Tecumseh High School Environmental Science

Transcription

1 Tecumseh High School Environmental Science Instructor: Mr. Lloyd School Phone Number: (937) Room Number: Rm. C131 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course offers an overview of topics and disciplines needed to understand the environmental issues and challenges of today s world. The course will integrate aspects of biology, earth science, policy, economics, and philosophy. Specific topics will include preserving biodiversity, ecology, energy use, human population growth, pollution, and sustainability. The foundation of this course content is developed using the Ohio Common Core Standards. COURSE AIMS Just as you would aim at targets, this course is designed to reach certain aims: 1. Becoming better learners, or developing a better ATTACHMENT to the learning process. 2. Strengthening our VALUES. 3. Focus our ATTENTION on becoming autotelic learners. 4. Demonstrate proficiency in the science concepts and skills that are a part of the course. To help you reach outcomes for these aims, I have spent many hours thinking about factors that will help you better attach to the material you are learning. I have structured your studies with three important factors in mind: 1. Accessibility 2. Engagement 3. Coherence COURSE TEXT Cunningham-Saigo (2001). Environmental Science: A Global Concern. New York: McGraw Hill. Texts will be kept in the classroom. You are more than welcome to sign out a book to study or complete homework. By signing out the book you are responsible for it s condition until it is returned to me so that I may sign it back in. RECOMMENDED COURSE SUPPLIES LAB FEE Three Ring Binder (which I will call your notebook) Pencil/Pen Paper Smartphone, itouch, Tablet (Optional) Please refer to the Student Handbook for a list of fees.

2 THE CLASS VALUES Classroom Expectations and the Learning Environment As I said before, one of my aims for this year is to do a better job of holding you ACCOUNTABLE to the values established yesterday in class. Here is a reminder of the values: 1. Vigilance 2. Accountability 3. Character 4. Honesty 5. Integrity 6. Stewardship 7. Friendship 8. Respect WHY VALUES? In order to best hit the targets of our class aims! I am shooting for influence, not control. You are in control of your choices within the learning environment. The class values will or will not be expressed through your actions, thoughts, and words. Ignoring your responsibility to uphold these values will also be expressed in your inability to adhere to the student conduct manual and classroom policies and procedures. REMEMBER, rules in this school are not for social control and making your life miserable or LESS FUN, but to allow you to BETTER FOCUS ATTENTION on the course aims. If you are being disruptive, a distraction, unproductive, or failing to act in the spirit of the class values, the following actions will be a likely consequence to their choice/action. 1. Verbal Warning If you receive a verbal warning, it is my advice to you to stop whatever ever it is your are doing. If you choose to continue the following two consequences will be administered. 2. See Me After Class This gives Mr. Lloyd and the student time to evaluate the situation and their actions. It allows the student to correct their behavior or explain the situation. After class students can state their case and discuss what took place. If Mr. Lloyd thinks it is necessary detentions or office referrals will be assigned. 3. Wait in the Hall. This action will be used if the student has crossed a line that doesn t allow Mr. Lloyd continue class while the student is in the class. Example: If Mr. Lloyd asks you to see him after class and you talk back, get angry, loud or belligerent our will be asked to wait in the hall. If Mr. Lloyd thinks it is necessary detentions or office referrals will be assigned. Notice, these action allow the class to CONTINUE to run smoothly. It is important for students to maintain focus on emulating the class values.

3 WHAT DOES THIS LEARNING ENVIRONMENT LOOK LIKE? You are ready to work as soon as the bell rings. You will respect me, your classmates, yourselves, the classroom and the materials that you will use. We listen carefully and pay attention to one another. Your stories are not more important than another s stories. Follow all instructions with extreme care. Remain seated until dismissed by the teacher. Order makes class a more pleasant place to be. Work well with others. Substandard work isn t ever OK. We trust one another. Personal best is more important than winning (i.e. maintain INTEGRITY). Remember that YOU are the only one responsible for your actions and that all school rules apply at all times. You must remain ACCOUNTABLE. GRADING SCALE STUDENT EVALUATION The following grading scale is in accordance with the Tecumseh Local School district policy: Grade Percentage A % B 80-90% C 70-80% D 60-70% F Below 60% GRADING WEIGHT Type of Assignment Percentage Lessons (Activities, Labs, Notes) 10% Quizzes 10% Tests and Projects 80%

4 GRADING - There are two ways that you can check your grade during the course of the year. The first is thru progress book. Progress book can be accessed thru the computer via the password given to you from the guidance department. The second way is in the classroom. Mr. Lloyd will review grades frequently during each quarter up on the board in the classroom. - PLEASE NOTE: A weighted system is used to calculate your grade. Grades will be based on the following: Lessons : -Each lesson students receive a classwork packet that has homework, lab activities and notes pages. These packets are expected to be complete on the day of the quiz/test. Homework is your opportunity to learn new information and gain a better understanding. The completion grade allows you to gain credit by going through this process. - Homework is NOT designed to boost your grade!!!! That is not it s purpose. Homework is used to help a student understand the material. Mr. Lloyd uses the homework to help guide you to improve your understanding. -It is important for you to value STEWARDSHIP. You will have quite a bit of class time to complete assignments, and therefore should not have problems turning in your homework ON TIME. Quizzes: -I will attempt to have a quiz every Friday in class. -Quizzes, like homework, are also intended for practice. Students will have an opportunity to earn full credit on each quiz by either correcting their quiz and/or completing an enrichment assignment on the material for that week. Unit Tests: - Every Lesson will be accompanied by a test that contains both multiple-choice and free response questions. Exams -An exam will be given at the end of each semester. OTHER CLASSROOM PROCEDURES Make-up Work: - If you miss a day a school it is your responsibility to make up that work. You are ACCOUNTABLE for your work. Notes will need to be copied from a friend in the class. - Tests may be made up before or after school or during lunch or a study hall. Class time in my class or another teacher s class will not be used. Cheating: - Cheating or copying from another student will result in a zero and an office referral. Cheating is turning in any work that is not yours. If I wanted a copy machine I would go down to the office and use one. Remember we are placing a HIGH value on HONESTY and INTEGRITY this year.

5 Bookbags: -This year in class an important boundary I would like to establish is that when we are in science class, we are working on science. Therefore, I will be enforcing a NO BOOKBAG policy when you enter my classroom. You are still expected to be prompt to class, and if unable to leave your bookbag in your locker, will need to leave it in the back of the room. Ultimately, you will still need to be in your seat with the appropriate materials when the bell rings. Website: Throughout the year I will begin to build a class web page that will include reminders and assignments from class. To access the web page follow the instructions below: 1.) ( 2.) Select Tecumseh High School shown on the left side of the screen 3.) Select THS Teacher Web Pages from the selection on the left hand side. 4.) Find the science department and select Mr. Lloyd Ohio Alerts: Please have parents refer to the Ohio Alterts Instructions on my web page if you are interested in receiving updates and reminders about class through Ohio Alerts. I will have students work through the process of subscribing to Ohio Alerts in class COURSE SYLLABUS: Note: This is a tentative schedule of topics. The topics and their order are subject to change. Semester 1 Quarter 1: Sustainability Environmental Worldview Environmental Ethics Quarter 2: Energy Ecology 1 st Semester Exam Semester 2 Quarter 3: Human Population Growth Human Health and Toxicology Pollution Quarter 4: Food and Agriculture Land Use and Protection Biodiversity and Protection 2 nd Semester Exam ANY QUESTIONS? Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value. -Albert Einstein The mercenaries will always beat the draftees, but the volunteers will crush them both. Chuck Noll