Spring 2021

Honors Earth & Environmental Science

Marc Pooler

Email: Marc.Pooler@ucps.k12.nc.us                 

Phone:  704-708-5530

Canvas Class Website:  https://ucps.instructure.com/courses/192374

 

I am very excited to have you in EES!  If you have any questions, the best way to contact me is through email, or just come by before or after school.  Environmental Science provides an overview of how science affects our environment. We focus on interactions between the solid Earth, its water, its air and its living organisms, and on dynamic, interdependent relationships between these four components.

Within our semester long class we will focus on Geology, Hydrology, Meteorology, Astronomy, and the Environment. As stated above, we will assess these ideas individually as well how variations in one area can affect the other(s).

Class Rules:

 

You are expected to follow all Union County Public Schools and Weddington High School rules.  If you are unfamiliar with these rules, please refer to the pre-school packet that you received either in the mail or at orientation.

 

Class Expectations: P.R.I.D.E.

 

• Punctuality: Be on time!  See “Tardy” section below
• Respect: Show respect to all students and teachers. No sleeping.  Pick up after yourself.
• Integrity: Academic Integrity
• Dependability: Show up, Have your work done, study. 
• Excellence: Do your best.  Give 100%

 

Consequences:

 

• 1^st offense: verbal or written warning
• 2^nd offense: conference with student and parent contact
• 3^rd offense: referral to administration
• 4^th offense: other consequences will be used depending on the offense

 

What you will need:

 

• One 2 inch 3 ring binder (This if you are planning on printing out your material)
  • 6 subject dividers for your binder (YES, you will have to keep a Notebook)
• Pens, pencils, and a highlighter
• Colored Pencils
• Note cards for vocabulary (optional)

 

What you will study: Spring 2021 Syllabus

Unit 1: Introduction   ~1 week

1. Observations
2. Scientific Method
3. Graphing
4. Metric System

Unit 2: Geology   ~5 weeks

1. Introduction material
2. Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes
3. Rock Cycle, Weathering, Erosion, and Soil
4. Environment within the Lithosphere/Tied to NC

Unit 3: Hydrology   ~2 weeks

1. Oceans (including tides, currents, and wetlands)
2. Groundwater and Freshwater
3. Environmental Impacts of Surface Runoff
4. Environment within the Hydrosphere

Unit 4: Meteorology    ~5 weeks

1. Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
2. Air Masses and Fronts
3. Reading Weather Maps
4. Weather and Climate
5. Environment within the Atmosphere

Unit 5: Astronomy   ~2 weeks

1. The Sun, Seasons
2. Earth’s Motion through Space

Unit 6: Environment/Ecology ~3 weeks

1. Natural Resources and Alternative Resources
2. Sustainability
3. Ecosystems
4. Environment within the Biosphere

 

 

Essential Standards 

 

• EEn.1.1 Explain the Earth’s role as a body in space.
• EEn.2.1 Explain how processes and forces affect the lithosphere.
• EEn.2.2 Understand how human influences impact the lithosphere.
• EEn.2.3 Explain the structure and processes within the hydrosphere.
• EEn.2.4 Evaluate how humans use water.
• EEn.2.5 Understand the structure of and processes within our atmosphere.
• EEn.2.6 Analyze patterns of global climate change over time.
• EEn.2.7 Explain how the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere individually and collectively affect the biosphere.
• EEn.2.8 Evaluate human behaviors in terms of how likely they are to ensure the ability to live sustainably on Earth.

*Note: bold indicates the Essential Standards that have the highest collection of questions on the NC Earth & Environmental final exam.

 

Classwork/Homework:

 

• Homework will be assigned each day once our live/virtual lesson is complete. It is really classwork that you will be completing from home.  Please pay close attention to the due dates posted on the assignments in Canvas/
• All work will be graded for either completion or accuracy based on teacher discretion.
• You are responsible for keeping track of your assignments!
• Late Homework Policy: If you do not have your homework assignment completed by the beginning of class on the day it is due, you may turn it in at a later time. Each day it is late will result in a 10% deduction. However, after 3 days, your score will be dropped to a 50% prior to grading. 

 

Grading:

 

Grades will be done using a percentage system listed below:

Test:  50 %.                                                   

Quizzes: 30 %.                                              

Labs/Classwork/Homework: 20%             

 

 

Tutoring:

 

I wish that I would be able to invite you into my room at time during the school day to seek extra help.  However, due to restrictions from Covid-19 this will not be possible.  If you find yourself in a situation where you need extra help or have questions regarding material, please email me.  From there, we can try to establish some type of virtual tutoring protocol.  If we find that this is not possible, then we seek permission for an after school tutoring session on an as needed basis.  Friday I will be hosting office hours and you can reach me during regular school hours. 

 

Labs:

 

I love doing hands-on lab activities but have not yet determined how to conduct them under current restrictions.  As we move forward with the year, I am hoping that with some ingenuity and creativity that we can find a way to participate in labs.    

 

Tardy:

 

I don’t know how this will work this year.

 

Absences:

 

At this point, we have been told that attendance will be conducted based on whether a student has signed into CANVAS each day and completed assignments.  If this changes, I will notify you about it.