Science

FRESHMEN BIOLOGY Course Description: –Biology is a one year course, meeting two blocks per day, every other week. –Students are given challenging real-world projects and assignments relating to how science effects their daily lives. –Topics include: cells, classification, viruses and bacteria, nutrition, reproduction, genetics, DNA and evolution, and biodiversity

Major Course Assignments and Projects NOTEBOOKS –Notebooks are used daily. Science is information that builds upon itself, thorough understanding at each step is mandatory. –Students learn and use Cornell style of note taking –Notebooks stay in the classroom. –Notebooks may be used during end of the semester exam.

LABS Students are required to participate in laboratory procedures. Lab safety is a requirement at all times. Labs are run weekly.

HOMEWORK Students are given one question per week to answer. Questions are found on the syllabus. Research on the internet or in the library is required. “cutting and pasting” will result in an F. The assignment requires two or more paragraphs, written in proper grammar, and include a bibliography.

QUIZZES Quizzes are given every Friday. –Quizzes are small, usually consisting of 10 questions, reviewing what was covered that week. –Quizzes are made up of open response questions only.

EXAM One exam is given per semester. –The exam is much more in depth than the quizzes. –Exam includes open note response questions with some fill in the blanks. –Notes are allowed during the exam This gives incentive for students to keep up on their notes, keep them neat and easy to read,

GRADES Student grades are based on these four things; – Notebook, class work, and labs –Homework assignments –Quizzes; one per week –Exam; one per semester

FOURTH QUARTER PROJECT During the final semester, students will be working on a project based on how science effects their trade. Students will learn the history of their trade and how it has evolved, and how science has impacted this evolution. The final project will be six pages in length, typed and have three or more references.

During the fourth semester, students will not have homework assignments, so they can spend that time working on their final paper.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Students are expected to get their notebook and folder and sit in their seats at the beginning of class. Students are expected to sit quietly, follow directions, request a pass when needed, etc. No food, drinks, iPods, phones, etc are allowed in the class room.

Maturity and discipline are required in a science environment at all times. Goofing around of any kind in the lab area will result in a class detention AND sent to their cluster office. A parent conference will be required before being admitted back into the lab.

DISCIPLINE If a student is acting inappropriately, I will ask him/her to settle down If the student continues, a warning is given. If the student continues, their seat is changed. If the student continues, a detention is given. If the student continues, he/she is sent to their cluster office.

Questions?