“Honors Chemistry in The Earth System” is a laboratory-based college-preparatory course designed for college-bound students with an interest in developing a deep understanding of the chemical nature of our world. As part of the three course model, and originating from “A Framework for K-12 Science Education” and “Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)”, there is integration of some topics traditionally taught as Earth Science and Physics. This course explains how mathematical and chemical models help describe the geophysical processes in the Earth system. The course is sequenced based on a specific storyline about human interactions with the Earth system. Each of the six instructional segments (IS) includes a bundle of NGSS performance expectations (PE) from these two disciplinary core ideas. Each of the instructional segments is centered on questions about observations of a specific phenomenon. Upon completion of the course students will have explored the fundamentals of chemistry and essential roles that these processes play in Earth’s solid geosphere, its liquid hydrosphere, and its gaseous atmosphere and will perform an extended inquiry lab or design project. This course meets the OUHSD graduation requirement of one year of physical science, and meets one year of the University of California ‘d’ entrance requirement for laboratory science