Most of you are aware that students taking Earth Science for high school credit are required to participate in the Brighton Science Fair on Friday, May 4. This is going to be a great opportunity to showcase a private project for the public to see on the same day as the Choir Concert and Art Exhibit at Brighton! Students need to pick a subject they like, somewhere within the broad realms of science, and think about how they can display a particular invention, experiment, or series of experiments they perform. Here are a few guidelines:
I believe there will be a peer voting contest with some kind of prize for the winner! Time, effort, and creativity will be rewarded! Earth Science students will be required to form an actual hypothesis, make a plan to experiment, collect data and analyze it, etc. An official lab report will also be required as part of the end product. The first step is making sure they picked a subject they are interested in...it does NOT have to do with Earth Science! Do they take things apart around the house? Do they spend all their free time programming computers? Do they have a secret passion for electricity, veterinary medicine, rocketry, or other scientific hobby? Picking the right subject area will help them create a quality project.
0 Comments
Welcome to Earth Science!
Earth science is the study of the earth’s substances, qualities, and position in space. This year will include major units on weather, water, rock, and the universe. While some consider these subjects to be the more “boring” parts of science, I hope you will find plenty of reasons why this is not so! Students will need: 1. BJU Press “Earth Science” textbook, fourth edition 2. the corresponding Lab Manual 3. Three ring binder with notebook paper in it. Students should bring these to class each week. A basic calculator might also be handy. A lab fee of $40.00 is due by August 23, which covers lab materials for the year. Cash, check, or Paypal me at [email protected]. Those students interested in high school credit for this class should see the end of this syllabus for additional notes. Structure of the Class Students will study one chapter per week, taking the weekend to read and answer questions from the text. Mondays will be for discussing concepts and making sure everything in the chapter was understood. Wednesdays will be for experiments and other activities which explore the key ideas further. Homework is the largest part (50%) of student’s grade. Reading the text is the most important part of mastering this subject, so the majority of homework assignments will be weekly section review questions and vocabulary from the text. Occasionally there will be a lab to do at home or other homework besides the weekly questions from the chapter. Homework will be graded most for quality and completeness, and then accuracy. Hastily or sloppily done work will not receive full credit. Homework will be collected at the start of class every Monday, and returned to the student on Wednesday. Homework must be handed in on time. Half-credit will be given for any late homework, except in the case of absence. This is to foster good habits for high school, and also because of time pressure; with 25 chapters, the student cannot afford to get behind in the chapter reading. Parents are welcome to contact me about sickness, vacation, etc., to work out what is appropriate in those situations. Several tests will be given this year, after a larger unit is complete. Brief pop quizzes will be given in class on a regular basis to make sure students are keeping up with the reading. Tests and quizzes will comprise 25% of the student’s grade. The remaining 25% of the student’s grade will be a participation grade which includes things like participation in class & labs, attitude, and work ethic. A rubric for this portion of the grade will be provided, so students can get a sense of what is expected from them. The general idea is for them to be rewarded for diligence, helpfulness, doing work well/completely—even if science is not their best subject or they struggle with tests. Extra credit opportunities may also become available if the need arises. To sum up, the student’s grade consists of: Homework (50%) Tests/Quizzes (25%) Participation (25%) Class Rules
Please also be aware of some other important Brighton rules, per the Code of Conduct. I am obliged to speak to students in class regarding the following: 1. No hats in class 2. No immodest clothing or inappropriate images/messages on clothing 3. No eating/lunches in class—(but drinks with lids are fine) 4. No peanut products of any kind on the premises Absences should be reported that day to the school administrator at 816-500-7763. Other Issues Please be aware that the BJU Press textbook teaches earth science from a creationist perspective, which is explored especially in Chapter 5. Feel free to alter or augment your student’s education on this subject according to your own family’s convictions. They will not be tested on the details of any particular creationist perspective. Final Words In closing, thank you so much for the opportunity to work with your student! Earth science is becoming more and more relevant in the 21st century with so much attention being given to the Earth’s climate, resources, and alternative energy. This is a chance for students to gain foundational knowledge in these areas, and you never know if this will trigger a deeper interest in geology, climatology, engineering, etc. It is a prime time to get out the telescope, watch the eclipse, visit a natural science museum, watch documentaries on planet Earth… anything about space, wind, water, earth, or fire! *Honors Option/High School Credit For students in 9th grade or above, there is the option of taking Earth Science for high school credit—which counts as a “lab science.” Please notify me by August 30 if this is your intent. Those selecting this option will complete all regular assignments and labs with several additions: 1. Student will watch six documentaries throughout the year on a different earth science topic and type up a set of response questions with paragraph answers. 2. Student will participate in the Science Fair held in the late spring. 3. Students will answer several extra questions in the weekly homework, some of which will require brief online research (i.e. “Locate and paste in six different timelines for earth’s early origins, with links or bibliographic sources included.”) |
AuthorMrs. Riddle teaches Life Science, Biology, and Earth Science at Brighton Academy for 2017-2018. She homeschools four children and has 10 years of co-op teaching experience. Her family is part of Radiant Church in Overland Park, KS. ArchivesCategories |