Teacher: Mr. Anthony Silva Environmental Systems 2013-2014

Email: Phone: 937-2536
Website: http://www.sisd.net//Domain/5704 Room: A-331

SYLLABUS: A guide to helping you survive the new school year

Course Description

According to the Texas Education Agency, the environmental systems curriculum is designed for students to conduct investigations, analyze data and make informed decisions using critical thinking and problem solving skills. Environmental science students will study theories, models and trends critical to habitats all over the world. In-depth study of the following concepts includes: biotic and abiotic factors; characteristics of ecosystems and biomes; the relationships amongst resources in an environmental system; energy sources and flow within the environment; carrying capacity and how it affects populations and ecosystems; and the impact of changes within an environmental system.

Course Schedule (Tentative – this schedule is subject to change!)

*1st Quarter (Nine Weeks) Units *3rd Quarter (Nine Weeks) Units

a. Science, the Environment and Us a. Water

b. The Tools of Environmental Science b. Air

c. The Dynamic Earth c. Atmosphere and Climate Change

d. The Organization of Life d. Land

e. How Ecosystems Work e. Food and Agriculture

*2nd Quarter (Nine Weeks) Units *4th Quarter (Nine Weeks) Units a. Biomes a. Mining and Mineral Resources

b. Aquatic Ecosystems b. Nonrenewable Energy

c. Understanding Populations c. Renewable Energy

d. The Human Population d. Waste

e. Biodiversity e. The Environment and Human Health

Classroom Rules

1.  Respect yourself, respect others, and be responsible for your actions.

2.  Be early or on time to every class session.

3.  Always bring everything you need for class. Don’t count on others to lend you supplies!

4.  Focus and stay on-task during every classroom assignment, be it a lecture, activity, discussion, presentation, or exam.

5.  When working in the lab, make sure you follow all procedures, and respect all safety rules.

6.  Follow all Montwood High School rules. This includes dress code!

7.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up work.

Not following any of the above classroom rules will constitute one or more of the following:

a.  Loss of privileges (e.g. not attending field trips or group outings).

b.  Assigned detention(s)

c.  Immediate notification to parent/guardian

d.  Administrative referral

e.  Inability to participate in the classroom

Procedures and Routines

Required Materials: The following materials are required for each class period:

·  Your personal interactive notebook.

·  Two sharpened pencils and a blue or black pen.

·  A manila folder (for carrying your homework).

·  A good attitude and an open mind.

Required Textbook(s): This class does not use a textbook. However, resources from other texts (both online and print) and articles from scientific journals will be used in class. Additionally, students will have access to the following online textbook as a PDF: Annenburg Learner: The Habitable Planet, which will be available on my website.

Grading Policies: Progress reports will be sent home with the students at least once every three weeks, per district policy. Grades for each quarter shall be determined by TEKS related performance activities and will be calculated using the following system:

a.  Course Work: (85% of final grade)

i.  Daily Grades (labs, quizzes, class activity/participation, homework) 50%

ii.  Assignment Grades (writing prompts, research papers, lab projects) 30%

iii.  Exam Grade (comprehensive quarter exams) 20%

b.  Final Research Project (15% of final grade)

Classroom Procedures

Entering The Classroom: Please enter the classroom ready to work every day. Sharpen your pencil, if necessary, pick up any handouts at the front of the room, turn in homework if necessary, and take your assigned seat. Please check the board for any specific instructions (Bell Ringers), writing topics or announcements.

Remember: Once the door is closed, you must be in your seat with your required materials on your desk.

Homework: Homework and other take-home assignments or projects will be due at the BEGINNING of class on the designated day. Homework will always be due on a Tuesday or Thursday. Place your homework in the designated bin at the front of the class. Please do NOT leave your homework on my desk; I cannot guarantee it will not be lost if you do.

Late work: Any work that is turned in after the start of class on the due date is considered late. If the late work is turned in in between then and the next class session, then I will accept it, but I will automatically deduct 15 points from your grade. I will NOT accept late work thereafter unless special permission is granted beforehand.

Lectures: Please take notes and focus during the lecture. I will be moving around the room and asking questions to make sure you are paying attention. Please raise your hand if you have a question or wish to add to the lecture. Talking off-topic or being off-task while I am lecturing will constitute one (1) warning and then detention and/ or immediate referral/call home.

Restroom Passes: You are expected to use the restroom between classes. However, if you need to use the restroom, please fill out the bathroom sign out sheet. You must take the bathroom pass AND your student I.D. with you. You are expected to return within 5 minutes; expect disciplinary action if you exceed your five minutes.

Group work: We will have various projects and activities that will require you to work in a group. Each member of the group is expected to contribute. Though each member is expected share the group grade, be aware that you can lose credit for not contributing.

For long-term projects, the group should designate a fair share of the work to each group member. Make sure you exchange email and phone numbers in case a member is absent, or you need to get a hold of someone in your group at a later date.

Finishing Assignments Early: If you finish a class assignment early (whether individual or group), you should review your personal interactive notebook. You may NOT talk to your peers, listen to music, or do homework for another class.

Dismissal: Five minutes before class ends, I will tell you to start getting packed up. After the room is straightened, I will give you any last minute instructions/announcements, and then dismiss the class. Please note that the bell does not dismiss the class. If you are out of your seats when the bell rings, or the classroom has not been straightened to a satisfactory level, then I will not dismiss the class.

Classroom Discipline

Tardiness: After the final bell (also known as the tardy bell) rings, I will lock my classroom door. You MUST have a tardy pass to enter the classroom after the tardy bell has rung. You can get a tardy pass from the front office.

