• Mr. Triantafillou

    Physical Setting - REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE: 2023-2024
    Roy C. Ketcham High School                
    Course Number:           Credits: 1        
    Prerequisites: Successful completion of Living Environment
    Classroom: 299                       

    Course of Study:
     
    Physical Setting Earth Science is a New York State Regents course that requires extensive study time in the classroom, laboratory, and at home.  Learning will take place both individually and in a cooperative classroom environment, with an emphasis placed on performance and problem-solving techniques.  Multiple learning styles are present in this class, so instruction will take place using a variety of methods.  All students will be required to join an Earth Science Google Classroom that will be utilized both in and out of the classroom.  

    The following topics will be covered throughout the year: (not necessarily in this order)

    1. PROLOGUE: (measurement, use of Reference Tables, density, scientific notation, etc.)
    2. PLANET EARTH (its size, shape, structure, mapping the surface) 
    3. MINERALS ROCKS and RESOURCES (identification and analysis) 
    4. THE DYNAMIC CRUST (earthquakes, volcanoes, continental drift, plate tectonics) 
    5. WEATHERING, EROSION, DEPOSITION, and LANDSCAPES (glacial processes, soils, streams) 
    6. INTERPRETING EARTH’S HISTORY (dating techniques, fossils, past events) 
    7. PROPERTIES OF THE ATMOSPHERE (study of weather, atmosphere, wind, clouds) 
    8. WEATHER SYSTEMS (synoptic weather maps, weather prediction, and natural hazards) 
    9. WATER CYCLE AND CLIMATES (water cycle, insolation, and climate) 
    10. EARTH IN SPACE (motions of celestial objects, constellations, angle of insolation, seasons) 
    11. BEYOND PLANET EARTH (moon phases, eclipses, orbits, gravity, solar system, universe) 
    12. STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PLANET (human influences, pollution, resource management) 

    Lab Requirement: 

        You will be in lab every other day.  During a laboratory session, students must be prepared to work for the entire length of two normal periods (about 90 minutes).  All students taking Regents Earth Science must complete a minimum number of laboratory investigation hours.  This is a New York State requirement.  You will be notified if any lab reports are missing each marking period.  All required lab work must be completed and be acceptable by May 24, 2024 or the student will not be allowed to take any portion of the Regents Exam in June.  Simply put, the completion of lab work is not optional; it is the essential learning mechanism for this course. Note: All labs missed due to absence are to be made up within one week of the return to school.

    Evaluation: Students will be evaluated each quarter through various means:  

    Student Class Performance        Quizzes & Tests                Laboratory Reports        Homework Assignments         Earth Science Projects            Extra Credit Projects

    This course requires you to put extra time and effort into your academic studies.  Lab work turned in early or on time will be eligible for the maximum point value.  Late labs will be reduced in value!  Students who miss a lab due to absence are responsible to make immediate arrangements with the teacher to schedule a make-up date & time.  Late homework will be reduced in value, unless they are due to absence, which then must be made up within a few days of return to class.  Grades are assessed equally for all students, so you alone are responsible for your grade.  Always try to do your best and achieve as much as possible. 

    Final Course Grade: 

        The final course grade will be determined by averaging the final grades from quarters 1 through 4.  Therefore, each quarter will be worth 25% of the final course grade.  


    Materials Needed Every Day:
     
    3 ring binder to keep earth science materials
    Folder
    Pen and pencil in working order    
    A notebook or loose-leaf in binder    
    Earth Science Reference Tables (provided)

     

     

     

     

    Conduct: 

    We will be working within the confines of a cooperative learning classroom and mature, responsible behavior is expected at all times. During class, your hoods must be down, any food put away, and your phones/earbuds/devices in your bags. Students will cooperate if they wish to remain in this classroom setting.  Certain labs require the use of sharp objects and/or chemicals.  Hence, there is absolutely no tolerance given to horseplay or other immature behavior.  Warnings will not be given for this, so be aware of your behavior at all times!

    Regents Exam Structure: 

    The NYS Physical Setting: Earth Science Regents Exam will have the following structure: 

    PART A: Content-based, multiple-choice questions (25-35% of exam, usually around 35 questions) 
    PART B: Multiple choice and/or short, constructed response (20-25% of exam, usually around 15 questions) 
    PART C: Extended constructed response items (involves real-world situations and current events; students will be asked to 
      assess, interpret, graph etc.) (20-25% of exam) 
    PART D: Laboratory Performance Test - based on lab techniques students have learned to do during the year.   This portion of 
      the exam is given first, usually around the first week in June. (10% of exam) 

    Since Part D will take place first (date to be announced) students must meet the minimum laboratory hours requirements as set forth by New York State prior to the date of Part D, or the student will be barred from taking any part of the exam.  Since Part D is typically given the first week of June, all lab reports must be submitted by May 24, 2024.

    Again, if the student has not completed the necessary lab requirement, then the student will not be allowed to take the Regents Exam this year.  To achieve Regents credit, a student must achieve an overall grade of 65 or higher in the course and also pass the Earth Science Regents Exam per New York State Education Department guidelines.


    Please sign the Student/Parent Agreement below and return to Mr. Triantafillou
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    STUDENT/PARENT (GUARDIAN) AGREEMENT

    WE HAVE READ THE EARTH SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE AND THE GRADING PROCEDURE.  WE UNDERSTAND THE CLASS REQUIREMENTS, GRADING PROCEDURES, CLASS RULES, AND STUDENT EXPECTATIONS.  AS A STUDENT, I AGREE TO DO MY BEST ALL YEAR LONG AND TO APPLY MYSELF AT ALL TIMES, AND TO GET MY WORK DONE ACCURATELY AND TURNED IN ON TIME.  I ALSO AGREE TO ALWAYS BE HONEST AND NEVER COPY ANYONE ELSE’S WORK.

    STUDENT (please PRINT): ____________________________________________________________________

    STUDENT (please SIGN): _____________________________________________________________________

    PARENT/GUARDIAN (please PRINT):___________________________________________________________

    PARENT/GUARDIAN (please SIGN): ____________________________________________________________

    DATE: _______________________________

                        Mr. Triantafillou’s Contact Information

    Office: 298-5100 ext. 31065, Room 297                            Classroom: Room 299
                           Email: christopher.triantafillou@wcsdny.org