Includes glossary and index.

UNIT ONE: Exploring The Universe -- CHAPTER 1: Exploring Earth Science -- Science-Not Just for Scientists -- The Scientific Method-A Way of Problem Solving -- The Metric System -- Tools of Earth and Space Scientists -- Safety in the Science Laboratory -- CHAPTER 2: Stars and Galaxies -- A Trip Through the Universe -- Formation of the Universe -- Characteristics of Stars -- A Special Star: Our Sun -- The Evolution of Stars -- CHAPTER 3: The Solar System -- The Solar System Evolves -- Motions of the Planets -- A Trip Through the Solar System -- Exploring the Solar System -- CHAPTER 4: Earth and Its Moon -- The Earth in Space -- The Earth's Moon -- The Earth, the Moon, and the Sun -- The Space Age -- UNIT TWO: Exploring Planet Earth -- CHAPTER 5: Earth's Atmosphere -- A View of Planet Earth: Spheres Within a Sphere -- Development of the Atmosphere -- Layers of the Atmosphere The Magnetpshere -- CHAPTER 6: Earth's Oceans -- The World's Oceans -- Properties of Ocean Water -- The Ocean Floor -- Ocean Life Zones -- Mapping the Ocean Floor -- Motions of the Ocean -- CHAPTER 7: Earth's Fresh Water -- Fresh Water on the Surface of the Earth -- Fresh Water Beneath the Surface of the Earth -- Water as a Solvent -- CHPATER 8: Earth's Landmasses -- The Continents -- Topography -- Mapping the Earth's Surface -- Topographic Maps -- CHAPTER 9: Earth's Interior -- The Earth's Core -- The Earth's Mantle -- The Earth's Crust -- UNIT THREE: Dynamic Earth -- CHAPTER 10: Movement of the Earth's Crust -- Earth's Changing Surface -- The Floating Crust -- CHAPTER 11: Earthquakes and Volcanoes -- Earthquakes -- Formation of a Volcano -- Volcano and Earthquake Zones -- CHAPTER 12: Plate Tectonics -- Earth's Drfiting Continents -- Earth's Spreading Ocean Floor -- Earth's Moving Plates -- CHAPTER 13: Rocks and Minerals -- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures -- What Is a Mineral? -- Uses of Minerals -- What Is a Rock? -- Fluid ad Fire: Igneous Rocks -- Slowly Built Layers: Sedimentary Rocks -- Changes in Form: Metamorphic Rocks -- CHAPTER 14: Weathering and Soil Formation -- Weathering -- Soil Formation -- Soil Composition -- CHAPTER 15: Erosion and Deposition -- Changing the Earth's Surface -- Gravity -- Wind -- Running Water -- Glaciers -- Waves -- UNIT FOUR: Exploring Earth's Weather -- CHAPTER 16: What Is Weather? -- Heating the Earth -- Air Pressure -- Winds -- Moisture in the Air -- Weather Patterns -- Predicting the Weather -- CHAPTER 17: What Is Climate? -- What Causes Climate? -- Climate Zones -- Changes in Climate -- CHAPTER 18: Climate in the United States -- Climate Regions of the United States -- Land Biomes of the United States -- UNIT FIVE: History of the Earth -- CHAPTER 19: Earth's History in Fossils -- Fossils-Clues of the Past -- A History in Rocks and Fossils -- CHAPTER 20: A Trip Through Geologic Time -- The Geologic Time Scale -- Early Earth History -- Middle and Recent Earth History -- Evolution: Change Over Time -- UNIT SIX: Ecology: Earth's Natural Resources -- CHAPTER 21: Energy Resources -- What Are Fossil Fuels? -- Energy From the Sun -- Wind and Water -- Nuclear Energy -- Alternative Energy Source -- CHAPTER 22: Earth's Nonliving Resources -- Land and Soil Resources -- Water Resources -- Mineral Resources -- CHAPTER 23: Pollution -- What Is Pollution? -- Land Pollution -- Air Pollution -- Water Pollution -- What Can Be Done About Pollution? -- CHAPTER 24: Conserving Earth's Resources -- Fossil Fuels and Mineral -- Protecting the Environment