ASTRONOMY
Course description
| Astronomy is the study of planet Earth in space. The course stresses student investigation, done individually or in small groups, and challenges students to make discoveries and interpretations based on their investigations. All students will be required to take the Earth Science Regents examination at the end of the year. |
   
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Curriculum
Text
Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe, Glencoe McGraw-HillMaterials Needed
A 3-Ring Binder, dividers, pencil, pen, assignment organizer and a simple calculator must be brought to class every day.
Course Requirements
In order to be eligible to take the Regents exam and receive Regents credit you must satisfactorily complete a total of 20 hours of lab work . These labs must be turned in before you enter the exam. In this astronomy course you will be doing roughly seven labs which I will give to your full time Earth Science teacher after you complete this course. Only labs with a passing grade may be counted toward your Regents requirement.
Course Expectations
1. Be on time to class. No excuses, no exceptions. Three latenesses will equal a detention.
2. No cell phones or iPods in class. If I see them, I’ll take it away from you.
3. Be sensitive to the feeling and dignity of others. Respect should be shown in all communication. It is easy for people to misunderstand negative criticism.
4. Stay positive! Your attitude is infectious. If you are having a bad day keep it to yourself!
5. Safe behavior is required. This is especially important while doing labs.
6. Homework is assigned every night. It may be in the form of taking chapter notes, finishing a lab or a worksheet. If you do not have your homework done on the day it is due you will have detention that day after school. Late homework will NOT be accepted. Stay on top of your work!
7. If you have been absent, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to find out what homework you missed. When you return to class you will be expected to hand in the homework that was due the day that you were absent. No excuses. Any new homework assigned while you were absent will be due the class period following your return to school. Stay on top of your work! Remember that you must make up class time if you miss more than 5 classes otherwise you will be denied course credit.
8. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If you copy your assignment answers from someone else both you and the person you copied from will receive a zero. Labs may be collaboratively done but not if you are simply copying your partner’s answers. This is especially true if your lab is late and your partner’s lab is already graded!
9. It is very important that you save all of your graded labs. I will collect them at the end of each unit and keep them on file. Lab reports handed in late will receive a maximum grade of 75. Lab reports more than one day late will lose 5 points/day. Do not hand in labs late!
Grading
Tests and Quizzes: 65%
Graded Labs: 20%
Homework: 10%
Participation: 5%
Extra Help
I am available for extra help every day after school from 2:20 - 2:45 and by appointment during lunch and common free blocks.
Communication
My phone number is 256-4175 x 1814. My e-mail address is cathy_law@yahoo.com. My website, cathylaw.com can be visited for full notes for this course. Please feel free to contact me when problems arise.