Earth and Space Science
Mr. Longbrake
Welcome to what will certainly be an outstanding semester. In Earth Science
the students will gain an understanding of the abiotic forces that affect and
change the Earth as well as the Universe that surrounds the Earth. Our
textbook will be Holt’s Earth Science.
1st Semester Curriculum
-Studying the Earth (Introduction, Earth System, and Models)
-History of the Earth (Evidence and Geologic History)
-Composition of Earth (Chemistry, Minerals, and Rocks)
-Dynamic Earth (Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes)
Daily Procedures
1. Upon entering the classroom, each student is expected to take note of any class or
assignment changes on the front board (next to the weekly assignment list) and
then direct their attention to the daily bell ringer and any directions for the day.
2. When class is wrapping up for the day, check your work area and clean up if
necessary. Remain in your seat until the bell rings.
Class Expectations
1. Each student is expected to be in the classroom and near their seat by the time the
bell rings. Those students who are not in the classroom and moving to their seat
will be marked as tardy.
2. Once in the classroom, each student needs to sit in their assigned seat and stay in
their seat until class is dismissed or the students are instructed to leave their seats.
3. Each student is required to have paper on which to write, and a writing instrument
(pen or pencil) each day, unless instructed otherwise.
Classroom Rules
1. If you have a question or a comment you need to raise your hand. After I have
seen your raised hand and called on you, then you may ask your question or make
your contribution to class (I have very good vision, so you do not need to tell me
that your hand is up.)
2. Show respect for yourself, others, and property.
3.
Be polite – a little politeness goes a long way.
4. No food in class. This is non-negotiable and there are no exceptions. If you are
hungry then you either have to wait until you can get food (like lunch) or plan
ahead and eat breakfast or lunch. You may have a bottle of water with you.
5. Usage of non-academic electronic devices will be allowed during class (per
student handbook). Use of non-academic electronic devices during instructional
time will result in confiscation of that device. All confiscated non-academic
electronic devices will be taken to the office and students will be allowed to
retrieve them after speaking with an Assistant Principal of Discipline. (per student
handbook)
6. If you need to leave class to use the restroom or get a drink, you must first have
my permission to do so and as you leave the room you will need to fill out the
sign out sheet. And then only one student is allowed to be out of the room at a
time.
7. In general, you may not do anything that can be a disruption to the
teaching/learning process in the classroom. There will be times when you may
talk with your neighbor or other classmates and/or move about the classroom
during group work/assignments. During direct instruction by the teacher you may
not have discussions with your neighbor, try to get someone’s attention across the
room, throw things, irritate your neighbor by poking or prodding, or move around
the room during class without permission. This is a small list, but the general rule
is: do not cause a disruption in the classroom.
8. When you have been given an assignment, you need to work on that assignment
until either you are done or the bell has rung.
9. See student handbook regarding contraband, dress code, and destruction of school
property.
Consequences for Classroom Expectations
1. Tardies will be reported to the attendance office and will be dealt with per school
policy. See student handbook for the school tardy policy.
2. If a student fails to show up without one or more of the book, paper, and writing
instrument, that student will lose a point for each item that they do not have.
Consequences for Classroom Rules
1. A first offense for any of the rules above will result in a warning.
2. There will be no second warning. If I have to talk to a student a second time, then
there will be a student/teacher conference to resolve the issue.
3. A third offense will result in the student’s parents being contacted.
4. Any further offense will require school administration involvement in the matter.
5. Serious offenses will result in immediate school administration involvement. See
student handbook regarding the severity of offenses.
Class supplies
1. All students are required to have and maintain a spiral-bound notebook or loose
leaf paper in a 3 ring binder for notes, bell-ringers, laboratory assignments/writeups, and other assignments. Additionally, students are required to maintain an
earth science section in their 3 ring binder or an earth science folder for returned
work and tests/quizzes.
Grading policy
Daily assignments/Homework
Laboratory/Projects
Tests/Quizzes
Quarter Exams
Final Exam
25%
20%
30%
10% (5% for each Quarter)
15%
*These percentages are approximate and may fluctuate slightly depending on number
of assignments, tests, etc.
*If a student is absent for a laboratory project, test, quiz, or other assignment, it is up
to the student to meet with Mr. Longbrake to make up the assignment. There is a two
week window in which this can be done, before that grade becomes a zero in the
grade book. This applies to homework, tests, quizzes, laboratory projects, etc.
Audio-Visual Presentations
During the fall semester the class will be shown topical videos about the concepts
presented in class and will deconstruct (separating fact from fiction) the film, “The
Core”.
Contacting Mr. Longbrake
The best way to reach me is by e-mail, dlongbrake@kusd.org. I usually can respond
to e-mails within a couple of hours. However, I can also be reached by phone in my
classroom a half hour prior to the start of school (7:30 – 8:00) and a half hour after
school (3:00 – 3:30), by calling the main school phone (692-6480) and asking for Mr.
Longbrake or extension 6443. Please do not call between 8 am and 3 pm, as your call
will interrupt the presentation of a lesson in my class.
Class Contract
I, ________________________________ have read the procedures, expectations,
rules, and consequences with my parent(s) and understand them.
Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________
Dear parent, it is in the best interest of your student that if the need arises I can contact
you. Please list your preferred mode of contact and the best hours to contact you. It has
been my experience that e-mail tends to work better than other modes of contact and
gmail, hotmail, and yahoo offer free e-mail accounts, but if you prefer phone calls, that
can be arranged, as well.
Name __________________________________________
E-mail address ___________________________________
Phone number and best hours of contact ____________________________