Email: clemons@magnoliaisd.org
Course Description: Aquatic Science is an upper level, yearlong science course. The students will study a variety of topics such as: components of aquatic ecosystem; relationships among aquatic habitats and ecosystems; roles of cycles within an aquatic environment; adaptations of organisms; changes within aquatic environments; geological phenomena and fluid dynamics effects; and origin and use of water in watershed.
Course Goals: The student will gain an overall understanding of aquatic ecosystems including freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and the flora and fauna found in them. They will also learn about the geological formations that form the Earth’s oceans and rivers, and the effect these bodies of water have on weather.
Students will also acquire the necessary skills, responsibilities and knowledge to be good stewards of freshwater and marine environments.
Course Sequence:
Unit # & Topic(s)
UNIT 1: Introduction to Water
1.
Introduction to Aquatic
Science
2.
The Water Cycle
3.
Properties of Water
4.
Water Resources
5. Water distribution
UNIT 2: Water Chemistry
1.
pH
2.
Water Hardness
3.
Dissolved Gases
4.
Plant Nutrients
5.
Turbidity
6.
Stream Flow
Aquatic Science
TEKS/SEs
*Aq. 1A,B
*Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
*Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 6A,B
Aq. 8A,B,C
Aq. 10A,B,C
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 6A,B
# of 50
Min.
Sessions
14
Nine
Weeks
1 st 9
Weeks
9 1 st 9
Weeks

UNIT 3: Aquatic Ecosystems
1.
Groundwater
2.
Streams and Rivers
3.
Lakes and Ponds
4.
5.
Wetlands
Bays and Estuaries
Aq. 7A,B,C
Aq. 8A,B,C
Aq. 10A,B,C
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,E
Aq. 4A,B
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 7A,B,C
Aq. 9A,C
Aq. 10A,B
Aq. 11A,B
Aq. 12A,B,C,D
UNIT 4: Physical Oceanography
1.
Properties of Sea Water
2.
Comparison of Oceans
3.
Sea Floor Features
4.
Waves
5.
Tides
6. Currents
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 6A,B
Aq. 9A,B,C
23
23
1 st & 2 nd
9 Weeks
2 nd 9
Weeks

Unit # & Topic(s) Aquatic Science
TEKS/SEs
UNIT 5: Aquatic Ecology and
Classification
1.
Introduction to Ecology
2.
Rocky Shore and Intertidal
Communities
3.
Coral Reef Communities
4.
Classification and
Identification of Species
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 7A,B,C
Aq. 10A,B,C
UNIT 6a: Aquatic Organisms
1.
Biology Basics Review
2.
Plankton
3.
Porifera & Cnidaria
4.
Mollusca & Annellida
5.
Echinodermata & Crustacea
Aq. 11A,B
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 6A,B
Aq. 7A,B,C
Aq. 11A,B
Aq. 1A,B UNIT 6b: Aquatic Organisms
6.
Fish (Osteichthyes &
Chondrichthyes)
7.
Marine Reptiles
8.
Aquatic Birds
9.
Aquatic Mammals
10.Aquatic Plants
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 6A,B
Aq. 7A,B,C
23
28
# of 50
Min.
Sessions
19
Nine
Weeks
3 rd 9
Weeks
3
4 rd th
& 4
9
Weeks th
9 Weeks

UNIT 7: Humans and the Sea
1.
Resources
2.
Human Impacts
3.
Oceans and Human Affairs
Aq. 11A,B
Aq. 1A,B
Aq. 2A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J
Aq. 3A,B,C,D,E,F
Aq. 4A,B,C
Aq. 5A,B,C,D
Aq. 6A,B
Aq. 7A,B,C
Aq. 8A,B,C
Aq. 9A,B,C
Aq. 10A,B,C
Aq. 12A,B,C,D,E
15 4 th 9
Weeks
Homework
1.
Students are encouraged to complete all written and reading assignments throughout the term. Please devote enough time to learn your material.
2.
Late work is accepted according to school policy but MUST be done before the unit test.
3.
Tutorials are available most days of the week by one of the Aquatic Science teachers. A tutoring schedule will be listed on my website, posted in class, and can be scheduled in advance with me.
4.
Students and parents are expected to access & check grades online through the district website www.scuc.txed.net
on Parent Connection.
Absences
 Make-up assignments and notes are the responsibility of the student-notes, powerpoints, & most assignments can be downloaded from my webpage under the appropriate unit tab.

All assignments missed must be turned in according to district grading guidelines.

If a student misses a quiz, the student will take the quiz the next school day provided that no new material was covered during the absence.
 If you miss a lab, you may be given an alternate assignment covering the same material or be required to come in during tutorials to complete the actual lab.


Testing & Quizzes



 If a student misses a test, the student will take the test on the next school day provided that no new material was covered during the absence. If student was absent more than one day, the student must make arrangements with the teacher in order to make-up the test ASAP.
Retests are available per district guidelines. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule a retest time if 


 necessary.
Retests and makeup tests must be completed within a one week time period of the original test.
If a student fails a quiz, the student must retake the quiz on the next school day in order to keep up with the course material.
Student Expectations:
1) Students are expected to actively participate and engage in class discussions regarding the topic that is being covered. This includes the examining/dissecting of preserved and live specimens in the lab.
2) Students are expected to act in a way that is appropriate and indicative of mature adults.
responsible,
3) It is the responsibility of the student to ask for and complete event of an absence. This may require staying after school.
any make up work in the
4) It is expected that all students complete their own work form of cheating and/or plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
to the best of their ability; any