Objective: Promote Excellence in Ecologythrough Lab Investigations Andcutting-Edgeresearch

Objective: Promote Excellence in Ecologythrough Lab Investigations Andcutting-Edgeresearch

Objective: promote excellence in ecologythrough lab investigations andcutting-edgeresearch

Teacher: Jordan Lightfoot (Georgia Southern University College of Science and Mathematics)

Teacher, Academic Advisor, and Track Coach

Department of Science

Chapel Hill High School

4899 Chapel Hill Road

Douglasville, GA 30135

Phone: (770) 651 – 6338

Email:

Office Hours: immediately after school until 4:30pm

Course Materials:

  1. Class Materials:Course syllabus, pencils, and a three-ring binder with notebook paper
  2. Lab Materials: black/dark blue ink pen and a journal notebook (aka lab notebook)

**A personal set of lab safety glasses are optional

  1. Approved Calculator (cell phones, tablets, or other forms of technology are not allowed)

Course Description:

Environmental Science is an intricate study of the environment comprised of five units: energy cycling, ecosystem stability and change, effects of human population growth, human impacts on natural resources, and sustainability of resources. Your knowledge of the course will be assessed through five tests (a test for each unit) followed by an End-of Course exam at the end of the year.

Unit:Test:Title:Month:
Unit 11Flow of Energy in EcosystemsSeptember
Unit 22Stability in EcosystemsOctober
Unit 33Effects of Human Population GrowthNovember
Unit 44Human Impacts on Natural ResourcesDecember – January
Unit 55Sustainability of Energy ResourcesMarch

Resources:
Problem sets, lecture notes, lab procedures, teacher website, YouTube, and office hours

Agenda for Each Day:

Day 1.Warmup, Problem Set discussion, Lecture, and Reflection

Day 2.Pre-lab, Lab Procedure, and Reflection

Day 3.Warmup, Oral Defense, and Reflection (problem sets are due this day by 4:30pm)

Day 1: Lecture

Class will begin with warm-ups. Afterwards, we will discuss your problem set and answer any questions you may have. Lecture will consist of a summary, lecture,activities, a second summary, and questions. The lecture will be retaught at the end of class by another person for those who do not get it. Reflection will be a short session in which you reflect on what you learned.
Day 2: Lab Day
Labs will allow you to perform lab investigationsand innovative research while using lab techniques and standard safety practices. Before each lab, you must complete the pre-lab and read the full lab procedure carefully. Expectations for each lab include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Keep all personal supplies and chairs pushed under your desk; safety glasses, lab notebook, and an ink pen are all you need. For mistakes while writing, you should correct it like tis this.
  2. Complete the Pre-lab
  3. Move to your lab station quickly and quietly (work with your lab group only)
  4. Read the full lab procedure carefully
  5. Put on safety glasses; keep them on until you reach the last step of the procedure
  6. Know the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information for every chemical used in your procedure
  7. Report lab entries for each lab in your lab notebook (you will learn how to do this)

Day 3: Oral Defense
Oral defense will show your ability to communicate your knowledge on lab investigations and real-worldtopics. You will have a scoring guide for each defense. Recommendation: let the most volubleperson in the research group do the talking.

Grading Policy for the Year:
Your grade will reflect how you demonstrate knowledge and skill in the areas listed below:

Final Exam20%
Problem Sets (due on Day 3 by 4:30pm)30%
Labs and Tests50%
Total100%

90 – 100 A
80 – 89B
71 – 79C
70D
69 and belowF

Accommodations:
If there are any special needs or accommodations you will need, indicate them on a sheet of paper or index card and staple it to your syllabus upon submission. Let us make this a great experience!

Student’s Signature: ______Date: ______

Parent’s Signature: ______Date: ______

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