COURSE SYLLABUS
Physical Geology
2017-2018
Mr. Kirschman
951.253.7200 ext. 3813
WELCOME
My name is Mr. Kirschman and I will be your Physical Geology Teacher this year. I look forward to a fun and successful year. My goal is to help prepare you to take a Scientific approach to thinking and solving problems and to further prepare you academically and socially to work toward your future goals. Feel free to contact me at any time during the school year…EMAIL IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME! You can also visit my class webpage and SUBSCRIBEto keep up with class activities at
PREREQUISITES
Completion of Biology or Advanced Biology with a grade of C or better and Physics or A.P. Physics or Chemistry or Honors Chemistry or A.P. Chemistry with a grade of C or better.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND STANDARDS
Physical Geology is a one year laboratory course that will provide students with a comprehensive view of geologic science concepts and principles, offer students opportunities to develop science process skills, and use the themes of Energy, and Systems and Interaction to interrelate ideas from Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science. This course meets UC/CSU (Laboratory Science-d) requirements.
TEXTBOOK
Physical Geology 13th edition McGraw Hill.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
The following materials will be required for Phys. Geo.. Students will need paper for daily class activities (spiral, composition,folder or three ring binder with a separate section) and something to write with each day. They will also need to be able to access and submit assignments with Inifinite Campus , an online education management program as well as Microsoft Office 365 (portal.office.com). Parents are also invited to use these free programs to monitor things such as attendance, assignments, and grades. Directions for accessing Infinite Campus can be found at .
Optional materials include an electronic device to access internet resources (phone, tablet, laptop) and colored pencils/markers
GRADING
Students will be graded according to the following weighted scale.
Class Assignments ( Lab Reports, presentations, and Projects) = 30% of the total grade.
Tests, Quizzes, and Performance Tasks =30% of the grade.
Daily Work (daily class reading, listening, observing and discussion)=40% of the grade.
Academic Dishonesty: Any plagiarizing or cheating will receive zero credit and be subject to the school discipline policy.
These categories will be used to calculate an overall letter grade for the class based on the following scale: A=100-90%, B= 89-80%, C= 79-70%, D=69-60%, F= 59% or lower. Please remember that I do not give grades, they are earned.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to understand and follow the district and school policies outlined in their student handbook. In addition to that , I ask that my students follow two simple rules in class. Be respectful and be responsible. Citizenship grades will be calculated based on teacher observation of student behaviors related to the two class expectations.. Unexcused absences and tardies will negatively affect citizenship grades, as well as prevent students from making up work.
O= Less than 3 negative observationsS=Less than 5 negative observations
N=Less than 10 negative observationU=10 or more negative observations
MAKE UP/ LATE WORK
- Students are encouraged and expected to communicate with the teacher in the event of an absence BEFORE THEY RETURN. This can be done best through email. This way students can complete work for participation before they return.
- Daily Work cannot be made up without communication.
- Quizzes, Tests and Performance tasks cannot be made up without AN EXCUSED ABSENCE AND COMMUNICATION. Please refer to student handbook policies regarding these absences. Students may be assigned an alternate quiz if it has already been graded.
- Class Assignments can be turned in one day late with an excused absence. Without an excused absence, they will lose 25 percent credit per day late.
LAB SAFETY
Phys. Geo. students will participate in a number of lab activities to enhance their academic and problem solving skills. I expect all students to follow my class expectations in addition to specific safety rules. Safety rules can be found here.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
Throughout the school year, videos will be used as a teaching tool in Earth Science. These videos are all approved by LEUSD and have a rating no higher than PG-13. Please contact teacher with any concerns.
ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Acceptable use of technology in my class includes researching credible information, locating Scientific data, reading links to current Science literature, and completing class assignments. However, I expect students to be respectful and responsible in their use of technology in class. If students are found to be in violation of this acceptable use policy, it will negatively affect their grade and could result in discipline (see student handbook).
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STUDENT/PARENT/TEACHER CONTRACT
We have read the entire course syllabus for Mr. Kirschman’s Phys. Geo. class. We understand all of the aspects of the class and accept its terms. We will contact Mr. Kirschman at any time we have any questions or concerns about Earth Science this school year. We are committed to a great learning experience!
DATE:______
STUDENT NAME:______
STUDENT SIGNATURE:______
PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME:______
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:______
Mr. Kirschman’s Earth Science Course Outline
Unit 1: How do you Science?
EQ1:What are Physical Science Absolutes?
Engineering, Technology, and Science Apps (Science Absolutes). Used in all performance assessments.
EQ2:How do you utilize the scientific method to solve real world problems? (ETS1-1Analyze a global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative data)
Unit 2: Astronomy Essential Learnings
EQ3:How did it all begin? (ESS1-2 Construct a an explanation of the big bang theory).
a. Investigate evidence that proves/disproves these theories1. .
b. Utilize major skills (red light shift, visible light spectrum, Hubble's Law)
EQ4:How are objects in the Universe like a big game of dodgeball? (ESS1-4: Use math to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.)
a. Orbital paths
b. Eclipses
Unit 3: Geo/Earth Essential Learnings
EQ5:The Earth is HOW Old? (ESS1-6.Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history)
EQ6: The earth is doing work… why isn’t it making any gains?
(Ess 2-1: Develop a model to illustrate how Earth's internal and surface processes operate at different scales to form Earth's features. )
EQ7:What’s so special about water ?(HS-ESS2-5.Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes).
Unit 4: Meteorology
EQ8: Is Earth as beautiful outside as it is inside?
- How do the dramatic changes to Earth's internal and external occurrence affect planet Earth and carry over to the other bodies of the Universe?
EQ9:Are people giving Earth grey hairs?
a. Through research locate credible data that illustrates climate change and its possible sources.
b. Be able to interpret and analyze this data to make predictions about the future of Earth's climate and how this will affect living organisms on earth.
Science Skills/Absolutes (revisited throughout the year):
· Converting metric units
· Collecting data using a variety of methods (precise vs accuracy, scientific notationeetc).
· Solving for and analyzing physical qunatities (density, mass, volume etc.).
· Formulating testable hypotheses
· How to observe phenomenon (objective vs. subjective).
· Selecting reliable sources of information (what is the most important?)
· Solving for unknowns
Communicate results in a variety of ways (presentation, model, argument, discussion, video, etc.)
Supplemental Resources
PLATO
All of my students are enrolled in an online program called PLATO. This can be found at ple.platoweb.com.
Login = leusd
Username = Student ID
Password = date of birth mmddyyyy
This resource can be used for extra studying, long term make-up work, and extra credit for students who have had good attendance and acceptable classroom conduct but have not achieved the grade they desire.
MICROSOFT OFFICE 365
All LEUSD students have Microsoft Office apps for free. You can download it to up to 5 devices and can access your Office 365 account anywhere from the internet.
Go to portal.office.com
Student ID @leusd.k12.ca.us
Date of Birth mmddyyyy
GOOGLE DOCS/DRIVE
Students are encouraged to use Google docs/drive to complete assignments and projects to turn in electronically. They can also edit and share assignments with the teacher and other students. Sign up at