Welcome to Arts Academy Earth and Environmental Science at
Chapel Hill High School

Teacher: Mr. Rob Greenberg
Website: www.rgreenbergscience.wikispaces.com
Room: A-119 Phone: (919) 929-2106 ext 1119
Email:

My Mission Statement
I strongly believe that the Earth and Environmental sciences, including the broad areas of geology, meteorology, astronomy, the soil sciences and oceanography are not only interesting and relevant, but bring together the basic sciences such as Chemistry and Physics. There is even quite a bit of overlap with Biology. The Earth and Environmental sciences are applied sciences: issues or dilemmas that involve people, wildlife, land use and resources can be better addressed with knowledge, background and experience. Education in this realm will lead to wise planning and informed decision-making. It is fortunate that the course, thus far, has not been tied to a state test at the end of the year. I will use a wide variety of pedagogy in order to help make this class meaningful and inspiring to all.

Overview of Class
Each class will begin with the learning objective, which must be written down in the notebook followed by a thought question requiring a response. Unless told otherwise, each class period will begin in this way. Students are expected to maintain a notebook in sequential order, which will be checked at the end of each nine-week grading period. My lectures/presentations, which will mostly be done using power point, will last about twenty minutes. This will be followed by a collaborative activity, many times requiring students to do a formative assessment (checking their understanding of concepts). There will be days on which the entire period will be devoted to a lab or activity. As an Arts Academy class, much of the “notes” will be in the form of diagrams that students will label and embellish. I make frequent use of the media, i.e. “Living on Earth” stories and interviews. An announced quiz will be given after the completion of each topic (see syllabus below). There will be two major tests (announced) per semester. Although there will be no nightly homework, there will be several current event summaries per grading period. During the first and second quarters, two research assignments will be required. The third quarter will be entirely devoted to the Island Project. There will be no research assignments during the fourth quarter, however students will be given an opportunity to learn and practice astrophotography.

Classroom resources:
I do not use a single textbook for this class, rather I draw from an abundance of resources including class sets of intro college level textbooks, non-fiction best sellers, radio program episodes archived on the Web, and various online programs such as Google Earth and Stellarium. Below is a partial list of resources I use along with links.

Understanding Earth
Cosmic Perspective
Meteorology
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Living on Earth
Fresh Air with Terri Gross
Google Earth
Stellarium
Skynet


What makes this an Arts Academy class?

The earth and environmental sciences lend themselves beautifully to learning through images and diagrams. During the first, second and fourth grading periods, much of the student notebook will consist of diagrams (templates drawn by me) that will then be labeled and visually enhanced by students. The entire Island Project, in itself, involves creative thinking and imagination. The products include an eye-catching, informative display board, a large detailed map, a model of a building and its surrounding landscape, and a restaurant menu featuring local foods grown on the island. During the fourth quarter, we will explore the nature of light as we work with data sets of deep sky and solar system objects from photographs taken by students.

The common thread: Earth and Space interactive systems

Rather than compartmentalize the various topics, this course will be taught with the idea that Earth has five interconnected systems. The Earth’s interior including the crust comprises the lithosphere. The hydrosphere is a thin band around the planet, both below and at the surface, where water is influential. The atmosphere is comprised of several layers that surround the Earth like the outer skin surrounds an onion. The atmosphere gives way to the exosphere, or what is known as “space.” Within the hydrosphere and atmosphere is the “biosphere” where living organisms survive, reproduce and interact with the other spheres. Each topic or chapter will be taught as part of interconnected systems. One of your challenges will be to describe how the systems are interconnected for each topic we cover.
Syllabus

FIRST QUARTER
Introduction and overview of the class

Formation of the Solar Nebula, the Earth and its atmosphere

Minerals and rocks

Geologic time and mass extinctions

Earth’s resources: mineral mining, fossil fuels and related issues

Earth’s resources: alternative energy and sustainability

Interior processes: plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

Mountain building and structural geology

Weathering, soil and erosion

SECOND QUARTER

Streams, lakes and groundwater

Water as a resource
Motions of the Earth and the Milankovich Cycles

Glaciers and ice ages; deserts and wind

Oceans and coastlines

Landforms and maps

Moisture, clouds and weather

Weather maps and forecasting

Climate and climate change

THIRD QUARTER
Island Project (application of what we’ve covered thus far)
Community presentation

FOURTH QUARTER
Review of astronomy concepts taught in first quarter
Planets, comets, meteors and asteroids
Stellar formation and evolution
Galaxies and dark matter
Light, the cosmic messenger
Telescopes and Spacecraft
Astrophotography
The beginning and end of time


Two research assignments per grading period
First Quarter: Geologic Time Period; Historic volcanic eruption
Second Quarter: Oceanography topic; Natural attributes of the island you selected for the Island Project


Student supplies needed for class

- 1 or 2-inch wide 3-ring binder with dividers
- A drawing kit (set of "ultra-fine" tipped pens, colored pencils, eraser, hand-held sharpener). I recommend putting these materials in a pouch with a zipper. You may store your art supplies in the classroom if you do not feel like carrying them around.

I will have extra drawing materials in the room, however, through the school year, these supplies get used up.

Grading policy

The grading scale is as follows: 100-93 A; 92-85 B; 84-77 C; 76-70 D; 69-0 F. This is outlined in the CHHS student handbook. Some of the categories in the grade book include: test, quiz, current event, research project, collaborative activity, in-class project, and presentation. I do not use weighted categories: everything is assigned a point total. Grades are calculated in this way: Total points earned divided by total points x 100. Read my policy below pertaining to borderline grades.

How to access grades and the class calendar
Classroom activities, quizzes, tests and homework assignments and other assignments and due dates will be always posted online. Snapgrades has a calendar, plus I will post on my Google calendar. Instructions are on the home page of my WIKI space for how to sign up to Snapgrades and your specific Google group. You must sign up in order to have access. I will upload documents such as class notes and labs, plus powerpoint presentations, etc. on to my WIKI space, which will serve as my web site. This will make it easy for students who are absent. Due to the copy paper quota, as well as copier malfunctions, if you are able to download and print out any documents that will be used in class, and insert them in your notebook that would be greatly appreciated.

Missing assignments and incompletes

If a student has missing assignments or has not taken a test or quiz by the end of the first grading period, an INCOMPLETE will be recorded on the report card. A grade will be given once the assignment has been completed. However, if work has not been completed by the end of the first semester, a zero will be entered for the missing assignments and a grade will then be calculated.

Labs/activities may not be that easy to set up therefore for each lab, I will announce a final day for make-up. If the lab is not made up by the deadline, I will give an alternate assignment on a similar topic as the lab or activity.

Checking in on student grades and progress

I use a fantastic program called SNAPGRADES and this year have a paid subscription. This allows students and their parents to check on grades. Note that you can only view the grades of your son or daughter; no one else’s grades will show up. The Link is on my home page. I highly recommend that all students and parents sign up so grades can be viewed at any time. Snapgrades has a class calendar that I will use regularly and emails can be sent from this site. Instructions for signing up are posted on my main page

The best way to reach me is through e-mail, however if that is not convenient, please feel free to leave a phone message at 929-2106 ext. 1119. I will gladly meet with you at a mutually convenient time. The best times for me are before school (after 8:15 AM), during planning/lunch (11:30 - 1:00) or right after school. The best thing to do is set a mutually convenient meeting time and we'll put it on our calendars.

Support for Student Success:

I require every student to participate in a Success Contract, outlining the obligations and duties of myself and the student so it is clear our expectations for excellence at the start of the year. My general classroom rules are posted around my doorway inside the classroom.

Students who need to make up work or get extra help may come by at lunch, before school or after school by appointment. I will set aside Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunches as “quiet time” in my classroom. Work cannot be made up if an absence is unexcused.

Prior to each chapter, I will hand out the questions and vocabulary you will need to know for the following quiz. Tests will consist of similar questions from previous quizzes. Because I am giving you the questions ahead of time, there will be no quiz or test corrections allowed unless a student has approved provisions.

If a student has NO MISSING WORK during a grading period, has demonstrated a positive attitude and has been a regular contributor to the learning environment, in the case of a borderline grade, I will award the student the higher grade.


CLASSROOM RULES

Rules in my class are fairly simple and equitable for everyone involved. Most important, I feel in my classroom we are all a TEAM : Together Everyone Achieves More! We are not alone; there is support in your classmates, your parents and through me. I feel that in this class we are in this together and we all have a stake in each other's education. Please do not hesitate if you need help! I reserve the right to randomly assign lab groups and partners as well as seating arrangements such to allow students to learn from others and keep students on task. I realize this may cause some initial discomfort for some students, but it is my educational obligation to have a classroom environment conducive to learning.

Use of Class Time Class begins at the final bell. Please be ready to begin. If you are late, you should have a note. Place the note in the basket, get seated and quickly get caught up. While I believe in starting class on time, if we were productive and accomplished our work before the end of the period, I will give that time to you for socializing and doing work from another class.

Absences In order to do well in this class, you need to be in class. Attendance is vital to your success in school and beyond. Use my webpage or visit me directly to get the work you have missed. Parents, please contact me immediately if you have any concerns. As always, MAKING UP ASSIGNMENTS IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY! Also, students may not make up assignments from unexcused absences. Students should refer to my WIKI space when absent; it is often possible to stay caught up if effort is made at home.

For seventh period students: It is common for students to miss all or part of a class due to participation in after school activities. Since I am providing and maintaining a “system,” which will allow you to keep up with class work, there should not be missed work. Please be a frequent visitor to my Wikispace as well as the class Google group. You are responsible for making up what you missed. I will make your coaches aware of my system for catching up with missed class work. Most will agree that academics is and should be a top priority.

Plagiarism and Cheating are not only unfair to the scientific community at large but also can result in disastrous harm to people's lives. If a student is documented to be cheating, the result is a zero on the assignment, referral to the alpha administrator in which parents will be notified. This includes giving or receiving unauthorized aid on any assignment. Therefore it is in everyone's best interest to hold on to your work, use a coversheet on tests, and report instances of academic misconduct. There is no excuse for cheating, it is best to do your own work, talk to me about rescheduling an assignment or turning it in late. Ethical behavior is crucial in being a scientist and since you are young scientists, you will be held to the same standard. Students may collaborate on projects/labs; however your work needs to be in your own words. If you need help, please don't hesitate to come see me. All students should abide by the CHHS honor code at all times.