Geology Syllabus

Contents:

Teacher Responsibilities
My job is to be your teacher; so therefore, it is my responsibility to teach you. If you are having trouble with a topic in the class, you can expect that I will make time to give you extra instruction; all you have to do is ask me. You can also expect me to have a positive attitude and enthusiasm for this class. It is my job to do my best to make the class as interesting as possible. I will also do my best to motivate you by any means necessary. My job also initials that I keep order in the classroom, therefore I will use any form of discipline I feel is necessary in order to maintain an environment of learning.

Student Responsibilities
I want all of my students to understand that the teacher is only one part of the education process. I can teach, but if you are not motivated to learn, you won't. The student's responsibility is to learn. In addition to that, your grade is your responsibility. If you are having problems, it is also your responsibility to come and see me personally for extra instruction. Lastly, you are also responsible for your own behavior.

Student Requirements

ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS
In this class you will have numerous assignments, which are posted online. In order for you to view the online assignments you will have to log onto the Prentice Hall site that accompanies our textbook. Go to the URL listed below and follow the directions from there. There will be several online quizzes per chapter.
http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_lutgens_essentials_9/

TEXT BOOK
The text we will use for this course is Essentials of Geology by Lutgens/Tarbuck. This book will be assigned to you and you will be required to complete reading and study assignments out of it. Much of the chapter reading will be assigned as homework but we will have assignments to complete in class so therefore you will have to bring your book to class each time we meet.

NOTEBOOK
Each student will be required to keep a single subject notebook. I require a three-ringed binder. I would suggest that it be either a 3/4" or a 1" and start with at least 100 sheets of paper. In this notebook you will be required to keep all of your homework, notes, quizzes, lab activity sheets and tests. At the beginning of the class each day you will write down the “question of the day” from the board along with your answer. You are required to have your notebook with you in class everyday. You should only have work for this class in your notebook, and you should keep science work only in this notebook. It is important to keep a good notebook and take good notes because all tests will be open-notebook style. I will spot-check notebooks for completion of all assignments. When I collect notebooks, I check for neatness, completion, and order. If everything in your notebook is neat, orderly, and complete, you will receive a perfect score.

ABSENCES and MAKE-UP WORK
Due to the nature of this class, it is recommended that you make every attempt to be in class each day the class meets. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get your make-up work for the days you were absent, not mine. Most assignments will be made available for you on Edline and notes can be copied from your lab partner or other student in class. If you are absent on a day when an assignment is due, the next time you are present you will be required to turn in the assignment at the beginning of the period in order to receive full credit. If you miss a test or a quiz, you will be required to take the test/quiz the next day you return. There will be some assignments and participation points that can't be made up; that is why it is in your best interest to be in class everyday. If you are going to be absent and you know about it in advance, please notify me as soon as possible so that we can plan work for you. If you fail to turn in an assignment on its due date you may turn it in on the next class day for one letter grade lower. If you do not have the assignment complete by the next class meeting you may not turn in the assignment and you will automatically receive a zero for the assignment grade.

EXTRA CREDIT
Extra credit assignments are not required. The only form of extra credit that will be allowed is a current event article report that will be turned in along with a copy of the article. You may turn in no more than one per week except during finals week in which you cannot turn in any.
I will occasionally award extra credit points for donating supplies not afforded to us in the regular setting. I also reserve the right to give extra credit points for any activity I deem necessary in order to motivate students or generate school spirit.

Grading Policy and Procedure
The percentage breakdown for the assignment of letter grades will be as follows: 100-90 = A, 89-80 = B, 79-70 = C, 69-60 = D, 59 and below = F. I also reserve the right to curve this grade scale at any time I feel it is necessary.
Tests will be worth a possible of 100 points. Tests are given usually once every three weeks. Notebooks, when collected, will be worth 50 points. Lab assignments will be worth approximately 20 to 60 points, depending on the time spent on the lab. Online Quiz questions will be worth one point for each item. Points will be assigned to all other assignments as necessary. Your updated grades can be found on the Power School website and will be updated following each test or at least twice each month.

Pre-Requisite:

C or better in Biology or permission from Instructor

Length of Course:

Two semesters

Semester Units/ Credits:

5 Credits per semester

Grade Level:

Grades 10 through 12

Goals and objectives for the course:

Students shall explore the historical development of the geological sciences and understand the geologic time scale.
1. Discuss the scientists who contributed to our present understanding of geological sciences.
2. Use the fossil and rock records to demonstrate knowledge of the geologic time scale.
Students will gain an understanding of the basic concepts of measurement and mass, and matter.
1. Students will develop an understanding of the system of measurement.
2. Students will develop a knowledge of the basic nature of matter.
Students will develop a basic knowledge of the basic concepts of the structure of an atom and the Atomic Theory of Matter.
1. Students will develop a knowledge of the evidence for the Atomic Theory of Matter.
2. Students will develop a knowledge of the basic atomic structure of the atom.
3. Students will develop a knowledge of the periodic relationships inherent in the organization of the Periodic Table of Elements.
Students can identify the variable composition of minerals and rocks.
1. Discuss the characteristics of minerals and how they are identified.
2. Demonstrate the rock cycle sequences and how they relate to rock formation.
Students will understand that the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition continually reshape the surface of the Earth.
1. Students will develop an appreciation for the time periods over which surface processes take place.
2. Students will develop a knowledge of the recycled nature of surface materials.
3. Students will gain an understanding of the agents of erosion and the concept of base level.
4. Students will develop an understanding of the landforms shaped shaped through depositional processes.
Students will understand the water cycle and the water needs of California and the Antelope Valley.
1. Students will gain knowledge of California's water resources and water transportation systems.
2. Students will develop a knowledge of the water cycle and its transportation and storage components.
3. Students will gain an understanding of subsurface water migration and storage.
4. Students will develop an understanding of water consumption and delivery in the Antelope Valley.
Students will understand that Plate Tectonics is a theory that explains how internal forces and energy cause continual changes within the Earth and on its surface.
1. Students will understand the development of the Plate Tectonics Theory.
2. Students will determine the viability of the Plate Tectonics theory.
Students will gain an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for faulting, folding, and mountain building in the United States and globally.
1. Students will identify the world's major mountain ranges.
2. Students will understand the processes of faulted and folded regions.
Students will understand the mechanisms responsible for volcano formation and the processes occurring during the eruptive phases.
1. Students will gain and understanding of the structure of a volcano.
2. Students will understand the types of eruptions and the types of volcanic products produced.
The student will explore and acquire knowledge about the behavior of waves and wave motion.
1. Students will illustrate the characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves.
Students will gain an understanding of earthquakes and their implications to society.
1. Students will develop their understanding of how earthquakes are generated.
2. Students will examine the calculation of earthquake strength.
Students will gain an understanding of geologic and topographic mapping skills.
1. Students will understand basic map terminology.
2. Students will acquire map interpretation skills.
3. Students will understand information on a geologic map.
Students will understand the various techniques and applications of remote sensing and satellite data acquisition.
1. Students will gain an understanding of basic terminology applicable to image interpretation.
2. Students will explore the various uses of satellite images and remote sensing technology within the geological sciences.
Students will gain an understanding of the chemical and physical processes related to the Earth's oceans.
1. Students will gain knowledge of the landforms associated with the ocean basins and margins.
2. Students will gain an understanding of the chemistry of the Earth's oceans.
3. Students will understand influencing ocean water circulation and tidal dynamics.
Students will understand the role natural disasters have played in the development of cultures and societies.
1. Students will appreciate the impact of historical natural disasters upon civilizations and communities.

Back to Hayhurst's Sci-Page