Roy C. Ketcham High School – Mr. Lalli                                           Physical Setting - REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE

Contact: eugene.lalli@wappingersschools.org                               Course Number S341        Credits: 1              Rank Weight: 1.0

Office: 298-5100 Ext. 31069                                                            Prerequisites: Successful completion of Living Environment

Classroom: 295 and 299 Office 261                                                 Text: Tarbuck and Lutgens Earth Science   

COURSE OF STUDY:

Physical Setting Earth Science is a New York State Regents course that requires extensive study time in the classroom, laboratory, and at home.   New, updated material has been added to the course in each of the following 11 topical areas.  Learning will take place both individually and in cooperative classroom environment, with an emphasis placed on performance and problem solving techniques.  Multiple learning styles are present in this class, so instruction will take place using a variety of methods. 

The following topics will be covered throughout the year: (not necessarily in this order)

PROLOGUE: (measurement, use of Reference Tables, density, percent deviation, classification, observation, etc.)

1. PLANET EARTH (its size, shape, structure, mapping the surface)
2. MINERALS ROCKS and RESOURCES (identification and analysis)
3. THE DYNAMIC CRUST (earthquakes, volcanoes, continental drift, plate tectonics)
4. WEATHERING, EROSION, DEPOSITION, and LANDSCAPES (glacial processes, soils, streams)
5. INTERPRETING EARTH’S HISTORY (dating techniques, fossils, past events)
6. PROPERTIES OF THE ATMOSPHERE (study of weather, atmosphere, wind, clouds)
7. WEATHER SYSTEMS (synoptic weather maps, weather prediction, and natural hazards)
8. WATER CYCLE AND CLIMATES (water cycle, insolation, and climate)
9. EARTH IN SPACE (motions of celestial objects, constellations, angle of insolation, seasons)
10. BEYOND PLANET EARTH (moon phases, eclipses, orbits, gravity, solar system, universe)
11. STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PLANET (human influences, pollution, resource management)

LAB REQUIREMENTS:

You will be in lab every other day.  During a laboratory session, students must be prepared to work for the entire length of two normal periods (about 90 minutes).  All students taking Regents Earth Science must complete a minimum number of laboratory investigation hours.  This is a New York State requirement.  The number of lab reports covering this requirement is typically about 45, but this will vary among teachers.  You will be notified if any lab reports are missing each marking period.  All required lab work must be completed and be acceptable by end of May or the student will not be allowed to take any portion of the Regents Exam in June, and will therefore likely fail the course.  Further, it may be suggested that students who are failing by the end of the second marking period, due to lab work not being done on time, drop out of the course and take a different half year course.  If this occurs, consultation with guidance counselors, parents, teachers, and the district Science Coordinator must take place to consider the proper course of action.  Simply put, the completion of lab work is not optional; it is the essential learning mechanism for this course. Note: All labs missed due to absence are to be made up within one week of the return to school.

EVALUATION: Students will be evaluated each quarter through various means: 

Student Class Performance                               Quizzes  & Tests                                                  Laboratory Reports                             Homework Assignments                                    Earth Science Projects (as per teacher)           Extra Credit Projects

Final Course Grade:

First Marking Period = 20%              Second Marking Period = 20%         Third Marking Period = 20%

Fourth Marking Period = 20%          Final Regents Exam Grade = 20%

This course requires you to put extra time and effort into your academic studies.  Lab work turned in early or on time will be eligible for the maximum point value.  Late labs will be reduced in value!  Students who miss a lab due to absence are responsible to make immediate arrangements with the teacher to schedule a make-up date & time.  Late homework assignments will not be accepted, unless they are due to absence, which then must be made up within a few days of return to class.  Grades are assessed equally for all students, so you alone are responsible for your grade.  Always try to do your best and achieve as much as possible.

MATERIALS NEEDED EVERY DAY:

CONDUCT:

We will be working within the confines of a cooperative learning classroom and mature, responsible behavior is expected at all times.  Students will COOPERATE if they wish to remain in this classroom setting.  Certain labs require the use of sharp objects and/or chemicals.  Hence, there is absolutely no tolerance given to horseplay or other immature behavior.  Warnings will not be given for this, so be aware of your behavior at all times!

Exam Structure:

The NYS Physical Setting: Earth Science Regents Exam will have the following structure:

PART A: Content-based, multiple-choice questions (25-35% of exam, usually around 35 questions)

PART B: Multiple choice and/or short, constructed response (20-25% of exam, usually around 15 questions)

PART C: Extended constructed response items (involves real-world situations and current events; students will be asked to

  assess, interpret, write an essay, graph etc.) (20-25% of exam)

PART D: Laboratory Performance Test - based on lab techniques students have learned to do during the year.   This portion of

  the exam is given first, usually around the first week in June. (10% of exam)

Since Part D will take place first (date to be announced) students must meet the minimum laboratory hours requirements as set forth by New York State prior to the date of Part D, or the student will be barred from taking any part of the exam.  Since Part D is typically given the first week of June, all lab reports must be submitted by end of May.

The exam counts as one fifth of the final grade (20%).  Again, if the student has not completed the necessary lab requirement, then the student will not be allowed to take the Regents Exam this year.  To achieve Regents credit, a student must achieve an overall grade of 65 or higher including a 65 or higher on the Regents Earth Science Exam.