Welcome to Marine Science! This is a challenging course that will require you to work hard, be an active participant and ask for help
when you need it. This class also requires the use of a classroom iPad every day (these do not leave the classroom) or a student issued iPad (the
ones you check out each year in grades 9-11). I promise to do my best to help you succeed and to help you learn about the interesting world of Marine
Science. I am always available to talk to if you ever have any problems or questions. I want you to succeed in this class! Please read everything
below carefully then sign and return the bottom portion of the last page to me. Thank you!
CLASS OVERVIEW:
In this class we will be covering many topics including physical, chemical, biological and geological oceanography. The instruction of this
class will utilize alternative teaching techniques whenever possible (iPads, PowerPoint presentations, Videos, lab demonstrations, Prezi
presentations, etc.) to better engage students in the material. We will also be doing some flipped classroom assignments. Students will utilize a
classroom iPad daily for assignments, to access notes, complete classwork/projects and to take tests and quizzes. This class will also include
taking class and observational notes, learning scientific vocabulary (including spelling), learning how to identify various local species, the utilization
of scientific articles for discussion, reading science texts, field experiences(s) (dates vary per class), writing based upon scientific research and
various small projects throughout the course. While this class does not have a state mandated EOC (End of Course Exam), there are two District
EOT Exams (End of Term). These are given as finals during the last days of each quarter.
This course also requires hands on work with aquatic creatures in our classroom tanks and in the field which can include: fish, shellfish
and other marine invertebrates. Please be aware of this in advance in the event you or your child is not comfortable with this. Field experiences are
mandatory.
COURSEWORK:
For this class we utilize the textbook Life on an Ocean Planet. Students will receive a copy of this textbook that can be left at home, but is to be
utilized for studying and homework assignments. This textbook MUST be returned before the end of the semester or the student may face
fines, restriction from school activities and, for seniors, a hold placed on their diploma.
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BE PREPARED EVERY DAY FOR CLASS BY HAVING:
Science binder with folders for handouts, your syllabus & homework
Pens and #2 Pencils (have extras!) labs, graphs and scantrons done in pencil only
Loose-leaf paper for your binder (make sure you have enough for the classs entirety)
Earbuds for use with the iPads
A responsible attitude and respect for yourself, your classmates and your teacher
CLASS PROJECTS:
There will be small projects that come up throughout the course. These will be announced with at least a weeks notice before they are due. They will
be a variety of assignments such as: a mini research paper on a specific species, a video project, a physical diagram project, etc. Most of the work on
these projects will be done in school, but some will require time spent at home to complete them. Please keep due dates in mind.
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QUARTER PROJECTS:
There will be two quarter projects you are responsible for in this course (one per quarter) - these will be discussed in detail in class. Quarter projects
can consist of research papers, field reports, student created research or PSA videos, class presentations, etc. or students can choose to participate in
the science fair. Students that participate in science fair will complete one project, rather than two (one per quarter).
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; use (another's production) without crediting the source.
("Plagiarism - Definition from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. 2012. Web. 02 Jul. 2017.
http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism)
Please remember: Copying another students work is plagiarism. Also, if it is on the internet someone
else wrote it. Please DO NOT copy and paste from the internet it is stealing. You must cite your
sources correctly in your bibliography and using citations throughout your paper. If you are unsure of
how to do this, http://easybib.com is an excellent source. Please also keep in mind, Google, Bing!,
Yahoo!, etc. are not sources; they are search engines. You must tell me the websites you accessed using
whatever search engine you used to find that source.
HOMEWORK:
There will be multiple homework assignments given for each chapter we cover in class. These assignments are directly from the Are You Learning?
questions in the textbook. To receive full credit for the assignment, students must write out the number of the question, the question,
the correct answer and the letter of the correct answer. Answers can be checked in the back of the book to ensure you have completed the
homework correctly. These assignments WILL be collected on announced due dates. Students can hand them in up until the day of the test for that
chapter with no points taken off. Once that test day has passed (whether the student is absent on the day of the test or not), 10 points will be
deducted from the students final score on the assignment per chapter that assignment is late. Homework should always have a students name,
block number and the page number of the assignment clearly written on the page.
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3. Respect our classroom equipment, furniture and materials: It is wrong to deface, steal or abuse other peoples property. Please
leave these things in the same condition or better than you found them and do not misuse equipment. My pens, pencils and paper are not
here for you to use every day or steal they are my property that I have to loan to students that forget, lose or run out of supplies as a
courtesy. They are not for everyday use come prepared!
4. Equipment in this science classroom is not to be touched, handled or used without my permission: The equipment in this lab
can be dangerous and costly to replace, therefore it is not to be touched without my consent. If this occurs, it will result in an immediate
referral.
5. Put music players, headphones (unless being used for an assignment), cell phones and games completely away before
class starts: If they are visible (whether on or off ) or heard, this will result in parent contact, followed by a referral school policy.
GRADE EARNED:
Homework 10%
Remember: there is nothing to stress out about if you do the work and come to class
prepared.
Images on this syllabus were accessed from http://disneyclips.com
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This syllabus should remain in your binder or folder. Please do not lose it.
**Please return this page to me after reading the syllabus, signing it and having a parent/guardian sign it as well. Thank you!
Parents/Guardians,
I look forward to working with you and your marine science student this semester! I will do my best to keep you
informed about your childs progress. The best way for me to keep you as informed as possible is by e-mail or via Skyward so
please keep that in mind. Please fill out the information below, detach at the line above and have your child return it to me by
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August 14 indicating that you have both read and understand the syllabus. The rest of the syllabus should remain in their
binder. Please keep in mind that keeping up with Skyward is a great way to monitor your childs progress in this class. I will be
sending home grade updates via e-mail (and paper at times). Please make sure you have a valid e-mail address in Skyward. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (e-mail is best). Thank you for your assistance! I look forward to talking
to you!
I understand my child will be responsible for using an iPad responsibly in class (circle one): Yes No
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Anything I need to know about your student:
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