PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LAB
COURSE SYLLABUS
VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE
FALL 2012 section #42551
W 7:05-10:05
LA 17
Instructor : Professor Carol Ann DeLong
Office Location: Office 43 Science
Phone: 760/245-4271 ext.2435
E-mail: carol.delong@vvc.edu
Requisite:
Geography 1 lecture or concurrent enrollment.
Recommended: English 1A and Math 50
Materials Required
*Physical Geography Text: Geosystems in the laboratory, by Christopherson and
your text from the lecture class, preferably Geosystems.
*Lab text is required in the 1st lab session. Other: pencils, eraser, colored pencils,
clear ruler and protractor, simple calculator, magnifying glass, highlighter pen.
Course Description
Physical Geography laboratory is an investigation of earth-sun relationships as well as
other earth phenomena, such as weather, climate, vegetation, soils, rocks, minerals,
earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, the world oceans, and landform distribution. Tectonic
forces, such as earthquakes and volcanism and gradational forces such as erosion by
water, wind and ice are studied as they apply to landform creation and destruction. Maps,
charts, and laboratory equipment will be used to arrive at conclusions about how these
environmental phenomena interrelate.
Course Student Learning Outcomes
Physical Geography laboratory provides the student with experience in investigation and
interpretation of the physical environment. Upon completion of this course you will be
able to:
1-Analyze earth-sun relationships and describe how they affect daylight, seasons, and
time for various place on earth.
2-Define weather data, interpret a weather map and use weather instruments to collect
and record data about local temperature, humidity, pressure and wind conditions.
3-Analyze the characteristics of different climate categories and describe the unique flora
and fauna of each.
4-Identify the characteristics of landforms and rocks that relate to specific tectonic and
magmatic processes.
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5-Find location using the global grid of latitude and longitude and be able to utilize GPS
technology.
6-Identify landforms created by the erosion of water, wind and ice and describe the
characteristics of each.
Attendance and Participation
Class attendance is taken at the beginning of each session. If you are actively
participating in the class work, you will receive 10 points per lab session day. If you
arrive late and/or leave early (unless excused) you will lose points! Lab attendance will
be taken during the first part of class. When you leave you must sign out. If you finish
your work before the rest of the class, you are expected to help others. Please do not
bring any electronic devices to class UNLESS you specifically request to do so in writing
and I approve your request. If you miss 2 lab sessions I will drop you unless you notify
me with a legitimate excuse.
Laboratory Assignment Procedure
Prior to each week, you are expected to read the forthcoming lab information in your lab
text. Use the schedule below as your guide. Highlight important instructions and jot down
any notes or questions you may have. You must learn the key terms in preparation for the
weekly quiz. In the first 15 minutes of each class session, I will explain the Lab
Assignment for the week (see lab schedule.) This may be the only time I do this. If you
miss this explanation, you may have problems with the lab assignment, so I encourage
you to be on time to class. Afterward, you will work in groups of no more than 4, to
complete the lab assignment for the session. Even though you work in groups, you must
complete your own copy of each lab assignment in the text/workbook.
In the last ½ hour of each lab, you will have a ten-question quiz based on the vocabulary
and concepts of the lab assignment for that week. These quizzes may consist of fill-in,
multiple choice, matching and/or short answer questions. You must be in class when the
quiz is given. And, you can only take one makeup quiz for any quiz you miss. Makeup
quizzes will only be given on the last day of class.
Before the quiz, I will sign off lab assignments if you have finished them. If not, you
should continue to work on the lab assignment at home. You will only have access to the
answers AFTER you have had your lab assignments signed off. Credit for each lab
assignment will not be given until you have had it signed off. It is important to complete
all 15 lab assignments in order to pass this class. You will be turning in your completed
and signed off lab book in the 15th week of the class. You will get these back on the last
day of classes in the 16th week.
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Grading Policy
Your grade is based on the accumulation of the following possible points:
15 Lab Assignments @ 20 points each
=300
15 Quizzes @ 10 points each (drop lowest)
=140
Participation Points 15 days @ 10
=150
Completed lab book
=100
____________________________________________________________
Total Possible Points
=690
A=621
B=552-620
C=483-551
D=414-482
F= below 414
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: THIS IS A GRADED CLASS. It is the STUDENT'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO DROP A CLASS if he/she is unable to continue
attending. You must fill out a withdrawal form at the Admissions/Records Office.
Failure to drop a class when you discontinue attending will result in an "F"
semester grade! Check with registration for the last day to withdraw from this
class with a grade of "W.” If you miss two class sessions, and do not notify me
with a valid excuse I will drop you and I will not re-instate you, no matter what
excuse.
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FALL 2012-GEOGRAPHY 101 LAB
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Use your calendar to determine the dates for each week, and then put all weekly Lab and reading
assignments on your calendar. I will keep to this schedule unless specified in class announcements.
Please note that we may not do all lab workbook chapters in their entirety.
Week
LAB
Workbook
1
Global Grid
Time
Direction
Geosystems Text Reading
Chapters
Chapters 1-5, What is Geography
Global Characteristics-Size and Shape of the Earth
Latitude, Longitude & Time
Maps and map projections
2
Maps
Earth-sun relationships
Chapters 1-5, Solar Energy and Seasons
The Atmosphere and Temperature controls
3
Temperature
Chapters 1-5, con’t.
4
Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapters 6-9
5
Humidity
Weather maps
Chapters 6-9
Humidity, Condensation and
Precipitation
Air Masses & Weather systems
6
Water Balance
Chapter 6-9
7
Global climate
Chapters 10,18,19,20, appendix B Climates
8
Soils
Chapters 10,18,19,20,apB Soils, Ecosystems
9
Biomes
Chapters 10,18,19,20,apB Terrestrial biomes
10
Plate Tectonics
Chapters 11 & 12- Plate Tectonics
11
Natural Events
Chapters 11 & 12-Earthquakes and Faults, Folding and
Volcanism
12
Fluvial Geomorphology
Chapter 14- River Systems and Landforms
13
Arid
Chapters 15-Eolian processes and Arid landscapes
14
Coastal processes
Chapter 16-Oceans, Coastal processes
15
Glacial Geomorphology
Turn in workbook
Chapter 17- Glacial Processes and Landforms
16
Makeup quizzes, workbooks returned.
Atmospheric Circulation
Water Resources
Please note: On the first day of classes you will receive a study guide for the 2 nd sessions’ diagnostic
SLO test as required by the state.
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