GUIDE TO SUCCESS FOR MARINE SCIENCE

Mrs. Doherty-Koch Building 100 - Room 210

E-mail: dohertyd@citrus.k12.fl.us Website: crhspiratescience.weebly.com

Welcome to Marine Science! This is a challenging course that will require you to work hard, be an active participant and ask for help
when you need it. This class also requires the use of a classroom iPad every day (these do not leave the classroom) or a student issued iPad (the
ones you check out each year in grades 9-11). I promise to do my best to help you succeed and to help you learn about the interesting world of Marine
Science. I am always available to talk to if you ever have any problems or questions. I want you to succeed in this class! Please read everything
below carefully then sign and return the bottom portion of the last page to me. Thank you!

CLASS OVERVIEW:
In this class we will be covering many topics including physical, chemical, biological and geological oceanography. The instruction of this
class will utilize alternative teaching techniques whenever possible (iPads, PowerPoint presentations, Videos, lab demonstrations, Prezi
presentations, etc.) to better engage students in the material. We will also be doing some flipped classroom assignments. Students will utilize a
classroom iPad daily for assignments, to access notes, complete classwork/projects and to take tests and quizzes. This class will also include
taking class and observational notes, learning scientific vocabulary (including spelling), learning how to identify various local species, the utilization
of scientific articles for discussion, reading science texts, field experiences(s) (dates vary per class), writing based upon scientific research and
various small projects throughout the course. While this class does not have a state mandated EOC (End of Course Exam), there are two District
EOT Exams (End of Term). These are given as finals during the last days of each quarter.
This course also requires hands on work with aquatic creatures in our classroom tanks and in the field which can include: fish, shellfish
and other marine invertebrates. Please be aware of this in advance in the event you or your child is not comfortable with this. Field experiences are
mandatory.

COURSEWORK:
For this class we utilize the textbook Life on an Ocean Planet. Students will receive a copy of this textbook that can be left at home, but is to be
utilized for studying and homework assignments. This textbook MUST be returned before the end of the semester or the student may face
fines, restriction from school activities and, for seniors, a hold placed on their diploma.

The course is divided up into two parts:

General, Physical, Chemical & Geological Marine Science Biological Marine Science and Human Impact
on the Ocean
This will be covered in Quarter 1 and may include: This will be covered in Quarter 2 and may include:
Chapters: 1, 2, 13, (10, 11, 12), (8, 9), 16 *( ) are chapters done in units. Chapters: 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 18

1
BE PREPARED EVERY DAY FOR CLASS BY HAVING:
Science binder with folders for handouts, your syllabus & homework
Pens and #2 Pencils (have extras!) labs, graphs and scantrons done in pencil only
Loose-leaf paper for your binder (make sure you have enough for the classs entirety)
Earbuds for use with the iPads
A responsible attitude and respect for yourself, your classmates and your teacher

KEEP GOOD ATTENDANCE & MAKE UP WORK PROMPTLY:

Everything we do each class is important to your Marine Science grade, so missing class means missing a lot.
If absent, log on to Edmodo.com, the class website and Skyward to see what you missed and check the Missed Work bin when you return
and copy notes from a classmate. Missed work MUST be made up (this includes homework, tests, quizzes and classwork). It is your
responsibility to make it up when you get back I will not seek you out to make up YOUR missed work.
Late work will receive a 10 point deduction per day it is late from the overall graded total (ex. if you earned a 90 on an assignment that is a
day late you would get an 80).
Missed tests, quizzes and labs must be made up the day the student returns to school. The student is responsible for coming to the teacher
if a test or quiz is missed before or after class only. If you are absent the day before a test, you are still expected to take that test the
same day as the rest of the class. Tests dates will be posted on Edmodo, on the board, the calendar in the room. It is your responsibility
to keep track of when your tests are and when your assignments are due.

SPECIES OF THE DAY (SOTD):

There will be a PowerPoint slide up every day at the beginning of class with a picture of a Florida species of marine animal or plant. When
students come they will take notes about the species using the format provided and conducting research using the iPads. This will need to be in a
separate section of your binder (or on your Evernote account). Remember, you will need to identify this species later so take detailed notes. There will
be weekly quizzes about the species. I will put up a picture without any information and ask you to identify the species (it may not always be the
same picture you saw initially) using only your own notes (if you do not have your notebook you can either take the quiz without it or take a 0 for
the quiz I will drop the one lowest grade only!). Monday will be the quiz for the species from the weeks before (subject to change based on school
holidays). Essentially, you are making your own field journal as to what you see in the wild of this classroom. These notes will be submitted for a
grade. **If you are absent you need to ask another student for the notes. You will be expected to take the quizzes whether you were
absent or not the week prior. Being absent is not an excuse for not having your SOTD notes!

