Marine Science Course Outline

Saugus High School

Marine Science A/B Course Outline
Mrs. Schertz

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

Website: www.sauguscenturions.com/kschertz

 

This is a one-year elective science course. The course will focus on the wildlife in the oceans. If we have class consensus, the name of the course may be changed to Marine Biology, Ocean Science or Marine Science. The topics covered include the following:

  • Introduction to the Oceans Seawater chemistry
  • Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics Topography of the ocean floors
  • Waves and tides Marine mammals
  • Physical properties of the oceans Marine birds and reptiles
  • Marine invertebrates Ecology fundamentals
  • Plankton Marine ecosystems
  • Fishes Humans and the sea
  • Marine science careers

TEXTBOOK: Oceanography by Garrsion and Marine Biology by Castro and Huber. Some online resources will be utilized such as “The Habitable Planet” found at: www.learner.org/courses/envsci and “Introduction to Physical Oceanography” found at http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/contents.html . Students who do not have online access may request a printed copy from me. Other materials will be handed out in class for this course.


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—arrange a make up time within a week during lunch or an open 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 100-200 points
Quizzes­­­­­ 10-50 points

Homework/Classwork 5-50 points

Labs & Projects 10-100 points

Binder/Notebook 50-200 points

Final Exam is 20% of the final grade.

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

>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

Movies

On occasion I will show excerpts of movies or whole movies that reinforce a concept learned in class. An example is “A Perfect Storm” where I show the longlining method of fishing for swordfish. I rarely , if ever, show an entire feature film—usually just excerpts that reinforce a part of the curriculum. 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. 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.

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. Large Binder
  5. Dividers for the binder

BATHROOM (Out of class) POLICY :

Students receive 3 bathroom passes per semester. I mark off on my roster when they ask to leave class. When these 3 are used up, students will owe me a 20 min. detention after school for each extra pass. I find that 3 passes are plenty for students who use them wisely-for true emergencies. These passes are also used for students who need to “get a drink”, get something left behind at lunch, call their parents etc. If students do not use all their passes, they will receive 10 extra credit points for each unused pass at the end of the semester.

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.

Lab Supplies

In order to provide students with great labs, we ask for $10 to help defray the cost of materials that are used up (consumed) by the students. A tax-deductible receipt will be issued. Checks can be made out to “Saugus ASB”. Examples of items consumed are:

Dissections specimens—squid, sea stars, etc.

Soil/plants and fish

Water quality tests

 

I have read, understand and will abide by the course outline for Marine Science 2010-2011 --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 Marine Science A/B—Mrs. Schertz.
  • 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________________________________________________________