Madison Central School District

Earth Science Syllabus

 Topics we will cover this year: 

• Prologue: Metric system, scientific method, topographic maps
• Rocks & Minerals: Rock and mineral formation
• Surface Processes -  weathering, erosion, deposition, glaciers and landscapes
• Dynamic Crust - earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics

What I expect of you:

1.   Be on time and prepared for every class. With something to write with, your reference tables, and your binder every class and lab period.

2.   Be respectful to others, to me and to yourself. Do not interrupt others when they are speaking, never use anyone else's supplies without asking and always work to your full potential.

3.   Have all assignments turned in on time. Multiple choice assignments are due before we go over it in class and absolutely can not be handed in late. No exceptions.

What you can expect from me:

1.   Homework assignments - you will have homework practically every night, be it a lab or an actual homework assignment (or both). Your homework assignments will be in your binder. The assignments usually consist of several multiple-choice questions, all from past Regents exams. I usually assign between 10-20 of these for a night and they are always due the next time I see you for class.

2.   Labs – You must have 30 completed labs handed in by the last day of classes to be eligible to take the Regents exam.  If you do not, I can not even let you in the room to take it. So this means that labs are pretty much the most important thing in this class. Not only for the regents, but  they are 20% of your average and most importantly it also gives you a chance to DO the experiment and not just listen to the material we will cover. We will do a lab (at least one) every week during your lab period and sometimes during a class if there isn't enough time in lab. Most labs will require a lab write-up. A copy of the format for lab write-ups is on page 7 of your binder but if you lose it, click on "Lab Write-up Format" on my website.

All labs are due the following week in lab!

Always check the homework board or the outline that I give you for each chapter in your binder

3.   Fieldtrips – Depending on budget constraints, we will try to get over to the Colgate Vis lab when we are learning Astronomy. As a science department we may (in small groups) be working on the floating laboratory. I have lots of research plans for us on the lakes around here! There’s also a possibility of a science day-trip on a June Saturday for any students in a high school science course. Details in the spring!

4.   Extra Help - I will stay after school to help you with the material in this class any night that you ask me, but you need to tell me in advance if you are going to stay. For a list of other times to get help during the school day click on my schedule on my homepage or check my schedule outside my door. The easiest way to do well in this class is to have me check over your homework assignments before class. I’ll help you with any that are incorrect and you can hand in a 100 every time!

What supplies you will need:

1.   A 3-inch 3-ring binder for Earth Science only. VERY IMPORTANT! All the notes I give you the first day are your materials for the whole year. Don’t lose them! Your tests will be based on these notes/assignments so it is important to have all of them organized.

2.   Some loose-leaf paper.

3.   Something to write with, preferably not some fluorescent pink color that will ultimately give me a headache.

4.   Calculator - helpful but definitely not mandatory.