Course Syllabus 

   

 

Name of Course:  EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE     

Name of Teacher:  MArk Hull

E-Mail Address:  mhull@aptoshs.net

Voice Mail #  628

Room #D-207

Preparation Period:  5

 

I

 

 

 

Course Description/Outline (reflects needed skills)

     This course meets one year of the University of California elective “G” requirement.  It also satisfies the Aptos High School graduation requirement for physical science.  This is a course with frequent homework assignments and regular exams and laboratory activities.  It offers a comprehensive overview of the major areas of study in earth science and the study of some important topics in astronomy through a variety of learning experiences, including reading, lecture, discussion, laboratory investigations, modeling and computer simulations, projects, presentations and individual research.  Students are expected to have passed biology with a C or better grade and to have basic elementary algebra skills.

 

II

Materials Provided (name of textbook, other resources, video used, etc.)

   Textbook:  Earth Science by Feather and Snyder Copyright 1999, Glencoe

                   And/or  Earth Science by Tarbuck and Lutgens

 

Films may include: . The “Savage Earth” PBS series , formation of the Grand Canyon and others.  Appropriate films will be added at teacher discretion

Interactive software such as :“Topographic Maps”, “Rocks and Minerals ( Tasa Graphics)

The Internet will be used frequently. 

 

III

Materials Required

      1.  Part of a three-ring binder - organized and dedicated to Earth / Space Science.       

Lined binder paper

Pens and pencils (colored pencils or pens would also be helpful)

Scientific calculator (graphing calculator NOT required)

 

IV

Goals (knowledge to be acquired, technical skills, etc., specific reference to ESLRs and state standards)

1.  Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.  The scale of processes studied often precludes the use of controlled laboratory experiments or even direct observation to answer many of these questions in earth science, so pertinent information is collected to build testable and revisable models of earth systems and processes.  Students will be able to:

a. make objective, meaningful, clearly stated and appropriate observations

b. select and use appropriate technology to perform tests, collect data, and  analyze relationships

c. identify sources of experimental error

d. distinguish between hypotheses and theories, and distinguish between facts and models

e. recognize the limits of models to describe reality

f. investigate science-based societal issues and communicate their findings

g. present  data collected from investigations in appropriate tables and graphs

h. carry out laboratory investigations

            (Expected School-wide Learning Results--ESLR’s-- A,B, C, D)

                           

Specific content areas to be investigated include  the following California Science Standards (ESLR’s A,B,C, and D are involved):

  1. Astronomy and planetary exploration reveal the solar system's structure, scale, and change over time.
  2. Earth-based and space-based astronomy reveal the structure, scale, and changes in stars, galaxies and the universe over time.
  3. Plate tectonics operating over geologic time has changed the patterns of land, sea, and mountains on Earth's surface.
  4. Energy enters the Earth system primarily as solar radiation and eventually escapes as heat..
  5. Heating of Earth's surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents..
  6. Climate is the long-term average of a region's weather and depends on many factors.
  7. Each element on Earth moves among reservoirs, which exist in the solid earth, in oceans, in the atmosphere, and within and among organisms as part of biogeochemical cycles
  8. Life has changed Earth's atmosphere, and changes in the atmosphere affect conditions for life.
  9. The geology of California underlies the state's wealth of natural resources as well as its natural hazards.

V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units of Study (activities)

  1. Chemistry basics – necessary for understanding following units
  2. Minerals and rocks
  3. Mapping and geologic landforms
  4. Weathering and Erosion
  5. Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, 
  6. Mountain building and geologic history – Study of Ancient Earth
  7. Weather and Climate
  8. Environmental Issues and Problems  / California Resources and Hazards
  9. Astronomy
  10. Oceanography

VI

Required project – Million Words Reading assignment

Each student is required to read one book during the month assigned

            period 4        November      period 6       March,        

I want you to read things that you enjoy as this will encourage more reading.

We have lots of books you may borrow from the classroom or you may find your own books.