Detention: In the event of serious or repeated infractions, you may be issued after-school detention with me and/or lunch detention with an Asst. Principal or in the Freshman Center. I expect you to show up for detention within the FIRST 5 minutes of lunch, or within the FIRST five minutes after school. In either case, detention will last at least 20 minutes. If you do not show up for any assigned detention (within first 5 min.), an immediate referral will be issued.

Grading/Make-up Work

Academic Dishonesty: Any student caught cheating will receive a referral, a call home and given a grade of zero (0) for the assignment. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) directly cheating on an exam, plagiarism, and the exchange of answers on individual assignments. In any case where more than one student is involved, all students will be disciplined and given an immediate grade of zero (0).

Re-do Failed Assignments/Tests: While I am happy to give you the opportunity to improve your grade, it is YOUR responsibility to redo an assignment or test for which a failing grade was earned. You must make arrangements within five (5) school days upon which you received your initial grade. Please be aware that you will be given only ONE opportunity to redo the failed assignment or test.

Corrected Exams: Occasionally, I will allow you to correct your exam after it has been initially graded. You must correct your exam ON YOUR OWN - it will not be a group activity. You will receive extra points toward the exam grade. Corrections will always be done in-class.

Make-up Work: When you are absent, YOU are expected to make up any work you missed. On the day you return, ask me (at the beginning or end of class) for any missed work. Your due date for the missed assignment = the number of days you were absent. If you have any questions, please ask myself or another student as soon as possible. Questions for missed assignments should be asked outside of class or through email ().

If you miss an exam or quiz, you must make arrangements with me to make it up in a timely manner. It is NOT my responsibility to tell you what you missed. Work missed due to an unexcused absence will be given a grade of “0”. If an absence is changed from “unexcused” to “excused” after the first 24 hours, it will be the student’s responsibility to provide the entrance pass to me so that make up work can be graded. With the exception of exams, I will post all assignments on my website.

Mini-Research Paper: You will have the opportunity to make up, at most, ONE (1) zero per semester on any late homework. (This does NOT include zeros on projects, lab reports, or assigned research papers.) If you wish to make up the zero, you must turn in the mini-research paper within one week of the initial homework due date (No exceptions!). The mini-research paper must follow the necessary guidelines:

Guidelines:

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·  Cover page with your title, name, class and period

·  Body: 1-1/2 to 2 pages

·  Text: size 12, Times New Roman font

·  1 inch margins (all sides)

·  Reference page – at least two valid references (Wikipedia is NOT a valid reference)

Your research paper will be relevant to the homework content that you are making up, though you will have your choice of research topics.

Closing Note

Above all, I wish you all of you a safe and happy school year. I look forward to working with you, and seeing what amazing ideas and insights you will bring to the classroom. Let’s work toward a great end to 2013, and beyond!

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LABORATORY SAFETY RULES

The following rules will be thoroughly understood and followed by each student. There will be absolutely no violation of these rules.

Personal and Group Safety:

1.  It is your responsibility to act always in a manner that will insure your safety and the safety of the other members of the class.

2.  Ask for instructions whenever you do not understand clearly what you are to do.

3.  Always wear safety goggles when you are heating, hammering, or using chemicals.

4.  Wear a laboratory apron or coat whenever you are working with chemicals or heated substances.

5.  Stay at your own lab table and away from students who are doing experiments where eye protection is needed.

6.  Long hair must be tied back when working in the lab. Tie back loose clothing or jewelry.

7.  Do not handle lab equipment without permission.

8.  Do not enter chemical room unless given permission.

9.  Always carry equipment in a safe manner that will not endanger yourself and other members of the class or damage the equipment.

10.  Never leave equipment in places that could lead to an accident.

11.  NO FOOD, DRINKS OR GUM DURING A LAB!

12.  No unauthorized experiments!

Using Heat or Chemicals:

  1. When heating a test tube, point it away from yourself and others.
  2. Never heat materials in a closed container.
  3. Never directly breathe the fumes of chemicals and never taste chemicals or place them near your eyes. To test the odor of fumes, gently wave the fumes toward your nose.
  4. Do not use any chemical from an unlabeled container. Always read the label before using any chemical or material.
  5. When diluting an ACID or BASE, add the acid or base to the water slowly while stirring. DO NOT pour water in to the acid or base.
  6. Dispose of used chemicals in the special containers supplied.
  7. Never mix chemicals unless instructed to do so.
  8. Never return unused chemicals to its original container.
  9. Wash your hands after handling chemicals.

Using Glassware:

  1. Hot glass and cold glass look the same. Use extreme caution and THINK BEFORE YOU TOUCH!
  2. Wash all glassware before and after use.
  3. Never use broken or chipped glassware.
  4. Dispose of used glassware in the appropriate container.

Handling Living Organisms:

  1. No investigations that will cause pain, discomfort, or harm to any animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, and amphibians should be done in the classroom or at home.
  2. Treat all living organisms with care and respect. Do not touch any organism in the classroom or lab unless given permission to do so.
  3. Animals should be handled only if necessary. If an animal is excited or frightened, pregnant, feeding, or with its young, special handling is required.
  4. Your teacher will instruct you as to how to handle each species that may be brought into the classroom.
  5. Treat all microorganisms as if they were harmful. Use antiseptic procedure, as directed by your teacher, when working with microbes. Dispose of microbes as your teacher directs.
  6. Wash your hand thoroughly after handling animals, cages and microbes.
  7. Wear gloves when directed to do so. Report animal bites or stings to your teacher immediately.

Other Rules: