THE JOURNEY BEGINS.............

Goal:  The Earth/Environmental science curriculum focuses on the function of Earth's systems. Emphasis is placed on matter, energy, plate tectonics, origin and evolution of the earth and solar system, environmental awareness, materials availability, and the cycles that circulate energy and material through the earth system. Students will be engaged in content area that involves meteorology, geology, oceanography and astronomy. There will be incorporation of current event issues that are environmentally related as they utilize their writing skills with journal entries, weekly and open discussions of these issues.

EOC:  This course does not have an EOC or State test at the end of the semester, however that does not mean the course is treated as a science that is not important. Students are required to have this course credit for graduation. Students may exempt this exam at the end of the semester if they meet the exemption requirements that are provided for them in the student handbook. In order to receive credit for the course, they must pass with a minimal grade of seventy and be present 82 of 90 days. Students that are not exempt, the exam counts 25% of their final overall average.

Grading Policies:  A seven point scale is used school-wide for grading student work. In my class homework is counted as 15% of their grade, graded work and quiz grades are 35% each and tests count 50% of their overall grade. All work is graded either numerically or graded for participation.

Homework Policy:  When homework is assigned, it is due the next school day. If the work is late, 10 points will be deducted for lateness. If the work is not completed and ready to be handed in the next day, the student will receive a zero for that assignment.  Students that are away from school due to a school-related event need to turn their work in prior to leaving campus. I will work with students that are out sick or have other personal issues that they are dealing with. This policy is in place for all students. Any variation in the policy is strictly left to teacher discretion.

Reading with Writing Emphasis:  There is additional emphasis being placed across the curriculum on reading and writing this year here at Croatan. Students in this class will be involved with many assignments that will incorporate their reading skills and their writing skills. For example, students in the regular Earth Science classes are doing journal entries each week based on current issues that are related to earth / environmental issues. The honors level students are working on an on-going current events project and both classes will be engaged in research by the end of the semester.

Semester Plan:   

Competency Goals:

• The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry in the earth and in the environmental sciences.

• The learner will build an understanding of lithospheric materials, tectonic processes, and the human and environmental impacts of natural and human induced changes in the lithosphere.

• The learner will build an understanding of the origin and evolution of the earth system.

• The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions and influences on the lithosphere, the atmosphere and the environmental quality.

• The learner will build an understanding of the dynamics and composition of the atmosphere and its local and global processes influencing climate and air quality.

• The learner will acquire an understanding of the earth in the solar system and is position in the universe.