Description:  In Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography, students conduct field and laboratory investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students study a variety of topics that include: characteristics and conditions of the Earth; formation and history of the Earth; plate tectonics; origin and composition of minerals and rocks and the rock cycle; processes and natural energy resources; interactions in a watershed; characteristics of oceans; characteristics of the atmosphere; and the role of energy in weather and climate.