Some information about the EAS 100 Planet 
  Earth course:
    Earth, ocean, atmosphere and astronomy
   200 – 450 students/semester (I now limit to ~275)
   Almost all non-science majors
   No Laboratory component
   Highlights, fundamental concepts, material that is 
  most interesting and relevant to students,          attempt 
  to minimize memorization and jargon
   Interdisciplinary connections
   Material available at: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~braile/ 
                                  
    Rationale (my colleagues ask, “Why do 
    you do this?”) and Goals
     Science literacy; voters, decision-makers, 
      parents of the future generation of students
     Earth science is relevant to their lives; chance to 
      enhance their appreciation of Earth and of 
      science
     Future teachers (impact on the next generation 
      of students; some may become scientists or 
      even Earth scientists!)
     I would rather have these students take an Earth 
      science course than some other science course
                                
   There are good 
   reasons to be 
   sure that 
   students are 
   engaged in 
   science at an 
   early age!
   “More than half of 
   scientific 
   professionals with 
   a Ph.D. say their 
   first interest in 
   science came at 
   age 5-10.”
                                     
    One of the first activities that I do with students –
    the “Draw a Scientist” activity
   Used to illustrate common 
     stereotype and attempt to 
     adjust their view of science
   Lead-in to discussion about 
     what is science and the 
     scientific method
  This is actually a classic activity that 
  has been used with students of all 
  ages, and adults
                                  
                             Scientist Drawings – 5th grade students