Mark T. Bailey
mbailey@lun.k12.va.us
School Phone (434) 696-2137
http://baileylunenburg.tripod.com
Ecology
Course Objective
It is my goal as a teacher, that you are
exposed to REAL WORLD SCIENCE that may help you reach your goals in college or in the world beyond high school. This class will be based on field study and laboratories. This
is not an EASY science class; however, it will be an interesting and challenging one.
It is my belief that people learn more by doing than listening; therefore this class is an experience-based class. Lack of participation and attendance will jeopardize your final grade.
Course Outline
Ecology is an interesting, yet challenging
class, which will broaden your research skills, challenge your logical thinking, and open your eyes to the way the natural
world really is. During this semester you will be given tasks that will be challenging,
not impossible. It will be up to you to keep up with lessons. This class is a very structured class with a set schedule. Absentees
are non acceptable and any work missed will only be allowed to be made up on set days after school, or during home rooms. The main reason for this is knowledge and time that is missed.
Topics
Dendrology (trees), Mammology (mammals),
Ornithology (birds), Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), Icthyology, (fish), Silviculture (forests), Orienteering (compass),
Soil Conservation, Ropes, Natural Resources, Human Impact
Class Rules
- Any rules covered in the Student Handbook must be followed in this class
- If it is not yours, don’t mess with it unless you have permission to do so by the owner.
- Be respectful to everyone
- Take care of personal things before class (restroom, office, nurse, locker, etc.)
- Bring class materials with you to class.
- Be in the class ready to begin when the tardy bell rings.
- Keep classroom clean.
Required Materials
- A three ring binder with dividers and paper
- #2 pencils and black or blue pens
- Textbook (to be given in class) Environmental Science: a global
concern
- All students are required to have an Internet permission form properly filled out and turned in.
- 2 Floppy Disks (helpful, not required)
- Proper Cloths for labs
Grading System
There will be three different grading categories
in this class
Lab Grades: 45%
Lab grades are activities that will
test your hands on skills or research skills of the subject just covered. The
biggest majority of these grades are conducted individually, not as a group. However,
lessons and activities leading up to these major grades are generally done as group work, so that you may better understand
the lesson. In the past, groups that do not take the subject seriously generally
do not excel.
Many of these lessons and Labs are conducted
outside, and it is up to you to dress accordingly.
Test Grades: 35%
Test grades are simply a way to test your
knowledge on the subject or subjects covered during that unit. Anything covered
in lectures, reading, videos, activities, or notes will be possible on a test.
Quiz/class work/homework:
20%
Quizzes may be announced or
pop quizzes on anything covered, at anytime on any material recently covered. (Videos,
lessons, reading assignments etc.)
Class work is any brief assignment
issued and taken up during class or a participation grade assigned for effort given by the student.
Extra Credit (will replace a grade)
Every student at times would like to have
a second chance on an assignment. You will have the opportunity to bring up one
grade each grading period. All extra credit assignments will be a typed paper
of between 200 and 300 words about a topic dealing with ecology that is either in the news or was in the newspaper. The only grades that this assignment will not replace are 0’s.
In order to receive full credit, you must have this done at least five (5) days before the end of the grading period.
Final Exam: 25%
Your final exam will be a cumulative exam,
covering everything covered in class from day one.
How to Excel in this class
- Be present and attentive in class
- Do the assigned reading
- Do all of the assigned work
- Be willing to work
- Stay out of trouble
Weekly Schedules will generally be as followed
- Monday:
Lecture
- Tuesday:
Activity
- Wednesday: Activity
or Lab Test
- Thursday: Lab
Test, Unit Test,
- Friday:
Computer Lab, Video, Library, Guest Speaker, Group Activity
Other Important Information
- Make-up Policy- any make-up work must be done on your own time and not during class.
Make-up work may only be done before school or after school at the teacher’s convenience (You must give a day notice). See student handbook
- Any assignment not turned in will be recorded as a 0.
- Attendance and promptness is necessary to excel in this class
- Internet Permission forms are a must. Needs to be done by ___________
- No Late Work is accepted.
- Progress reports will be given toward the middle of every grading period
- If proper clothing is not warn for labs then the student must participate in the clothing he/she has on.
- ISS work is tougher than work done in class
- If in the event that a parent/teacher conference is requested, it is a must.
- Final grade is final for each grading period and Semester. (anything lower
than a 69.5 is an F)
