Summers - 325100CH - 4(A) 8(B) - Q1

Standard H.E.2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the structure, properties, and history of the observable universe.

Required Instructional Materials and Resources:

Textbook: Seeds/Backman, Foundations of Astronomy. 11^th edition.

District issued Chromebook.

Technology expectations:

Use Chromebooks, accessing assignments, projects and quizzes on Canvas.

Use a standard scientific calculator 

Teacher:                               Sara Summers, MSEd       

Email:                                   ssummers@oconee.k12.sc.us; ssummers@g.oconee.k12.sc.us

Phone number:                   (864) 886 – 4530

Extra-Help Times:             Before school upon request.                             

Room number:    `               314 (lab)

Canvas site:                          Astronomy/WOHS;            https://oconee.instructure.com/courses/24485

Textbook:                             Seeds/Backman, Foundations of Astronomy. 11^th edition.

Websites:                              http://ia.terc.edu/mod_01.html Investigating Astronomy; also http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/educators/posters/elements/Elements_2005.pdf  NASA Astronomy

Virtual Lab: Student Registration URL: https://login.cengagebrain.com/course/MTPP-0JTP-SDNM
Student Registration Instructions: Print instructions
Course Key: MTPP-0JTP-SDNM

Materials: Chromebook, Pen/pencil, paper for taking notes, notebook/folder.

Grades: 60% major (tests, quizzes, projects).  40% minor (worksheets, other assignments)

Assessments and Evaluation:

The student will be assessed by unit tests which consist of multiple choice questions, true/false questions, and matching questions. 

• The student will be assessed by lab reports (both formal and informal).
• The student will be assessed by short quizzes on various units of study throughout the semester which consist of short answer questions and multiple choice questions.
• The student will be assessed through classwork and homework, which may include journals, worksheets, and classroom and field investigation.
• Student growth MAY be measured by a summative pretest and a post test created by a district appointed committee of qualified science educators and administered by classroom environmental science educators.

 

According to SDOC Policy, the grading scale will be as follows:

A: 90-100              B: 80-89                                C: 70-79                                D: 60-69                                F: 0-59

Floor Grades and grading policy:  SDOC policy provides students with a minimum grade of 51 for the 1st and 2nd nine weeks for a one year course, and a floor grade of 51 for the first quarter of those in a semester long class. Word of caution: statistically speaking, it is very difficult to recover academically from a floor grade. It is essential that students study and prepare for every class to keep up and do their best.

Retake policy: SDOC policy allows students to retake one major exam each grading period. Students are responsible for attending extra help session or show evidence of preparation prior to retaking.

Extra help:  Extra help is available after/before school upon request.

Work Policy/ICU:  ICU is a school wide web based program designed to encourage better work ethics and student participation. The ICU program generates emails to students and parents when minor and major assignments are not turned in. 

Attendance Policy: Student attendance laws require students to be present the following minimum number of days to receive credit, provided the student receives a passing grade in the course: In a 45-day course, a student must attend 42 days. In a 90-day course, a student must attend 84 days.

Final exam exemptions: Students who have a 93 or better average for the may exempt the final exam  IF they have six or fewer absences (this policy is separate from attendance policy), including excused medical absences or absences due to bereavement. This is a school policy. If students have 7 excused absences due to doctor’s appointments, they will not be able to exempt the exam, even if they have a 93 average or above. 

Academic Integrity Policy: Violation of the Academic Integrity Policy includes such actions as plagiarism, copying other’s work, and cheating on tests or quizzes.

Topics/Units of Study: 

1^st Quarter:

(Weeks 1 & 2) Where are you? District Pretest/Introduction; scientific notation; observing and measuring planetary and stellar distance AU (astronomical unit); and light years; Nature & Origin of the Universe; Big Bang Theory; Scientific Method; Quiz; Learning to Look: History of Astronomy: Copernicous, Newton and Galileo; Light &  Waves, The Electromagnetic Spectrum; Tools of Astronomy: absorption lines, filters and imaging; CCD Image Processing; Sloan Digitalized Sky Survey; Imaging - Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes; Slooh; Hubble Space Telescope.

