Student Name _____________________________
ASTRONOMY/METEOROLOGY SYLLABUS - MR. LARSON
Parents: Easiest way to contact Mr. Larson is by email: steven.larson@spps.org (I see
this every day). Phone messages: call the school (651-293-8800) and leave a message in box
#45388. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions, or stop by the
classroom before or after school.
Classroom Behavior: All students in the class deserve a chance to learn and do well. Students
engaging in disruptive behavior will be sent to the office to talk with an administrator. The most
important classroom rule can be stated in two words: MUTUAL RESPECT. This means student-tostudent, student-to-teacher, and teacher-to-student. Every student will do well in this class if he/she
comes to class, reads the textbook, does the assignments, and behaves appropriately in class. I will
not hesitate to call parents or guardians about behavior or academic issues.
Materials needed for this class:
Textbook - “Modern Earth Science”; Sign out when needed overnight.
Notebook – REQUIRED, and GRADED.
Pocket folder - there will be handouts and worksheets.
Pen/Pencil – bring to class EVERY DAY.
Parents – Please read the information above and sign below. Students – THIS IS YOUR FIRST
ASSIGNMENT – worth 10 points if turned in with signature.
*****(Please write clearly)*****
Parent Signature ______________________________________________________
Phone number ________________________ Email _____________________________________
Course Description: Astronomy & Meteorology is a one semester course in which we will learn
about astronomy - the study of the universe beyond the earth – and meteorology – the study of the
earth's atmosphere and weather. Students will learn through classroom discussions, hands-on
experiments and activities, and group projects. Computer simulations and laboratory exercises will
supplement classroom lectures and worksheets. The course includes several visits to the Como
Elementary School Planetarium.
Homework: Students can expect homework each week, including READING the assigned sections
of the textbook. Additional work will be done and collected during class. The policy for late work
will be explained during the first days of class.
Grading: Students are graded on a point system as follows:
Quizzes and exams - 45%
Assignments – 40%
Notebook – 15%.
(SO YOU MUST DO THE ASSIGNMENTS! YOU MUST KEEP A NOTEBOOK!)
Grades are assigned on the following percentage basis:
A: 90-100%, B: 80-90%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, N: less than 60% .
Schedule of topics for Astronomy & Meteorology, 2011-2012 school year. The topics
are listed along with the corresponding textbook chapter.
Several other topics not addressed in the book will also be covered.
Astronomy
Chapter 27: Stars and Galaxies – Distances, composition, size, origin, and life cycle of stars,
fusion reactions as the source of the energy of stars, the nature of light, galaxies.
Chapter 28 (part): The Sun – Size and structure of the sun, the solar wind, solar system formation.
Chapter 29: The Solar System – History of ideas about the solar system, retrograde motion, the
planets, solar system distances, asteroids, meteors, comets, Earth-crossing objects.
Chapter 30: Moons and Rings – The Earth’s moon, eclipses, phases of the moon, craters, moons
of other planets, rings.
Current topics in astronomy (Exoplanets, Earth-crossing asteroids & comets, The search for
extraterrestrial life, etc.)
Meteorology
Chapter 23: The Atmosphere – Composition and layers of Earth’s atmosphere, oxygen and
nitrogen cycles, air pressure, the “greenhouse effect” and global warming, the ozone hole problem,
heat transfer, light scattering, winds, the Coriolus Effect.
Chapter 24: Water in the Atmosphere – Humidity, dew point, cloud types and causes,
precipitation, phase changes.
Chapter 25: Weather – Air masses, fronts, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, weather maps,
isotherms, isobars.
Chapter 26: Climate – Factors affecting climate, climate zones, climatographs.