces, Coriolis Effect & Friction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhwLz8SqXfM
- The Coriolis Effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2mec3vgeaI
- Winds Blow Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4O9z_R5ZSc
- Global Wind Belts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCdqGkn-B1E
- What Causes Santa Ana Winds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pNQ4g4zOwY
- Chinook Winds: The Snow Eater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEJmQglWnQY
- What Exactly is El Nino? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjj8qPs6nLc
- Chasing El Nino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYR3GcSLHco
Chapter 19: Weather Patterns and Severe Storms pg 527-558
- What are Air Masses? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvk-hBFnBTI
- What are Weather Fronts? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Ewqm0YHUI
- Weather Fronts Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naarbGHoAGU
- Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huKYKykjcm0
- What is a Stationary Front https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgPbsAK39hw
- Temperate Cyclones: Warm, Cold, and Occluded Fronts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Md8HKDIws
- Tropical Cyclones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO-U4nEqL08
- Hurricane Sandy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGiIXngbG08
- Typhoon Killer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQJq45fvls
- Britain’s Worst Weather Lightning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZv2zc9aBKQ
- Mythcrushers Lightning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVSCD1mdzY0
- Lightning Safety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKucbJFP4-k
- Tornados Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMLZpjRYK9Q
- Storm Chasers Inside the Tornado https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Ag-9CNZNM
- May 3, 1999 KFOR Live Coverage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SspJqjf5gyI
- Oklahoma’s Deadliest Tornadoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW9NotYPiGs
Chapter 20: Climate pg 559-584
- Planet Earth (Complete series) Pole to Pole, Mountains, Fresh Water, Caves, Deserts, Ice Worlds, Great Plains, Jungles, Shallow Seas, Seasonal Forests, and Ocean Deep
- Reducing our Carbon Footprint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzPVw7ddhRU
- Saving Planet Earth and Stopping Climate Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPyDWipSsE
- Earth Under Water – Sea Level Rise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baGrtqyWSRM
Chapter 21-24 will only be completed if time allows.
Chapter 21: Origin of Modern Astronomy pg 585-610
- Greatest Discoveries Astronomy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEYf7gTGubY
- Constellations and Ancient Civilizations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMuHpb7EUv0
- Ancient Roots of Astrology and Astronomy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3hzpxMcldQ
- Spaceship Earth playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaG70cJ8vDE&list=PLA5E00EAC08354C11
- How the Universe Works – Orbits Clockwork and Creation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1jbjq2WsNU
- Total Eclipse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8jNnKgJCT0
- What Causes the Phases of the Moon? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jip3BbZBpsM
- The Phases of the Moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlks
- Moon Mysteries Investigated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHicjqgvUA
- Mysteries of the Moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03JL7Bfvju0
Chapter 22: Touring Our Solar System pg 611-638
- Mercury and Venus: The Inner Planets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcH_iiTmDGs
- The Red Planet: Mars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy-XnPqyiD8
- Landing on Mars in Search of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbtlLO-6iaY
- NASA’s Ultimate Mars Challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAq-ouTKhQ
- The Universe Works – Jupiter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARTR0iv6shw
- The Universe Works – Is Saturn Alive? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq4za6qu6Po
- Titan: A Place Like Home http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1vycqk_bbc-horizon-titan-a-place-like-home_tv
- The Gas Giants http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xitxx3_the-planets-giants-3-8_tech
- Rings of the Jovian Planets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AeP9gEO5vs
- Pluto The Dwarf Planet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgzM-uV81YE
- Killer Asteroids in Our Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQZ7AH09J5w
- The Comet’s Tale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLW7QTzOdM
Chapter 23: Light, Astronomical Observations, and the Sun pg 639-658
- Telescope Basics 1: Top 3 Types of Telescopes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goL3K_xQzbE
- Telescope Basics 2: Learn to Calculate Magnification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpnB5w_gZsI
- Telescope Basics 3: Understanding Eye Pieces https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DODk3cJam68
- Telescope Basics 4: Understanding Telescope and Apparent Field of View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oALhSq0hoY
- Telescope Basics 5: Learn about Barlow Lenses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpF1_Q5yPsk
- Telescope Basics 6: Understanding Telescope Finders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waPj5AkXirs
- Modern Marvels: Greatest Observatories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dsVXMKJnY8
- Hubble New Discoveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSOVyMCVhY4
- The Birth of the ALMA Observatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz2H6XZHeZo
- The Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2FETG7tCF0
- Dark Secrets of the Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC9zdI61ve0
- Nemesis: The Sun’s Evil Twin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaVIXFwZVkY
Chapter 24: Beyond Our Solar System pg 659-682
- Journey Towards Creation by Hugh Ross Part 1-6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2hU9GKUYtg
- The Biggest Stars in the Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTnO6HGL7mY
- Voyager Journey to the Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY40mf1GPqE
- Black Holes, Neutron Stars, White Dwarfs, Space and Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAmwlupB3-4
- How the Universe Works – Supernovas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn3xxMOkIGc
- How the Universe Works – The Milky Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw_6Iuodhv0
- Biggest Black Holes and Cosmic Monsters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcD6Ia6o78I
- The Death Star http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x225y15_bbc-horizon-2001-the-death-star_shortfilms
- Nebulas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2c9DB3EnU
- The Expanding Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHium3r7qco
- How the Universe Works Extreme Orbits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwkZR-GmJEc
- Is There an Edge to the Universe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lIm-dcJwK8
- How the Universe Works Big Bang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofI03X9hAJI
- Nova Big Bang Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaM1Y1RKGNg
Thank you so much for taking the time to put this online. There are not a lot of resources out there for middle and high school home school that provides so much detail. I know it is time consuming, but again, thank you for this!