1. INTEGRATED SCIENCE 3-4- This class is a laboratory based science class that focuses on four major units to teach skills and concepts in biology, chemistry, physics and earth science. You will apply scientific processes to solve problems through the use of data analysis and drawing conclusions. You should be able to make connections between scientific disciplines while forming knowledge and opinions about topics and issues we discuss this year. 2. COURSE OUTLINE: Spring 2012 Unit Three:Human Populations and Agriculture (Population Ecology & Botany) Unit Four: Vertebrate Evolution and Genetics 3. TEXTBOOKS: Students will each receive one textbook to be covered and kept at home for homework assignments. The book is Integrated Science-Course 3-4 by Pearson Custom Publishing. Students are responsible for returning books at the end of the school year in the same condition they were received. 4. HOMEWORK: It will be assigned at the beginning of each class period on a daily basis. Homework will be recorded on your assignment sheet at the start of each class and posted online at: http://zanniedallara.weebly.com/assignment-sheet.html. No late work will be accepted unless your child’s absence is excused. Homework will be checked daily, given a stamp for completion credit and discussed in class. These stamps are worth points and will contribute to their notebook grade at the end of each unit. If a homework assignment is missed, students can still complete the assignment to receive credit for their notebook grade but they will not earn the stamp points. 5. LAB WORK: You must be here the day of the lab to receive full credit. Late lab work will receive only partial credit. Your lab grade will be dependent on your written lab and your participation. 6. CLASS RULES:
Respect yourself and those around you.
No food, drinks, cell phone use, music or gum in class. – I will confiscate cell phones.
Work for other courses is not to be done in class.
7. BEHAVIOR: If you disrupt the learning environment for others in the class with behavior or tardy problems, you will be penalized by losing their class participation/attitude/cooperation points-3 given per day. 8. BINDERS: These will be set up in the following manner. All handouts, homework, assignments, labs, tests, quizzes and projects will be filed into your notebook in order as they are assigned. All of these items will be placed after the Table of Contents in order. Each item needs your name, the block and the assignment # in the top right hand corner. Binders will be checked four times. Each time they are graded a sheet will be filled out and your parents will sign this sheet to make sure they know how you are doing in class. a. COVER SHEET b. COURSE SYLLABUS c. NOTEBOOK GRADE SHEET d. DAILY STAMP SHEET e. ASSIGNMENT SHEET f. WARM-UP QUESTIONS g. TABLE OF CONTENTS SHEET (All work will be numbered and in order according to the table of contents and order assigned. They will all be placed following the Table of Contents.) 9. Extra Help: Science is challenging. If you feel overwhelmed or want extra help at any time, come see me. Feel free to come see me or contact me by email if you have any questions or need help. I will be available for extra help: Lunch (By arrangement) Room 317 Tutorial (Wed/Fri- By arrangement) Room 317 Via email: [email protected] 10. MAKE-UP WORK/GRADES: Make-up work will be accepted if the absence is excused. NO LATE WORK will be accepted unless your absence is excused. The amount of days a student misses class will be the amount of time to make up the work. Laboratory make-up must be arranged with me but students will lose their class participation points for the lab if they are not present. Students need to see me to arrange make-up quizzes and tests. These will often be different than quizzes and tests given during the period. Grades can be checked on e-school home access center. I will update grades on a weekly basis. 11. ASSESSMENTS: You will be evaluated in a variety of ways. If you are absent for tests or quizzes, you must see me to arrange test make up. Make up assessments will vary from original tests and quizzes.
35%-Various assessments (tests, quizzes)- will occur throughout each unit. Quiz and exam dates will be announced one week prior to the date given. All exams will be curved. Quizzes and exams can only be made up if absence is excused.
30%-Laboratory Work/Projects/Reports-must be turned in on time in order to receive full credit. Late work will be dropped one grade for each day late (scheduled class days).
20%-Homework/Assignments-will be checked the day they are due. A stamp will be earned for completed homework. Stamps sheets will be collected for points. Homework will be collected occasionally for points. All work will be given full credit when binders are checked.
10 %-Class Cooperation/Attitude/Participation-You will earn up to three points a day. Misconduct or lack of participation will result in loss of daily points.
5%-Warm-Up Questions-will be assigned at the start of each class and needs to be completed while I am taking roll. I will check your homework and warm-up at the same time. You will earn a stamp for each.
12. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: You must have the following materials by the second week of school:
Three ring binder for science only
Ruler
Lined writing paper
Pens and pencils
Scientific calculator
13. PASSES: You will receive three stamped passes at the beginning of each semester. If you need to leave class for any reason, you must fill in your name, the date and where you are going. On your way out of class (with my permission) you must show me the pass, take it with you and hand it in when you return. Once you have used your three passes, you may not leave during class time unless of course you are summonsed. If you do not use your passes, you can redeem them for extra credit points at the end of the semester. 14. Attendance: You are responsible for material presented in class. Exams, quizzes, and homework often include questions on material presented only in class. If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and how to make it up. Check the ABSENTEE BINDER to find out what you missed.