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9th Grade Science – Course Information (2007-2008)
Mr. John
Abbott
Classroom: D109
Office Telephone:
720-424-1768
Office: D107
E-mail: John_Abbott@dpsk12.org
Office Hours: Before school from 7:00 - 7:35, anytime during Access
(9:05-9:15), or if these times don't work, let's schedule a time that
will.
9th GRADE SCIENCE OVERVIEW
This is not a day-to-day syllabus as you may receive in other
classes. The purpose of this is to give you an idea of what will
be going on in earth science and the expectations of the course.
My website will have the week-to-week activities on it, as I update it
at least once a week.
This survey course is designed to provide an understanding of all the
elements of the physical environment of planet Earth. The course
emphasizes the five realms or “spheres” of the Earth: atmosphere
(weather and climate), lithosphere (geology and geomorphology),
hydrosphere (bodies of water and groundwater), cryosphere (ice and
snow) and biosphere (organisms and ecosystems). The overall
treatment of the course is through an Earth Systems approach to
learning.
GRADE 9—EARTH SCIENCE
Program: EarthComm
Developed by the American Geological Institute
Published by It’s About Time
UNITS OF STUDY
We are not doing a sequential order of the units, but rather they will be as follows:
Unit 2—Understanding Your Environment
In order to sustain the presence and quality of human life, humans and
communities must understand their dependence on Earth resources and
environments, realize how they influence Earth systems, appreciate
Earth’s carrying capacity, manage and conserve nonrenewable resources
and environments, develop alternate sources of energy and materials
needed for human sustenance, and invent new technologies.
Unit 1—Earth’s Dynamic Geosphere
The dynamic geosphere includes a rocky exterior upon which ecosystems
and human communities developed and a partially molten interior with
convection circulation that generates the magnetosphere and drives
plate tectonics. It contains resources that sustain life, causes
natural hazards that may threaten life, and affects all of Earth’s
other geospheres.
Unit 4—Earth’s Natural Resources
Earth resources include the nonrenewable and renewable supplies of
energy, mineral, and water resources upon which individuals and
communities depend in order to maintain quality of human life, economic
prosperity, and requirements for industrialization.
Unit 5—Earth System Evolution
Change through time produced Earth, the net result of constancy,
gradual changes, and episodic changes over human, geological, and
astronomical scales of time and space.
Unit 3—Earth’s Fluid Spheres
Fluid spheres within the Earth system include the hydrosphere,
atmosphere, and cryosphere, which interact and flow to produce
ever-changing weather, climate, glaciers, seascapes, and water
resources that affect human communities, and which shape the land,
transfer Earth materials and energy, and change surface environments
and ecosystems.
We have some themes in Science. They are:
Abilities to do Scientific Inquiry: Inquiry involves engaging in
scientifically oriented questions, giving priority to evidence in
responding to questions, formulating explanations based on evidence,
connecting explanations to scientific knowledge, and communicating and
justifying explanations.
Understandings about the Nature of Science: The development of
scientific knowledge is based on questioning current knowledge, using
empirical facts to develop logical theories, and verifying observations
and claims.
Literacy in Geoscience: Geoscientific literacy is knowing how the
Earth works as a system in which humans as citizens have a
responsibility to sustain the delicate balance of these systems through
careful stewardship, informed decision-making, and the wise use of
Earth’s resources.
BRING TO CLASS EACH DAY
1) Notebook for journaling
2) Whatever folder contraption you use to hold papers
3) A pencil or at least a writing utensil. A pencil is best in Science.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance in all classes is important! You are expected to be
here on time, and in your seat ready to work. If you are absent,
please come to me when you return, and I will get you your missing
work. Or if you know that you are going to be absent ahead of
time, let me know and I will send you home with work. Email is an
amazing thing. If you, your parents, or guardians have an email
address, feel free to contact me and I can get you caught up with
missing work.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
1) A safe learning environment!
2) Water is allowed in the classroom, but no food or other drinks in the classroom.
3) Turn off cell phones, IM devices, electric devices, recording
devices or any sort of music players. Unless specified in an IEP
I will take it away until the end of class. If it I need to take
it away a lot, I will hold it for a longer period of time.
4) Be on time and prepared.
5) Follow all school policies.
GRADING
Final Grade is determined on the percentage of points earned out of total possible:
90 - 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
Final Grade for the X version of Earth Science is determined on the percentage of points earned out of total possible:
93 - 100 = A
84 – 92 = B
77 - 83 = C
70 - 76 = D
Students who opt for the X version will also have extended lessons and other enhancements to the district-mandated curriculum.
Homework/Warm-Ups 20% - Work that is expected to be done at home, while
reviewing the Science material. The warm-ups are done at the
beginning of each class. Homework and warm-ups are not worth 20%
each but 20% combined.
Class work and Projects 40% - There are projects that you will do in class such as labs and group work.
Exams/Quizzes 30% - Expect a quiz about every two weeks.
You will also receive a study guide the class prior to the quiz.
There will be an exam after each unit. They are worth 100
points. You will receive a study guide about a week before the
exam.
Journals 5% - I check journals to make sure that you are staying up to speed on your work.
Attendance 5% - You will receive 5 points per class that you were on
time. For each minute that you are late, you will lose one point,
plus receive a tardy. If you have an excused absence then you
will be marked “exempt” for the day and it will not hurt your
attendance grade.
Work is expected to be turned in when it is due. Late work may be
turned in the next day for 50% credit. (Excused absences have 2
days for every day gone as district policy indicates.) If you
know that you are going to be absent, let me know and I can get your
work to you and you will be caught up.
NO NAME WORK
I didn’t think I would have to address this issue, but I want to make
it clear, your name needs to be on your work! No name assignments will
be marked down by 50%.
PARENT CONTACT
All assignments will be posted on my DSA website, and can be checked at
any time. I update my website at least once a week with the
weekly activities in class so you can stay on top of what we are
doing. E-mail is the best way to contact me. I will update
Infinite Campus with grades as quickly as possible. Please be
patient as there are many students and many grades to enter. I
will meet with parents by appointment.
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