Integrated Science I2014 – 2015

Mr. CollierSyllabusPage 1 of 6

Course Name: Integrated Science I

Teacher: Mr. Collier

Email:

Teacher Homepage:

Integrated: to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole.

Science: the study of the physical and natural world and phenomena, especially by using systematic observation and experiment

Course Description: The title of this class is a good hint for what we are going to do. The goal for this course is to integrate science, specifically related to earth and space, into how you look at the world around you. As students, and later as adults, you will be challenged to think as scientists when solving problems and answering questions you encounter from day-to-day. As depicted in the cartoon above, not everyone needs to think like Einstein, but anyone can think like a scientist.

Required Materials: You will need to have these by the first full week of school and bring them every day thereafter.

  • Pencil and/or ball-point pen(s) with blue or black ink.
  • Class Notebookcan be a spiral bound notebook with pocket dividers, a spiral bound notebook and pocket folder, or a three-ring binder. In either case it should be used for this class only. If you run out of paper in your notebook, get more paper or another notebook.

Classroom Procedures:

  1. When you enter the classroom,you need to have your notebook and pen or pencil. Immediately take your seat and begin workingon the bell work. If we have a quiz or an exam, look over your study materials.
  2. I will assign seats by the end of the first week. I will change seating assignments when I decide to. This helps keep order in the classroom. During the course, I will rearrange you into groups on certain days, but otherwise, you should remain in your assigned seat.
  3. Leaving your seat requires permission. If you need to leave the classroom, it counts as being tardy, so you will have to sign out on the tardy sheet. The only exception is if you are called out by a teacher, administrator or staff member.
  4. Making up work is an absolute for exams: A lot of the work we do in class is participation. For participation scores, if your absence is excused, you may beexempted from the participation. That means it does not count for you or against you.
  5. Taking notes may be done with a pen or a pencil. I don’t do a lot of lecturing. Instead we will explore new ideas through classroom activities and reading assignments. You write things in your notebook so you can look back later for help with a quiz.
  6. If you have a question or comment about what we are learning, raise your hand! I want to the whole class to hear it. When answering questions, sometimes I will ask for volunteers, and sometimes I will choose a student at random. Please don’t call out answers. Repeated call-outs will qualify as disrupting class.
  7. Classroom Rules are posted in the room. Rules have consequences, and these are also posted. If you follow the procedures you will not need to experience the rules or the consequences. If you fail to follow all these procedures listed, you will become more familiar with rules and consequences.

Grading Policy:

Homework/ClassNotebook –10~20 pts/week

Quizzes – 15~25 points

Exams – ~150 points

Participation/Bell Work −4 pts/day, 12~20 pts/week

Research – 80-150 pts/term

Homework/Classwork: Homework and classworkis graded mostly for participation. The type of work that is assigned is very easy for you to complete, but also very important for your learning. Late assignments lose 10% for each class day it is late down to 60%. You can always turn in late assignmentscompleted for passing credit within the grading period when it was due.

Quizzes: Quizzes will be frequent (about one per week) and short (15~25 questions). Most will be multiple choice you can use your notebook for help. The solutions to whatever questions you miss on any quiz will be reworked for up tofull credit. If you write the corrections for any questions you missed you get all the points for the quiz. They become your study guide for the exam.

Exams, otherwise known as tests, will be graded based on what you get right. The good news is exam questions are very similar to quiz questions. Study your quizzes. Exams will usually be announced at least a week in advance. You can retake an exam, but you can only improve your score one letter grade.

Class Notebookis where you write any Bell Work, notes, or anything else we do in class that requires you to use your own paper. You will need to bring your own paper and have a notebook, binder, and/or folder to keep it in. You will lose points if you do notbring your notebook to class eachday. They will be spot checked during quizzes. If you don’t have them, you will lose points.

Research will be a part of this course that helps you build your reading and writing skills in science. You will get scoring guides for each assignment before you begin.

***If you try to learn, you will be awarded for your successes. If you refuse to learn, you have chosen a path to failure.***

Grading Scale:

100 – 89.50………………A

89.49 – 79.50…………….B

79.49 – 69.50...... C

69.49 – 59.50…………….D

59.49 & below…………..F

Cheating and Plagiarism: I hope none of you will even consider either of these dishonesties, but in case you do, know they will not be tolerated. The minimum penalty for cheating or plagiarism is receiving a ZERO grade for the respective assignment. I will define both these offenses with one explanation. If you are trying to claim or use someone else’swriting, thoughts, ideas, orwork for your own you are cheating and/or plagiarizing. If you wonder if something is cheating or plagiarizing, it probably is, but feel free to ask me.

