Environmental Science Syllabus
Hinsdale High School
2013 – 2014
Major Topics of Study
The Dynamic Earth
Organization of Life
Ecosystems & Aquatic Ecosystems
Biomes
Understanding Populations
Biodiversity
Water, Air, & Land
Mining & Mineral Resources
Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy
Economics, Policy, & Future
Evaluation and Grading
Evaluation
Student grades are based on a point scale and are an accumulation of attendance, in
class assignments, homework, laboratory activities, and tests and quizzes
Grading Scale
A+
97-100 B+
87-89 C+
77-79 D+
68-69 F
0-64
A
94-96 B
84-86 C
74-76 D
66-67
A90-93 B80-83 C70-73 D65
How Your Grade is Calculated
Independent Practice
15%
Participation
15%
Laboratory Work
15%
Projects
10%
Quizzes
25%
Tests
20%
What this means: Independent Practice, Laboratory Work, and Participation in
class are ALL more important to your final grade than a test is.
Make Up Work
Students are allowed two days for making up an assignment in the case of an
absence from class or school.
Extra Credit
Students may complete activities each quarter for extra credit. Each quarter 3
activities will be available for the student. If a student has at least a 60% average
each completed activity will be worth 1/3 of a letter grade at the end of the quarter.
A student with a failing grade of 60 – 69 must complete all 3 activities to receive a D.
For all passing grades, if all 3 activities are completed and turned in the student’s
grade will go up one letter grade. All extra credit work must be turned in one week
before the end of the quarter.
Materials


Pen/Pencil
Classroom Notebook with two sections (can be part of a larger, multi-class
notebook)
 Assignment Book
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to follow the Code of Conduct agreed upon by the Hinsdale
School District. In class, students are expected to act appropriately. This includes
demonstrating good listening skills (quiet while someone else is speaking, asking
appropriate questions) and coming to class ready to work each day.
Technology Resources
Due to the nature of a science class, we will be using lab equipment as well as
computers for long-term projects. Each student is expected to follow the schoolwide technology contract for computer use. Each student will be expected to follow
a classroom specific contract for lab equipment.
Course Outline
This is a basic outline of what the year will look like. As we move forward,
assignments may be changed or rearranged.
Quarter One
Chapter
Topic
Assignments
1
Science & The
1. Chapter Notes
Environment
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (14)
4. Exploration Lab (28 – 29)
5. Case Study (12)
6. Chapter Test
3
The Dynamic Earth
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (74)
4. Exploration Lab
(92 – 93)
5. Case Study (78)
6. Chapter Test
4
The Organization of 1. Chapter Notes
Life
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (111)
4. Inquiry Lab (120 – 121)
5. Case Study (104)
6. Chapter Test
6
Biomes
10
Biodiversity
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (168)
4. Exploration Lab (180 – 181)
5. Case Study (160)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (272)
4. Exploration Lab (282 – 283)
5. Case Study (266)
6. Chapter Test
Quarter One Extra Credit
1. Choose one “Making a Difference” (found at the end of each chapter, must be
from a chapter completed this quarter), read the article, summarize the article, and
respond to the article.
2. Create an 8 ½ by 11 poster of Charles Darwin. Include information about his life
and his work (see poster rubric for specifics).
3. Create a comic strip detailing the migration of the Monarch butterflies. (See
comic strip rubric for specifics).
Quarter Two
Chapter
7
Topic
Aquatic Ecosystems
5
How Ecosystems
Work
8
Understanding
Populations
Assignments
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (192)
4. Exploration Lab (196)
5. Case Study (192)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab (133)
5. Case Study (128)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (215)
9
The Human
Population
15
Food & Agriculture
4. Exploration Lab (212)
5. Case Study (220)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab
5. Case Study (244)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (414)
4. Exploration Lab
5. Case Study (424)
6. Chapter Test
Quarter Two Extra Credit
1. Choose one “Making a Difference” (found at the end of each chapter, must be
from a chapter completed this quarter), read the article, summarize the article, and
respond to the article.
2. Read “Points of View” on pages 232 – 233 (you may not use this as your “making
a difference article”). Choose a side of the controversy to represent on a poster. (see
poster rubric for specifics)
3. Create a comic strip showing the interaction of soil organisms. (See comic strip
rubric for specifics).
Quarter Three
Chapter
Topic
Assignments
11
Water
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (310)
4. Exploration Lab (320)
5. Case Study (292)
6. Chapter Test
14
Land
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab (402)
5. Case Study (392)
6. Chapter Test
12
Air
13
Atmosphere &
Climate Change
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab (346)
5. Case Study (332)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab (376)
5. Case Study (354)
6. Chapter Test
Quarter Three Extra Credit
1. Choose one “Making a Difference” (found at the end of each chapter, must be
from a chapter completed this quarter), read the article, summarize the article, and
respond to the article.
2. Choose a type of pollution and create a poster detailing its dangers and human
actions (see poster rubric for specifics)
3. Create a comic strip showing the movement of a water droplet from a pond to
rain. (See comic strip rubric for specifics).
Quarter Four
Chapter
Topic
Assignments
17
Nonrenewable
1. Chapter Notes
Energy
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab
4. Exploration Lab (486)
5. Case Study (472)
6. Chapter Test
18
Renewable Energy 1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (504)
4. Exploration Lab (512)
5. Case Study (492)
6. Chapter Test
16
Mining & Mineral
1. Chapter Notes
Resources
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (450)
4. Exploration Lab
19
Waste
21
Economics, Policy,
& Future
5. Case Study (448)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (531)
4. Exploration Lab (542)
5. Case Study (526)
6. Chapter Test
1. Chapter Notes
2. Homework
3. Quick Lab (586)
4. Exploration Lab (594)
5. Case Study (576)
6. Chapter Test
Quarter 4 Extra Credit
1. Choose one “Making a Difference” (found at the end of each chapter, must be
from a chapter completed this quarter), read the article, summarize the article, and
respond to the article.
2. Investigate green plastics and create a poster answering the following: are they
really environmentally friendly? How does the process work? What companies
utilize this technology? (see poster rubric for specifics).
3. Create a comic strip detailing the introduction of a green technology to your
home. (See comic strip rubric for specifics).