Be able to label parts of a cross section of the Earth including the different layers. Be especially familiar with the common chemical elements in the Earth's crust. Be able to explain the Theory of Plate Tectonics and understand what happens at each of the three main types of plate boundaries. Know which of these boundaries has volcanic activity and why certain volcanoes can occur away from plate boundaries. Also know the meaning of hotspot, convergent, transform, convergent, lithosphere, asthenosphere, crust, orogeny, and mantle convection.
Minerals Understand what a mineral is, and know the definition of a mineral.
Be familiar with the major silicate structures and which minerals on Bowen's reaction series contain each of those structures. Know the meaning of mineral, atom, neutron, proton, electron, covalent bonding, ionic bonding, nucleus, isotope, cation, anion, crystallization, polymorph, precipitate, silica tetrahedron. Rocks Be able to describe the 3 types of rocks and understand how they form. Know the elements of the Rock Cycle. Know the meaning of outcrop, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, and bedrock.