Environmental Studies

There are four “big picture” questions that students examine during this class.

     1. What is the relationship between living members of the community to each other?

     2. What is the relationship of  the living community to the physical environment?

     3. What is the impact  of human activity on the natural environment?

     4. What is my personal relationship to the environment?

There are four main units:

            I. Management of natural resources/White-tailed deer

            II. Ecology/Moose

            III. Wilderness/Wolf

            IV. Winter/Black bear

Students produce a wide variety of items to be evaluated including writing pieces, drawings, labs, and tests. Several assignments will be going at once and students are expected to turn in all assignments on the due date for full credit. A checklist of items is included with each unit.

Many labs will need to take place outdoors so proper clothing and preparation are essential. Clothing recommendations will be demonstrated in class. Since some of this course will happen during the winter, many outdoor activities and labs will focus on the adaptations to winter of the organisms of Minnesota.

Grading: Home work = 10%, Labs = 25%, Quizzes = 25%, In class work = 40%

Grades:    F        D         C-         C         C+       B-         B         B+       A-          A

(total %) 0-45    46       53          59        65        71        77         83       89          95

Class Procedures and Policies

Behavior:

            * Treat others in positive ways.

            * Act in a manner conducive to the learning. Six behaviors make it easy to learn:

                        Act respectfully

                        Act with awareness

                        Stay flexible

                        Be mellow

                        Be decent

                        Be honest

Guidelines for behavior as well as consequences are spelled out in the student handbook

quite specifically.

Rules:

            * Request permission prior to getting a drink or using the bathroom.

            * Remand your phone prior.

            * Eat or drink NOTHING unless specified the previous day.

            * Report any accidents immediately.

            * Clean up thoroughly after labs and other activities.

            * Generally, just don’t mess with stuff.

Grades:

            * Look at the syllabus/weekly schedules to see when items are due.

            * Turn in assignments on time.

            * Turn in items to the proper hour’s basket or directly to the teacher.

            * At least as often as once a week, check your grade on line and get missing assignments done!