Geology (Earth Science)

Instructor: Mr. Hort Office: A331 Voice Mail: (630) 372-4700 ext. #4799 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://schools.u-46.org/users/james hort Course Description: Earth Science is a hands-on laboratory science course in which students collect and interpret real life data to study major earth and space systems. Students will develop skills in classifying earth resources, establishing relationships among materials and the processes that form them, and analyzing forces influencing the earth and space. Specific topics include: minerals and rocks, geomorphology, plate tectonics, earth history, astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, and current environmental issues. Problem solving and critical thinking must be utilized to gain an understanding of events happening in the real world. This laboratory- oriented course prepares students for further course work in biology chemistry, physics, and earth science. First semester topics Earth Surface Processes and Maps and Landforms might be covered before Earth Resources First Semester Topics  Maps and landforms: topographic and geologic maps  Weathering and Erosion: soil, weathering, erosion and mass movement  Earth Materials: minerals and rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic)  Earth Surface Processes: groundwater, streams, and glaciers  Earth History: the rock record and geologic time Second Semester Topics  Earth’s Internal Processes: plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism, crust deformation, mountain building  Astronomy: stars and galaxies and the solar system (the sun, planets, and moons)  Meteorology: the atmosphere and the formation and interconnection of weather-related features and weather systems  Oceanography: the study of ocean water properties and characteristics, undersea physical geography and sediments, and the interaction of organisms with the ocean environment  Environmental Science: earth resources and their conservation, pollution and clean-up, and climate change For a more detailed course topic description and schedule, visit my website. Textbook Modern Earth Science by Robert J. Sager, William L. Ramsey, Clifford R. Phillips, and Frank M. Watenpaugh. Copyright 1998. Holt Rinehart and Winston Publishers, Harcourt Brace & Company. Classroom Expectations

Supplies Bring pencils (nearly essential for some work) and pens, a notebook, a folder, and any assignment that is due to class EACH day. You will need to have a separate notebook for journal entries. I will notify you when to bring the textbook. Class Format You are encouraged to read the chapter that corresponds with what we work through together in class via lecture, group discussion, assignments or class presentations if textbooks are issued. At times, you will be provided with classroom notes to aid in assignmen t completion. Section reviews help check and reinforce your understanding of the chapter, thereby facilitating your learning. In tur n this will enable you to contribute to class discussion which is also assessed. Additionally, study packets with relearning/re-teachi ng activities are available to give you additional support. A number of labs, activities, and projects will also be incorporated in cla ss. Many of those items will be worked on in small groups, both of my choosing and of yours as long as everyone participates. We b quests and videos related to the class may also be used. You should take notes on the video as I may collect them or give video q uizzes. All class notes will be available for you to print on my website as well as access to other classroom resources.

The administrative team has continued to tweak the grading policy. Based on those conversations, the following changes are included in this document: Assignments Assignments will be given a due date. On that day, you will be expected to turn it in at the beginning of the period for full credit of earned points. Work not turned in at the beginning of class on the due date is considered late. Late Work  Earned points for work turned in late (or corrections) are reduced by one letter grade from the earned grade (or corrected grade) up until the end of the unit grading term.  Beyond the end of the unit grading term, work will only be accepted to meet the sixty percent assignment completion requirement, but will not count as points. In other words, a “M”issing mark will be replaced with a “0” in the grade book.  Excused absences are handled differently and will be accepted for full credit after an appropriate make-up interval before the policy above applies. See me when you return from an absence to obtain your make-up assignments. You are responsible for obtaining assignments missed while you were away. I will be glad to help you get caught up.  Summary: Per quarter, all missing assignments must be turned in by a cutoff date a week before the end of the quarter and ONLY assignments from that quarter will be accepted. Grades A = 4; = B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; E = 0 Semester grades will be determined formally on a weighted basis using marks and informally based on your participation in class activities using. During the semester, daily formative work will include shorter in-class labs/activities, homework, and quizzes. This will account for 30% of the semester grade, Summative assessments will be worth 70% of the semester grade and include major labs/activities and exams. Test grade improvement opportunities will be made available assuming you have completed all unit assignments. If so, an additional task will need to be completed in order to be granted that opportunity. In calculating overall grades, 80% will come from semester coursework and the final exam is worth 20% of overall grade. However, students must fulfill the following requirements in order to pass the class: meet the sixty percent assignment completion requirement, including the and have an overall passing grade. * Cheating is now a Dean’s office offense. The expectation is that you will redo the assignment, or an alternate assignment, independently and authentically if you want to receive any credit. * Daily attendance, contribution, and participation are essential for successful completion of your Earth Science course.

Classroom Management Beyond the rules and regulations already stated in the Student Handbook, the class will decide on the format for management unde r the guidelines of Mutual Respect with the instructor.  You are expected to wear your ID in the classroom and will not be permitted to leave the classroom on a pass without yo ur ID BIG No-No List  No electronic device use during class time unless being used for class or granted permission. In fact, if the cell phone is visibl e at any point I will call a dean’s assistant to come get it or I will collect it and turn it into the dean’s office after class. At som e point, though at my discretion you might earn I-Pod use during certain situations.  No working on homework for other classes or extracurricular reading during this class  No food/drink during class time (except for sealed water bottles, which are recommended). Absolutely no food (includes cand y and gum) or drink, including water, in the computer labs.  No application of make-up/hair products during class time. This is a classroom, not a salon.

Conclusion Get the most out of this class you can. Have some fun. Hopefully you will take some of your newfound skills, knowledge, and inte rests and apply them outside the classroom. Earth Science truly is the world around you.

Student Signature: Parent/Guardian Signature: Date:

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