Castle View Earth Science Syllabus
Course Description 2018/2019
Remind: Enter this number "81010" and text "@496h6c"
Instructor: Zoe Caven
Course Description
Earth Science focuses on the planet Earth and its place in the universe. Over the course of the semester, we will explore topics relating to geology, oceanography, meteorology and astronomy. Students will learn by using real life applications to understand the science of what happens in our natural world. These applications will be through projects that students will create to showcase their understanding.
Projects will be on related to the following topics:
Generally speaking, these are the three rules in my class. This syllabus simply outlines in further detail what the rules of the course mean. If there are problems behaviorally with following these rules, there are several consequences that could occur. On Infinite Campus, every student has a citizenship score. If students are not following these rules, their citizenship score will go down, impacting their grade. If the problems still don’t resolve, parents and administration will be contacted.
Bathroom Policy:
Students are to use a bathroom pass at all times when using the restroom. If a student is gone for more than 10 minutes, they will receive a tardy. If they are gone for 25 minutes or more, it is considered an absence and will be marked on Infinite Campus accordingly.
Cellphone Policy:
There is a lot of research on how mentally absent we are when we have our phones with us. During instruction in class, the phones will be in a Cell Phone Hotel. Students will be checking in their phones into the Cell Phone Hotel at the beginning of class. Students will be assigned a number and slot for their phone to be placed in at the beginning of class. This is how attendance will be taken. If the phone is not placed in the cell phone hotel at the beginning of class, the student will be counted as absent.
If a student is found with their phone out during the designated Cell Phone Hotel time, the phone will be taken and sent to the office.
For instructional purposes only, cell phones can be retrieved and used appropriately if specified by Ms. Caven. In case of an emergency or an emergency drill, students will be able to retrieve their phones as well. If a student is having an emergency at home and needs their cell phone, they can talk to Ms. Caven at the beginning of class.
Grading Policy:
Students are going to be graded on a A-F scale without a weighted system. This means that all points count toward grade equally. Generally, tests and projects will be worth more points in the system. Quizzes, in class assignments, and homework assignments will be worth less points, but we will have more of them.
Late work Policy:
If a student has late work and is excused, they will have however many days they were absent to make up the assignment or to talk to me about making up the assignment. For instance, if you had an excused absence for two days and you missed a lab, you have two days to schedule a day to make up the lab. It is your responsibility to make up work, which is all available on the website.
If a student has late work and was not excused, they must have their late work ready for the teacher the next day of class at the beginning of class in order to get full credit. Otherwise, credit for completing the assignment will drop two 50% of the available points prior to grading.
If you miss the due date for your late work, you will lose 50% of the points for your assignment prior to grading. However, you have the until the end of the unit to turn it in before the assignment becomes a permanent zero.
Extra Credit Policy:
Students can receive up to 5 points of Extra Credit throughout the term. Extra Credit can be exchanged in return for a late pass. 1 extra credit point=1 late pass throughout the term. A late pass means students have until the end of the term to turn in a missing assignment for full credit once graded. The student must inform the teacher of the extra credit point being used as a late pass. Extra credit points can be monitored on Infinite Campus. Students are responsible for checking that their extra credit points make it into the gradebook.
Grade Rounding Policy:
At the end of the term, a grade rounding form will be available for students with a borderline grade (58%-62%/68%-72%/78%-82%/88%-92%). Simply filling out the grade rounding form does not guarantee a grade round. Filling out the grade rounding form qualifies you for the opportunity of a grade round. The grade rounding form explores why you might be on a borderline grade and if you did all you could to get your grade up.
Course Description 2018/2019
Remind: Enter this number "81010" and text "@496h6c"
Instructor: Zoe Caven
Course Description
Earth Science focuses on the planet Earth and its place in the universe. Over the course of the semester, we will explore topics relating to geology, oceanography, meteorology and astronomy. Students will learn by using real life applications to understand the science of what happens in our natural world. These applications will be through projects that students will create to showcase their understanding.
Projects will be on related to the following topics:
- Science Inquiry
- Astronomy
- Geologic Time
- Plate Tectonics
- Weather
- Environmental Impact
Teaching Philosophy: Project Based Learning - There are many principles to explore and understand through investigating, so be prepared to explore your surroundings and become a science investigator! The curriculum is activity and inquiry based and is designed to establish a sound foundation in scientific literacy and critical thinking. This means students will be hands on with their learning by working on a project while understanding the topics covered in class. Students will be supported through recorded lectures, checklists that encourage student interactions with teachers and links to past material available 24/7.
Classwork Expectations: - Be respectful
- Be responsible
- Be safe
Generally speaking, these are the three rules in my class. This syllabus simply outlines in further detail what the rules of the course mean. If there are problems behaviorally with following these rules, there are several consequences that could occur. On Infinite Campus, every student has a citizenship score. If students are not following these rules, their citizenship score will go down, impacting their grade. If the problems still don’t resolve, parents and administration will be contacted.
Bathroom Policy:
Students are to use a bathroom pass at all times when using the restroom. If a student is gone for more than 10 minutes, they will receive a tardy. If they are gone for 25 minutes or more, it is considered an absence and will be marked on Infinite Campus accordingly.
Cellphone Policy:
There is a lot of research on how mentally absent we are when we have our phones with us. During instruction in class, the phones will be in a Cell Phone Hotel. Students will be checking in their phones into the Cell Phone Hotel at the beginning of class. Students will be assigned a number and slot for their phone to be placed in at the beginning of class. This is how attendance will be taken. If the phone is not placed in the cell phone hotel at the beginning of class, the student will be counted as absent.
If a student is found with their phone out during the designated Cell Phone Hotel time, the phone will be taken and sent to the office.
For instructional purposes only, cell phones can be retrieved and used appropriately if specified by Ms. Caven. In case of an emergency or an emergency drill, students will be able to retrieve their phones as well. If a student is having an emergency at home and needs their cell phone, they can talk to Ms. Caven at the beginning of class.
Grading Policy:
Students are going to be graded on a A-F scale without a weighted system. This means that all points count toward grade equally. Generally, tests and projects will be worth more points in the system. Quizzes, in class assignments, and homework assignments will be worth less points, but we will have more of them.
Late work Policy:
If a student has late work and is excused, they will have however many days they were absent to make up the assignment or to talk to me about making up the assignment. For instance, if you had an excused absence for two days and you missed a lab, you have two days to schedule a day to make up the lab. It is your responsibility to make up work, which is all available on the website.
If a student has late work and was not excused, they must have their late work ready for the teacher the next day of class at the beginning of class in order to get full credit. Otherwise, credit for completing the assignment will drop two 50% of the available points prior to grading.
If you miss the due date for your late work, you will lose 50% of the points for your assignment prior to grading. However, you have the until the end of the unit to turn it in before the assignment becomes a permanent zero.
Extra Credit Policy:
Students can receive up to 5 points of Extra Credit throughout the term. Extra Credit can be exchanged in return for a late pass. 1 extra credit point=1 late pass throughout the term. A late pass means students have until the end of the term to turn in a missing assignment for full credit once graded. The student must inform the teacher of the extra credit point being used as a late pass. Extra credit points can be monitored on Infinite Campus. Students are responsible for checking that their extra credit points make it into the gradebook.
Grade Rounding Policy:
At the end of the term, a grade rounding form will be available for students with a borderline grade (58%-62%/68%-72%/78%-82%/88%-92%). Simply filling out the grade rounding form does not guarantee a grade round. Filling out the grade rounding form qualifies you for the opportunity of a grade round. The grade rounding form explores why you might be on a borderline grade and if you did all you could to get your grade up.