Environmental Science

Course Description/Syllabus/Policies

 

            Grade Open to:  11-12                                     Semester:  1-2              Credit:  1.0

            Textbook:  Earth Science by National Geographic Society

Instructors:  Megan C. Malcolm, Patrick Scanlan, and Philip Pakowski             

Environmental Science is a year-long course that surveys and investigates ecosystems, energy is physical, biological, and cultural environments, the cyclic movement of matter through physical and biological systems, human impact on the natural environment, and conservation of natural resources.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Students will understand and describe how…

1.      The earth is forever dynamic

2.      Populations are forever dynamic

3.      Species depend on the overall health for all abiotic and biotic factors in the biosphere.

4.      Human impact on abiotic and biotic resources

5.      Strategies to sustain and improve the quality of abiotic and biotic resources

 

Tentative Syllabus

Unit 1

COMPOSITION OF EARTH

  • Earth’s elements
  • States of Matter
  • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Rock/Mineral Cycle
  • Basic Rock/Mineral ID

 

Unit 2

EARTH DYNAMICS

  • Plate Tectonics
  • Continental Drift
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanic Activity
  • Seafloor spreading
  • Ice
  • Geological Time

 

Unit 3

ATMOSPHERE

  • Atmosphere composition
  • Major Climate Zones (past, present, and future)
  • Biomes
  • Meteorology

 

Unit 4

ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES

  • How do living things live?
    • What do living things need?
    • Why do living this need this stuff?
    • How do living things get this stuff?
  • How do living things deal with other organisms?
    • Limited resources
    • Survival strategies
    • Natural selection

 

Unit 5

HUMAN ROLE

  • How do human strategies compare to strategies of other living things?
  • Human Evolution (hunter/gather to today)
  • Human impact on quality of biosphere
  • Strategies to improve quality of biosphere (cultural examples:  Leaver vs. taker)

 

 

 

             

 

 

Tardy Policy

We have lots of material to cover everyday and I expect to start right when the bell rings.  Therefore, you must be in your seat with materials out and ready to go.  If you are not, you are considered tardy.  Tardies will be dealt with as outlined in your student handbook.

Classroom Behavior

Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:  swearing, talking without permission, leaving class without permission, fighting, touching other’s possessions, intimidation, extortion, cheating, copying, chewing gum, eating, drinking, possession of cell phone, and/or listening to headphones.  You are a young adult.  Accordingly, you are responsible for you, your actions, and your grade.  No excuses or pleading will be accepted.  You are aware of all rules/regulations and consequences so…

*******USE COMMON SENSE********

1st offense = Warning

2nd offense = 15 minute teacher detention              

3rd offense= 30 minute teacher detention

 Consecutive offenses* = Dean Referral, possibly dropped from class

*Note:  In cases of severe infractions, I will skip steps 1-2 and go directly to dean  referrals.

Materials

You should have the following items with you each day:  lined paper (spiral or loose leaf), 1-inch binder, writing utensil, textbook, and agenda book.  All items must be brought to class everyday.  Items will not be provided. 

Absences

It is your responsibility to get the work you missed during your excused absences.  You are expected to make up tests or quizzes on your first day back.  Absence on the day prior to a quiz or test does not excuse you from taking the test on a given day.

If you absence is unexcused, you cannot and will not receive credit for any missed work.

Grades/Grading Scale

Grades are bases on your performance in 4 different areas: 

Assignments (30%):  On average you will receive 2-3 assignments per week.

Labs/Projects (25%):  Generally, we complete 1 lab/project activity a week. 

                                      Every 6 weeks, you will receive a grade for your journal.

Tests/Quizzes (25%):  Every Friday, you will take a 10-point weekly quiz over the     

                                  week’s information.  During the semester, you have 3 unit

                                  exams.

Final (20%):  At the end of each semester, you will take a semester final. 

                              This final is comprehensive over the current semester.   

Grades are earned as follows:

90-100%  A

80-89%    B

70-79%    C

60-69%    D

<60%       F