These are the rules…

Be on time. Class begins when you enter the room. If you enter the room after the bell, you are late. Take care of anything you need to do between classes. There are no warnings given for this rule. You write your name on the list and write TARDY for the destination/reason. Being tardy to class more than 3 times will result in an immediate discipline referral. Being more than 5 minutes late to class without a valid excuse will result in an immediate discipline referral for skipping class.

Be seated. You have an assigned seat, and you will stay in it unless you get permission to do otherwise. Raise your hand and get permission before leaving your seat.

Be cooperative. Whatever the class is doing that day, you are expected to participate. And YES, when we are taking notes, you will take notes.

Be respectful. When someone else is talking, whether it is the teacher or one of your peers, you will be quiet and listening. If you have been given an individual assignment, you will need to work on it quietly. If you would like to contribute to the classroom discussion, you may raise your hand, and wait your turn to speak.

Be prepared. You are responsible for bringing all the materials you need for each day to the classroom. When class begins, you are expected to be working on bell work.

Be alert. You will stay awake in this classroom. You are not allowed to lay your head down or even appear to be sleeping. If you have trouble staying awake, you may stand up and stretch.

Be finished with your food and drink. It is distracting and unsanitary to eat in a classroom. You will not see me having a snack during class, so I expect the same dedication from you.

Be aware of all school rules and policies. All the rules and policies outlined in the student code of conduct will be strictly adhered to in this classroom. This includes rules regarding cell phones, physical contact, dress code, etc.
Course Outline: This outline of our course of study is tentative. That means we will try to stick to it. The exact exam dates will depend on how quickly I perceive that you are learning the material. We should have an exam about every four weeks.

  1. Our Solar System
  1. I will construct and use models to explain the causes of Earth's seasons and the Moon's phases(MS-ESS1-1).
  2. I will examine evidence for how gravity causes objects to move and present my ideas for how it works (MS-PS2-4).
  3. I will use math to describe and predict the force of gravity between objects in our solar system (HS-PS2-4).
  4. I will use math to describe and predict how objects in our solar system orbit larger objects (HS-ESS1-4).
  1. The Life and Death of Stars
  1. I will explain the changes that occur within a star during the course of its existence.
  2. I will construct a working model for the processes that occur within stars.
  3. I will explain the origin of the elements that occur in nature.
  4. I will describe how the nuclei of atoms can change to make different atoms.
  1. This is the Universe
  1. I will examine the evidence for the formation of the universe.
  2. I will evaluate the modern theory for the formation of the universe.
  3. I will describe the forces at work in the universe.
  1. How the Earth is Made
  1. I will examine evidence of and create models for how Earth’s surface changes over time.
  2. I will explain how the ages of different parts of the Earth can be measured.
  3. I will observe and describe the materials from which Earth is made.
  4. I will explain how nuclear changes in material found here on earth can be observed.
  1. The Dynamic Atmosphere and Extreme Energy
  1. I will explain how the movement of energy and matter around the earth affect weather and climate.
  2. I will model the cycles that move important material around the environment.
  3. I will construct diagrams to model photosynthesis and respiration.
  1. Naturally Resourceful
  1. I will observe and describe ecosystems.
  2. I will explain the relationships between resources and populations.
  3. I will examine the advantages and disadvantages of different sources of energy.
  4. I will investigate the impact of human activity on the Earth.
  1. Introduction to Biology.
  1. I will explain the importance of chemistry to living things.
  2. I will describe the different types of molecules that make up living things.
  3. I will describe ions.

  1. Student and Parent Guardian Course Agreement: Please read and sign the following form to confirm that you have read and understand this course syllabus. You, the student, must return thisform to me to receive your first homework grade.

Student Obligations:

  1. I will treat everyone (and everything) in the classroom with the appropriate respect and consideration.
  2. I will learn and follow classroom procedures and rules.
  3. I will cooperate with any reasonable request and refrain from disruptive behavior.
  4. I will come to class prepared for the day’s learning activities, participate fully, stay on task, and complete assignments in the time given.

Furthermore, I have read and understand this syllabus and will use for a guide in preparing and fulfilling my obligations for this course. I understand that consequences (discussed in class) will result if I choose not to fulfill my obligations.

Student Signature:Student Name:

(please print)

Date:

Parent/Guardian Authorization: To be completed by the student’s parent or guardian.

I (print name) have read and understand the attached syllabus, including the requirements and obligations of my student. I will work with school teachers and staff, if necessary, to ensure the student follows the procedures and meets the requirements and obligations set forth by the teacher for the course.

Parent/Guardian Signature:Date: