COURSE SYLLABUS: Earth Science, 2003-2004

Instructor: Mr. Marshall
marshallc1@fultonschools.org

TEXT: AGS Earth Science $33.00

Course Description: The Earth Science curriculum utilized at Woodland Middle School will be centered on the history of the Earth and its natural resources, its weather, and planet Earth and its relationship to other planets in the solar system.

National Standards:

Develops understanding and abilities aligned with Constancy, Change, and
Measurement. (1)
Develop understanding and abilities aligned with systems, order, and organization. (1)
Develop abilities to do scientific inquiry. (2)
Develop an understanding of properties and changes of properties in matter. (4)
Develops an understanding of populations and ecosystems. (5)
Develop an understanding of populations and ecosystems. and diversity and adaptations of organisms. (5)
Develop an understanding of properties and changes of properties in matter. (5)
Develop an understanding of earth in the Solar System. (6)
Develop an understanding of Earth’s history and Earth in the solar system. (6)
Develop an understanding of the structure of the earth system. (6)
Develop an understanding of structure of the earth system and Earth’s history. (6)
Evaluate completed technological designs or products. (7)
Develop understandings about science and technology. (8)
Develop an understanding of populations, resources, and environments. (9)
Develops understanding of natural hazards, risks and benefits, and science and technology in society. (9)
Develop an understanding of structure of the earth system. (12)

QCC / Fulton County Objectives:
1. Learns and uses on a regular basis standard safety practices for laboratory or field investigations. (QCC 2)

2. Throughout the year, uses process skills of observing, classifying, communicating, measuring, and predicting. Design and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies the problem, distinguishes between dependent and independent variables, collects, analyzes and communicates data, and makes valid inferences and conclusions. (QCC 1.1)

3. Analyze, evaluate, and present information using the three types of graphs. (QCC 1.2)

4. Uses traditional and current reference materials (traditional print and non-print, CD-ROM, Internet, and on-line data) to explore background and historical information regarding a scientific concept. (QCC- 4)

5. Define standard of measurement and identify its need. Understand the SI
standard. To understand the metric system, do various conversions, write in specific notations, and take measurements. (QCC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4)

6. Identifies ways humans cause and can correct water pollution, atmospheric
concerns such as acid rain and global warming, solid waste pollution, noise pollution, smell pollution, and the disposal of various types of waste. Studies the relationships between various human activities and weather, climate, earthquakes, hurricanes/tornadoes, melting glaciers, etc. [QCC 5.1, 5.2]

7. Evaluates Earth’s constructive and destructive forces ( e.g., continental drift, plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, etc.) that change the Earth’s surface. (QCC 9)

8. Differentiates among elements, compounds, and mixtures. Describes the
organization or the Periodic Table of Elements. Recognizes common chemical
symbols and chemical formulas. Explains how covalent and ionic bonds are formed (QCC 6.1, 6.2, 6.4).

9. Differentiates among rocks based on origins (igneous, metamorphic, and
sedimentary) and mineral content. Uses standard mineral identification tests of hardness, shape, color, luster, streak, cleavage, and fracture to identify minerals. Recognizes crystal systems of minerals (QCC 6.3, 7, 8).

10. Recognizes major symbols, series, scales and colors conventionally used to
represent features on topographic maps and various Earth models. Examines how land formations influence development of an area. Relates the topography of land, climate and resources to economic development (QCC 10, 11)

11.Investigates the practicality of these alternative energy sources: solar, geothermal, wind, ocean waves and currents, nuclear, synthetic fuels, and biomass fuels. Identifies examples of alternative energy being used (QCC12.1, 12.2).

12. Illustrates and describes the Earth's composition (crust, mantle, and core) now and in the past. Evaluates theories that explain how Earth became covered with water. Describes Earth history and recognizes that change occurs constantly and slowly over time. Describes how potassium-argon and radio carbon dating are used to approximate the ages of rocks and fossils. Distinguish between relative and absolute time. Interprets the geology of Earth based on the principle of uniformitarianism and the principle of superposition (QCC 13.1, 13.2, 14, 15).

13. Describes the water cycle and its relationship to the movement of surface and subsurface water. Identifies parts of the water cycle. Describes the formation of a river system. Describes the distribution and quality of fresh water on the Earth. (QCC 16.1, 16.2, 16.3)

14. Recognizes the chemical and physical composition of ocean water. Describes the features of the ocean floor. Explains the movements of ocean water in currents, tides, and waves. Identifies zones of life in the oceans and the relationships among ocean organisms. (QCC 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5)

15. Identifies the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. Describe the importance of each layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. List the most abundant gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Recognizes and investigates weather phenomena and their effect on the Earth’s surface. Interprets weather maps and makes forecasts. ( QCC 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 19 ).

16. Describes how these atmospheric factors interact to cause weather: heat energy, air pressure, winds, and moisture. Identifies the three basic types of clouds and their formation. Compares the four major types of air masses and how they create fronts that affect weather patterns. Evaluates factors that determine climate. Differentiates between the climate zones of the Earth. Defines and gives examples of microclimates. QCC 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5)

17. Compares and contrasts theories on the origin of the universe. Discusses
geocentric and heliocentric models of the solar system. Describes the components of the Solar System. Describes features, characteristics, and motions of the planets. Compares and contrasts asteroids, comets, and meteorites and explains their origins. ( QCC 23, 21, 21.1, 21.2 ) (

18. Describes the relationships of the motions between the Sun, Moon and Earth. Describes how seasons are caused by the Earth’s revolution. Explains the visual occurrence of the phases of the Moon. Compares and contrasts a lunar and solar eclipse. Discusses the effect of the Sun and Moon on tides. Identifies and describes stars and star systems. Describes major galaxy types. Describes the life cycle of a star. Interprets a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (QCC 26, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 22, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3)

19. Describes how information is obtained about space. Identifies the use of probes, satellites, light and radio telescopes, and spectroscopes to gather information about space. Describes the history of the space program and examines its effects on our lives (QCC 24, 25).

(Courtesy Fairness, Diligence, Cooperation, Respect for the natural environment, Creativity, Perseverance Patience, Self control, Virtue, Cleanliness)

Course Outline/Timeline

Fall Semester:

Spring Semester:

Special Projects: Science Project done in class.

Grading Scheme: This class will adhere to Fulton County Grading Policy that consists of the following grading scale:

A 90 and above
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
F Below 70*
W/(1 - 100) Withdrew/Pass or Fail
NG No Grade
INC Incomplete
*by state rule any grade below 70 is failing.

The final grade in this class will be determined using the following
formula/criteria:

Tests 50%
Homework 10%
Classwork and Quizzes 20%
Projects 10%
Final Exam 10%


Students in this class are expected to adhere to the rules and policies of Woodland Middle School and Fulton County as stated in the WMS Student Handbook/Agenda and the FC “Guidelines for Student Behavior.”

Homework: It is the policy of Woodland Middle School to assign homework on a nightly basis; however, it is up to the discretion of the individual teacher as to whether it is assigned over the weekend. Evaluation of homework may consist of detailed grading, generalized checking, or a combination of both techniques.

Provision for Improving Grades: Students who have low or failing cumulative grades may ask the teacher for opportunities to improve their grade when all work required to date has been completed and the student has demonstrated a legitimate effort to meet all course requirements including attendance. All recovery work is due two weeks before the end of the semester. (FCBOE Procedure IHA - p. 5).

Scheduled Help Sessions: Tutorial is provided after school for students who require extra assistance, need to make us assignments such as test or experiments that cannot be done at home or alone, or would like to prepare for assessments. I am available to tutorial on Monday afternoons from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. Students will need to sign up before attending tutorial.

Teacher/Parent Communication: An open line of communication is encouraged between teachers and parents. Parental visits are encouraged, however it is the policy of Woodland Middle School that all visitors must report to the office before going to other parts of the building. A “Visitors Pass” will be issued as evidence that this procedure has been followed.

Absence/Make-Up Procedures: Upon returning to school following an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher(s) to request make-up work. The student must complete make-up work within the time specified by the teacher. At Woodland Middle School, the student will given the same amount to time to make up the work as the student was absent unless other arrangements are mutually agreed upon. The student will receive the actual grade on the make-up work if the absence was “excused.” Make-up for “unexcused” absences may be reduced by 10 points. Make-up work submitted late will receive a zero. (FCBOE Policy JBD)

This syllabus is a general outline of the course and is subject to modification.

Each student has been provided with a copy of this syllabus. The syllabus should be signed by a parent/guardian, shown to the teacher for verification, and retained in the student’s notebook.

__________________________________________ __________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

__________________________________________ _________________
Student Signature Date