Saugus High School

AP Environmental Science Course Outline
Mrs. Schertz

661-297-3900 ext: 4171 kschert@hartdistrict.org

Website: www.sauguscenturions.com/kschertz

This is a one-year College Prep course, which satisfies the university requirements for a laboratory science class. The class is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Environmental Science exam in the spring. The topics covered include the following:

• Ecology Environmental laws
• Water Toxicology
• Soil and Agriculture Global Population
• Energy Conservation/Resource Management

TEXTBOOK: Environment: The Science Behind the Stories by Withcott and Brennan

Classroom Rules

1. Always follow directions
2. Never talk while the teacher is talking
3. Never leave your seat without permission
4. Respect your fellow students
5. No electronic devices per school policy

Consequences of Breaking the Classroom Rules

1. Warning
2. 20 minute detention
3. Step Program

Tardies

• You are required to be in your seat, with all necessary materials for that day readily available, ready to work, on time.
• The school-wide tardy policy is in effect.
• Detention will be given at the 5 th, 7 th, 9 th, 11 th tardy etc. Students whose detention is not served on time will not be allowed to take any quizzes or exams and will receive a 0.

Absences

You are expected to attend class everyday. If you are absent the following policies apply.

• Absent on the day an assignment is due, present when it was assigned—it is due your first day back.
• Absent on the day an assignment is due, not present when it was assigned—it is due your second day back.
• Absent for part of a lab—obtain data from lab partners, it is due on time.
• Absent for an entire lab or activity—obtain an alternate assignment (2-3 page paper).
• Absent for a test—a cumulative make-up test will be offered during the last week of the grading period completed at a specified lunch period.
• Late assignments (not due to absence) are not accepted
• Class cuts—no credit for assignments, labs, or tests due, performed or taken that day.
• There will be no make-up quizzes or in-class essays.

It is your responsibility to be aware when you need to make up an assignment, lab, or test.

Grades

Each assignment you complete and submit, on-time, will be graded with points assigned based on a universally applied, objective grading scheme for that assignment. Approximate point values for assignments follow.

Tests and quizzes 45%

Homework/Classwork 20%

Labs & Projects 30%

Binder/Notebook 5%

A percentage will be determined for each student, and grades will be assigned based on the guidelines listed below.

Final grades will be calculated to two significant digits.

>98%—A+ 88-89%—B+ 77-79%—C+ 68-69%—D+

93-96%—A 83-86%—B 73-76%—C 63-66%—D

90-92%—A- 80-82%—B- 70-72%—C- 60-62%—D-

<60%—F

Note: pluses and minuses will not be assigned on progress reports.

Movies

On occasion I will show excerpts of movies or whole movies that reinforce a concept learned in class. An example is “An Inconvenient Truth” about Global Warming. We often discuss bias in films as well. Saugus High School Policy states that parents are to give consent when a PG or PG-13 movie is shown. Please sign the bottom of this form as your consent or give me further instructions about your wishes. I only show what I believe will enhance my curriculum and understanding of the AP Environmental Science requirements. Students are so in-tune with multi-media that I believe an excerpt from a movie to re-enforce what is taught in class can be interesting and helpful to my students and I edit out any questionable material. I also provide study guides to help the students understand the science behind what they are seeing.

Copying

Students must do original work for their homework/labs and classwork. Students should also not let ANYONE copy their homework. Students that have copied or let anyone copy their work will receive a zero and have any extra credit earned taken away for the semester.

Field Trips

Field trips and field work is an important part of this course. Students are expected to make arrangements with their employers and other obligations to attend. Credit is given for assignments during these trips. Field trips will be during school hours. Please let me know if your student has any restrictions.

Materials

Students will need:

1. #2 pencils for scantron quizzes and tests
2. Notebook and paper for notes
3. Colored pencils (some homework involves coloring)
4. Composition Notebook with quad (graphing) paper
5. Large Binder

Labs

The laboratory is a special situation that you will encounter in this class. Labs can be fun and rewarding learning experiences, they can also be extremely dangerous. The rules in the laboratory must be strict.

Always follow safety rules—Safety first, Safety Last, Safety Always!! When in doubt—Ask

The consequence of breaking a laboratory rule is exclusion from the lab and no credit for the lab.

A lab safety test and contract must be passed and completed before students are allowed to be in the lab.

I have read, understand and will abide by the course outline for AP Environmental Science 2008-2009 --Mrs. Schertz

Student Name __________________________________

Student Signature__________________________________

Parents/Guardians: Please read and sign at the bottom.

• I have read and understand the guidelines in this course outline for AP Environmental Science A/B—Mrs. Schertz. Fall 2005
• I give permission for my student to watch PG or PG-13 movies as is described above. Please state any questions, concerns, exceptions, instructions or if you do not want your student to see these movies, please state at the bottom of this page.
• I have read and am aware of lab safety expectations.

Signature______________________________________ date ______________

Printed Name _________________________________

Phone number/s___________________________________________________

Email________________________________________________________