CLASS PROJECTS:

There will be small projects that come up throughout the course. These will be announced with at least a weeks notice before they are due. They will
be a variety of assignments such as: a mini research paper on a specific species, a video project, a physical diagram project, etc. Most of the work on
these projects will be done in school, but some will require time spent at home to complete them. Please keep due dates in mind.
2
QUARTER PROJECTS:

There will be two quarter projects you are responsible for in this course (one per quarter) - these will be discussed in detail in class. Quarter projects
can consist of research papers, field reports, student created research or PSA videos, class presentations, etc. or students can choose to participate in
the science fair. Students that participate in science fair will complete one project, rather than two (one per quarter).
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; use (another's production) without crediting the source.
("Plagiarism - Definition from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. 2012. Web. 02 Jul. 2017.
http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarism)

Please remember: Copying another students work is plagiarism. Also, if it is on the internet someone
else wrote it. Please DO NOT copy and paste from the internet it is stealing. You must cite your
sources correctly in your bibliography and using citations throughout your paper. If you are unsure of
how to do this, http://easybib.com is an excellent source. Please also keep in mind, Google, Bing!,
Yahoo!, etc. are not sources; they are search engines. You must tell me the websites you accessed using
whatever search engine you used to find that source.

HOMEWORK:
There will be multiple homework assignments given for each chapter we cover in class. These assignments are directly from the Are You Learning?
questions in the textbook. To receive full credit for the assignment, students must write out the number of the question, the question,
the correct answer and the letter of the correct answer. Answers can be checked in the back of the book to ensure you have completed the
homework correctly. These assignments WILL be collected on announced due dates. Students can hand them in up until the day of the test for that
chapter with no points taken off. Once that test day has passed (whether the student is absent on the day of the test or not), 10 points will be
deducted from the students final score on the assignment per chapter that assignment is late. Homework should always have a students name,
block number and the page number of the assignment clearly written on the page.

FOLLOW CLASS EXPECTATIONS TO AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES:

1. Be in your seat with your binder opened (or iPad opened to Evernote) and working on the SOTD before the late bell rings:
Coming in late to class and excessive absences will severely impact your grade and can also result in referrals and parental contact.
Coming in unexcused after 15 minutes of class has passed is an automatic referral as per school policy.
2. Respect your and your fellow classmates opportunity to learn: Raise your hand for questions and comments. Listen quietly when
someone else is speaking. Interruptions, disrespect and bullying in any way are not tolerated and will result in a phone call home, referral
and possible removal from class.

3
 3. Respect our classroom equipment, furniture and materials: It is wrong to deface, steal or abuse other peoples property. Please
leave these things in the same condition or better than you found them and do not misuse equipment. My pens, pencils and paper are not
here for you to use every day or steal they are my property that I have to loan to students that forget, lose or run out of supplies as a
courtesy. They are not for everyday use come prepared!
4. Equipment in this science classroom is not to be touched, handled or used without my permission: The equipment in this lab
can be dangerous and costly to replace, therefore it is not to be touched without my consent. If this occurs, it will result in an immediate
referral.

5. Put music players, headphones (unless being used for an assignment), cell phones and games completely away before
class starts: If they are visible (whether on or off ) or heard, this will result in parent contact, followed by a referral school policy.

EXTRA HELP & EXTRA CREDIT:

I am available for extra help after school most days. I am willing to stay after with any student that needs help understanding the course
material, assignments or to help prepare for an upcoming test. Please make arrangements with me before planning to come for extra help.
Extra credit is available to every student. Extra credit is not a substitute for missing work. All work must be made up BEFORE extra
credit is accepted. Students have the option of doing one extra credit project per quarter. The extra credit project must be indicated as such
BEFORE grading. Extra credit opportunities will also arise throughout the class and will be announced as needed.

GRADE EARNED:

Tests 40% Total Class Grade:

80%

Projects 10% District End-of-Term Exams: 20%

Quizzes 10% _________________________________________________________________________

Classwork, Labs 10% Total Grade: 100%

Homework 10%

Remember: there is nothing to stress out about if you do the work and come to class
prepared.
Images on this syllabus were accessed from http://disneyclips.com

4
 This syllabus should remain in your binder or folder. Please do not lose it.
**Please return this page to me after reading the syllabus, signing it and having a parent/guardian sign it as well. Thank you!

Parents/Guardians,
I look forward to working with you and your marine science student this semester! I will do my best to keep you
informed about your childs progress. The best way for me to keep you as informed as possible is by e-mail or via Skyward so
please keep that in mind. Please fill out the information below, detach at the line above and have your child return it to me by
th
August 14 indicating that you have both read and understand the syllabus. The rest of the syllabus should remain in their
binder. Please keep in mind that keeping up with Skyward is a great way to monitor your childs progress in this class. I will be
sending home grade updates via e-mail (and paper at times). Please make sure you have a valid e-mail address in Skyward. If
you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (e-mail is best). Thank you for your assistance! I look forward to talking
to you!

Student Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Signature: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Block #: ________________
Parent/Guardian(s):______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian(s) Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Contact Information (please print):

E-mail (best way for me to keep in contact with you):_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Type (circle one): Cell Home

Best time to reach you:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preferred Contact (circle one): Phone E-mail

I understand my child will be responsible for using an iPad responsibly in class (circle one): Yes No

5
Anything I need to know about your student:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________