 

Rules  

1. Book must be at least 150 pages long.

2. Science or science fiction suggested but not required

            - anything in REASONABLE TASTE IS OK BUT you must check it with me early in the month

            NOT ALLOWED - books required in other school classes

                        NO  books made into movies in the past 5 years - NO HARRY POTTER !!!

  

 

 

VII

Methods of Assessment (may include tests, portfolios, projects, essays, etc.)

1.  Homework (2/3 times per week) and other written assignments--20%

2.  Lab activities (1-2 times per week) and lab write-ups--30%

3.  Tests and Quizzes-- 40%

4.  Participation, and in-class work --10%

Extra credit will occasionally be offered to the whole class

Note  - due to this weighting scheme your grade is NOT just the average of your individual scores

 

Each quarter’s results count for at about 45% of the semester grade, and the semester final exam will count for about 10% of that grade.

VIII

Methods to accommodate language learners and other target populations

Frequent use of visuals and hands-on activities to reinforce concepts.

Heterogeneous group and pair work on many activities.

Review sessions before tests.

5.  Instructor available before school, during most lunches, and tutorial periods.

IX

Units or activities that address language and math standards needed for High School Exit Exam (for classes other than language arts and math)

Elementary arithmetic and algebraic problem solving: cartography, laboratory measurement and unit conversions, graphing of data and description of resulting line, radioactive dating problems, scale and proportion of solar system, temperature conversion and calorie equations

Language Arts:  extensive reading of textbook and other articles; comprehension and application questions are a frequent part of the homework of this course; observation and report writing are part of many of the laboratory activities; expository writing on earth science subjects is occasionally required.

X

Class Procedures (missed assignments, make up work assignment format)

All assignments:  due (complete) at the beginning of the class period of the day that they are due.

Missed assignments:  Students have one day plus however many days they are absent to make up missed work for full credit. 

Tests and quizzes should be made up as soon as possible during tutorial, lunch or after school.

Students are responsible for all material covered in class whether they are present in class or not – Missed labs will normally need to be done in the NEXT tutorial period.


 

XI

Behavioral Expectations (and consequences)

All students can succeed in this class.  Please seek help when you need it.

Rules which promote a positive learning environment include:

            1.  Being seated and ready to work when the bell rings.

            2.  Being respectful and courteous to everyone else in the class.

            3.  Following directions and doing all work with honesty and integrity.

            4.  Participating fully in all class activities.

         5.  Following all laboratory safety guidelines and treating all equipment with respect.

Copying others’ work may result in zero points on the assignment for both parties

When you work in a group on a lab all students will be actively involved in data collection and enter data on individual lab reports. After that point proof of individual effort is expected.

           1. Papers will not be handed to another student.

           2. Copying a lab from another student will result in referrals. 

The consequences of choosing not to follow these rules are as follows:

Behavioral Infractions

 1st…..warning                                                   2nd....possible separation & student-teacher conference

3rd....detention & parent contact           4th....referral to administration

Severe infractions (outrageous or unsafe behavior, fighting, vandalism, refusal to follow directions)--immediate referral to administration.

Tardies School-wide policy will be followed

XI

Grading policy: Points are assigned for all graded assignments and the points are weighted according to the distribution described above, under “assessment”.  Quarter and semester grades will be assigned using the typical 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% scale for grades of A-, B-, C-, and D-, respectively.

 

In order to receive full credit on a written assignment, the assignment must also be complete , legible and on time  (complete before the start of class on the day it is due).  You can lose 40% of the credit on an assignment if it is late and we went over it in class!  With other assignments the maximum point value decreases as the amount of time past due increases

No assignments will be accepted more than 2 weeks late. 

 

 

I have read & understand the “Course Syllabus” for

Earth and Space Science  2004/5

 

 

Student Name (print)  ………………………………………………………  Period    ……………………………

 

 

Parent/Guardian Signature.................................................................................................................

 

Student Signature   …………………………………………………………….   Date:    …………………………

 

Please sign the portion below and return to teacher