(Week 3) The Sun/Earth/Moon System: Ancient and modern calendars; archaeoastronomy; Medicine Wheel, Stonehenge; Characteristics of the Sun and Earth system, including motion, equinoxes, solstices, precession; Reasons for the seasons; Sundial;  Characteristics and phases of the moon;  tides, plot tide data; Solar and Lunar Eclipses; Sunspots; Craters on the Moon and Earth; Exploring the Moon; Starlab

(Week 4) Our Sun, , nuclear fusion, E=mc2; Sun’s interior and atmosphere; solar activity, sunspots, sunspot cycle; solar flares, prominences, aurora borealis and australias; XRT image of sunspots; quiz;

(Weeks 5) The stars and Starlab: HA Rey and the starfield; Characteristics of Stars, analysis of stars through emission spectra; composition, temperature, size and mass of stars; Stellar motion (apparent motion and actual motion); light-year; parallax, Stellar evolution, classifying stars using Herzsprung-Russell Diagram; neutrons, pulsars and black holes; constellations; galaxies, the Milky Way Galaxy and Quasars;the celestial sphere; Using an Astrolabe: Constructing a Kepler Star Wheel; the ecliptic, constellations, asterisms; astrological “signs”, science or fiction;  brightness of stars (magnitude scale); HR Diagrams; Jewel Box; celestial sphere; Coriolis Effect; Identification of  the ecliptic: time zones; International Date Line; Prime Meridian; horizon; Using Right Ascension and declination;

(Week 6) Investigating Planets of the Solar System:  formation and characteristics of inner terrestrial planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars; and outer planets, Jupiter, Jupiter’s moons; Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; Pluto, Kuiper belt; Poster/Brochure of Planets; Exploration of planets movie; group/sort planets and moons according to size, mass and gravitational force; investigate planetary atmosphere and temperature; explore the concept of global warming. construct a scale model of the solar system. Exploration of Planets and the Moons on NASA Missions; Search for life on Mars & Europa; Planet Powerpoint/Google Slide Research Project

(Week 7 ): Space flight, now and then - NASA, Mercury and Apollo Missions; the Space Shuttle; and Falcon Heavy/SpaceX, Mission to Mars Project

(Week 8) Minor bodies of the solar system:  Moons of Mars, Jupiter (Io, Europe, Ganymede, Callisto; Saturn (Titan); Moons of Uranus and Neptune; Pluto and Charon. Asteroids, comets and meteoroids, Oort Cloud, Kuiper Belt;

 (Week 9)   Final Exam

 

Class Expectations

Respect learning

• Come prepared for class every day.
• Bring your Chromebook (charged), and charger everyday;
• Bring your textbook, notebook and pen/pencil everyday.
• Take care of personal needs/bathroom before class
• No cell phones or earbuds/listening to music in class
• Complete all assignments on time
• Don’t distract others

Respect people, animals and other living organisms.

• No vulgarity, hurtful actions or words
• Keep your hands/objects to yourself
• Follow directions the first time

Respect property.

• Do not deface desks or other property
• No food or drink in class
• If you borrow it, return it
• If you break it, you will replace it

 

Class Consequences

1. Verbal warning/documentation/call home or referral to administrator.
2. Phone/digital device is mine for class period/day. Documentation & call home.
3. Call home, teacher detention (after school or during lunch).
4. Referral to administration/call home.
5. Replace broken equipment

 

Classroom Procedures:

• Beginning of class
  • Enter quietly, get your materials out, take your assigned seat and begin working
  • Sharpen pencils before class
  • Read the board/listen for directions and begin working
• Class Assignments
  • If you have a question, raise your hand.
  • All assignments have a link on Canvas.
  • Stay focused on the task at hand
  • Place finished papers in “turn in bin” at end of class
  • Make sure your first and last name is printed neatly on your paper

 

• Homework/Study time
  • All homework is due at the beginning of class.
  • If you need help, attend before/after school help session
  • Study every night: read/rewrite your notes, read/take notes out of your textbook

 

• Notebook/Journal
  • Take notes during class
  • Staple, tape or place handouts neatly in notebooks. Do NOT cram them into a bookbag.
  • Bring the notebook/binder to class with you EVERY day.

 

• Bathroom privileges
  • 3 bathroom passes per quarter
  • One person at a time to the bathroom, if its an emergency
  • No bathroom passes first or last 10 minutes of class.

 

• If you are absent
  • See me at the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to get caught up.
  • Check Canvas. All assignments have links on the class Canvas site.
  • Arrange to stay for extra help if needed.

 

• If you are tardy
  • You must have a tardy slip from the main office in order to enter class. Enter class quietly, place the tardy slip on my desk. Take your seat.

               

• End of class procedures
  • Five -10 minutes before end of class, complete your exit slip.
  • Copy homework assignments into your planner/notebook/journal
  • Pick up around your work/desk area.
  • Remain seated until the bell sounds or the teacher dismisses you.

 

 

 

****I have read and understand the class syllabus, expectations, procedures and management plan.

_____________________________________(student name)___________________ (date)

_____________________________________(parent name)____________________(date)

Parent/guardian phone number __________________________________________

Parents -  I welcome any input from you and invite you to share your concerns.