Sao Tome and Principe Ensino Secundário, 12º Ano - Geologia (Geology)

This curriculum is designed for the second cycle of secondary education (10th to 12th grade) in Sao Tome and Principe, specifically for the Science and Technology track. It is adapted from the Portuguese secondary education curriculum, with a focus on practical activities and fieldwork, although acknowledging the challenges in implementing these due to resource constraints. The program aims to build upon the Natural Sciences program from the first cycle, particularly the 7th-grade content.

Course Structure:

The Geology course is biennial, spanning two years (10th/11th and 11th/12th grade) with a total of 180 45-minute blocks, distributed over 30 teaching weeks each year. Weekly class time can be managed in either 45+45+45 minute blocks or 90+45 minute blocks.

Units of Study:

10th/11th Grade:

• Unit 1: Geology, Geologists, and Their Methods (20 blocks): This unit introduces geology as a science, focusing on key theories, geological reasoning, and research methods. It emphasizes the Earth as a system, the interaction of its subsystems (geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere), and the rock cycle. It also covers geological time, dating methods, and the principles of geological reasoning (actualism, catastrophism, and uniformitarianism).
• Unit 2: Earth, a Very Special Planet (20 blocks): This unit explores the formation of the solar system, the characteristics of terrestrial planets, and the unique aspects of Earth. It also touches on the Earth-Moon system and the impact of human activities on Earth's subsystems.
• Unit 3: Understanding the Structure and Dynamics of the Geosphere (50 blocks): This unit delves into methods for studying Earth's interior, including volcanology and seismology. It covers basic concepts, plate tectonics, risk mitigation, and the internal structure of the geosphere based on chemical composition and physical properties.

11th/12th Grade:

• Unit 4: Human Occupation and Planning Problems (14 blocks): This unit examines the impact of human activities on the environment, focusing on river basins, coastal zones, and slopes. It explores how human intervention can exacerbate natural risks and the importance of geological knowledge in environmental management.
• Unit 5: Geological Processes and Materials Important in Terrestrial Environments (45 blocks): This unit covers the formation of sedimentary rocks, magmatism, rock deformation, and metamorphism. It emphasizes the importance of sedimentary rocks as historical records, the relationship between magmas and igneous rocks, and the factors influencing rock deformation and metamorphism.
• Unit 6: Earth Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (31 blocks): This unit focuses on the role of humans in environmental change, including global warming, geological resources, mineral exploration, and environmental contamination. It also explores the exploitation and modification of soil and water resources and discusses potential scenarios for the 21st century.

Assessment:

The curriculum emphasizes the use of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment to monitor and adjust the teaching-learning process. Diagnostic assessment identifies students' prior knowledge, formative assessment provides ongoing feedback, and summative assessment evaluates learning outcomes. A variety of assessment tools are recommended, including activity reports, portfolios, concept maps, Gowin's V, and observation grids.

Resources and Equipment:

The program lists basic laboratory and field equipment, geological material collections (rock, mineral, and fossil samples), block diagrams, geological models, maps, aerial photographs, and multimedia resources. It also recommends establishing partnerships with the Laboratory Techniques discipline to compensate for potential limitations in conducting practical activities.

Bibliography:

The program includes an extensive annotated bibliography of books and other resources, both general and specific to geology, emphasizing the importance of using materials relevant to the context of Sao Tome and Principe.