Course Syllabus

Spring 2023

Honors Earth & Environmental Science

Mrs. Pooler

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

Phone:  704-296-6319

 

Welcome to Honors Earth & Environmental Science!  I am passionate about science and I hope this passion will be contagious.  The goal of this course is to provide you with scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world around us. We focus on interactions between the solid Earth, its water, its air and its living organisms, as well as the dynamic, interdependent relationships between these four components. If you have any questions, the best way to contact me is through email, or just come by before or after school. 

Course Materials:

  • 3-ring binder 1"-2”
  • Dividers for your binder: You will need a pack of 10.
  • Writing utensils (both pens and #2 pencils)
  • Loose leaf paper
  • Highlighter

 

Class Format: “Regulate Yourselves, So I Don’t Have To.” 

  • Question of the Day: Once the bell rings you should begin quietly working on your QOD.  Students will work on their question of the for the first five minutes of class and then they will be kept in their notebooks for a grade.
  • When to Stop Talking:
    • During announcements: If you can’t hear the announcements, then neither can I.  Remember, you are seated only feet from each other, you don’t need to yell.  You may talk quietly during this time, but I NEED to be able to hear.
    • When I am talking: If I am giving notes, or leading a discussion, then you are not talking. 
    • When I am done giving instructions, and it is time to work on a lab or assignment, I don’t mind quiet talking.
  • When you have a question.
    • Anytime you have a question I want you to raise your hand and ask it.  Every question is important as a scientist and it benefits all of the students in the classroom!
  • What to do during and at the end of class:
    • If we are working on a lab or an assignment, do not begin packing up until we have 2 minutes left.  Use all of our class time.
    • Now that you’re packed up, remain seated until the bell rings.  Do NOT concentrate at the door or try to linger into the halls.
    • Keep the doors closed until the bell rings.
    • During work time, you are expected to work!
    • There will be times that I ask you to do your work individually and silently for a sustained duration (15-20 minutes).
    • Most times, you will be allowed to talk with group members WHILE you work. So, do BOTH. 
    • When can I pack up?
  • When you have to leave the room:
    • You may use the bathroom or get water simply by asking/letting me know and then signing out at the sheet by the front door.  Sign out properly and completely. 
    • I have to Leave G-Wing: You will need a Pooler Pass.  YOU fill it out and then I will sign it.
  • Mrs. Pooler is Not Your Maid:
    • Writing on my desks, DO NOT do it.  If I catch you, then you are on desk duty and you will clean my desks. 
    • You are responsible for cleaning up after yourself.  Put back class materials and don’t leave your wrappers, empty bottles, plastic bags, etc. behind.  
  • Cell Phones:
    • Can you look at a message, quickly reply and then put it down?  If you can, that is appropriate use.
    • You MAY:
      • Listen to music while working independently using ear buds
    • You MAY NOT:
      • Have long texting conversations during class.
      • Watch a movie or play a game when you have work to do.
      • Watch a movie or play a game during notes.
      • Distract those still working around you.
      • Be on your phone for any reason during tests and quizzes. 
    • We all have them, we all need them, we all use them.  It is our job at school to model “appropriate” use.  What is that? 
  • Extra Credit:
    • During the semester, you will be allowed to do test corrections after each test.  You will earn 25% of your missed points back.  These are great extra credit opportunities, so USE them, and do not ask for any other type of grade boost. 
  • Cheating: I mostly only deal with 2 kinds of cheating.
    • First offense, you will be marked wrong for each question you navigated away from Canvas.
    • First, you may NOT take a picture of someone else’s work so you can copy it.  The point of giving an assignment is for practice.  If you don’t practice, then you miss out on learning opportunities.  If you are caught, you will have to complete the assignment again.
    • During computer testing, you are expected to remain on the Canvas page.  Canvas lets me know when you leave the page.  Each time you leave the Canvas page, I will assume you looked up an answer and are therefore cheating. 
  • Second offense, you will receive a zero on the test/quiz.

Classwork/Homework:

  • I believe in working hard and playing hard. If you work hard during class time, you shouldn’t have much if any homework for this course!  Homework, is only classwork that you didn’t get to finish and will be completing from home.  Please pay close attention to the due dates posted on the assignments in Canvas.
  • We will be keeping a notebook this semester. We will place our notes, labs, and classwork in them and organize them by unit.
    • At the end of each unit, you will have a notebook check on test day. Make sure you keep everything in there!
    • I will give you a print out before each notebook check notifying you of what I will be looking for. Have your notebook organized in the same order as my list.
  • All work will be graded for either completion or accuracy based on teacher discretion.
  • You are responsible for keeping track of your assignments!

 

  • Late Work Policy: If you do not have your assignment completed by the beginning of class on the day it is due, you may turn it in at a later time. Each day, for the first two days 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: 20 %.                                    

Labs/Classwork/Homework: 30%                  

 

 

Tutoring:

If you find that you are in need of extra help, please note that I am willing to tutor students after school as long as the student sets up a time with me beforehand.

 

Tardy:  There won’t be any because you will get here on time.

 

Absences:

Keep track of your attendance.  I enter it every day.  If I made an error, then tell me ASAP.  If you wait until the end of the term to try and change your attendance, then there is a good possibility that it will not be changed by the attendance office. 

MAKE SURE TO GET ABSENCES EXCUSED as soon as you return! 
Absences are not excused once the term you were out during is over. 

 

Final Exam: 

This course does NOT have and EOC Exam. 
So, if you want to be exempt from the Teacher Made Final, be sure to have your absences excused.

 

 

Honors Earth & Environmental Science: Course Outline

Mrs. Pooler                                                     Room: G-109C                                               Spring 2023 Syllabus           
_________________________________________________________________________________________         

Unit 1: Introduction   ~1 week

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

 

Unit 2: Geology   ~5 weeks

  1. Earth’s Composition
  2. Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes
  3. Rock Cycle, Weathering, Erosion
  4. Soil Types and Composition
  5. Environment within the Lithosphere/Tied to NC

 

Unit 3: Hydrology   ~2 weeks

  1. Water Cycle
  2. Groundwater and Freshwater
  3. Wetlands
  4. Oceans
  5. Environmental Impacts of Surface Runoff
  6. Environment within the Hydrosphere

 

Unit 4: Meteorology    ~5 weeks

  1. Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
  2. Weather and Climate
  3. Climate Change
  4. Environment within the Atmosphere
  5. The Sun and Seasons

 

Unit 5: Ecology ~3 weeks
       A.  The Biosphere
       B.  Trophic Levels and Food Webs
       C.  Biodiversity
       D.  Primary Productivity
       E.  Biomes
       F.  Natural Selection

Unit 6: The Environment   ~3 weeks

  1. Natural Resources
  2. Sustainability
  3. Energy Resources Renewable and Non-renewable
  4. Ecosystems
  5. Environment within the Biosphere