TITLE: Conservation
COURSE NO: (S) 0314
OFFERED: 1st and 2nd Semester
Teacher: Mr. Stanley Classroom Number: 2103
Contact Information: email – stanleyd@tantasqua.org
voicemail – 1566
Extra-Help Night Wednesday
Course Description: This hands-on, project-based course is designed to provide students with an overview and understanding of the science underlying horticulture, forestry and conservation biology. Special emphasis is placed on agricultural systems because food crop production is the foundation of civilization as we know it. Other natural resource based occupations and activities in Southern New England are covered as well. Subjects include plant science, agronomy, entomology, pest control,
horticulture, soil science, forestry and conservation biology. Instruction will involve considerable outdoor time under all but the most extreme conditions. Class work will include lectures, presentations, group discussion, computer based activities and laboratory investigations, in addition to the field experiences.
Course Objectives Students will:
• Continue to acquire knowledge of the methods of scientific inquiry.
• Acquire a basic knowledge of how food and fiber are produced in Southern New England and the rest of temperate North America.
• Analyze problems of sustainability regarding the subjects listed above in the course description.
• Responsibly engage in outdoor learning activities. • Be able to connect the subject matter to everyday life. Academic Expectations from the school Mission Statement:
• Assume responsibility for academic achievement.
• Acquire, interpret, analyze, integrate, and apply information in a discerning manner.
• Demonstrate the ability to use technology appropriate to the subject area. • Exhibit the ability to read, write, and communicate.
Reading Materials:
Primary textbook:
Biondo, R. J., Lee, J. S. (2003), Introduction to plant and soil science and technology. Interstate Publishers, Inc., Danville, IL.
Supplemental readings and resources:
Botany and Horticulture
Essenfeld, B.E. et al (1996), Biology. Addison – Wesley, Menlo Park, CA. Baker, W. et al. (1992) Plant growth and reproduction. Center for
Occupational Research and Development, Waco, Tx.
Alexander, P. et al. (1986), Biology. Silver Burdett, Morristown, NJ.
Conservation
Enger, E.D., Smith, B.F. (1998). Environmental science: a study of
interrelationships. WCB McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Blair, R.B., Ballard, H.L. (1996), Conservation biology: a hands on introduction to biodiversity. Kendall/ Hunt Pub. Co., Dubuque, IA.
Insects and Pest control
Bioquip Products, Inc. (2000), How to make an insect collection.
Gardena, CA.
Hoffman, M.P., Frodsham, A.C. (1993). Natural enemies of vegetable
insect pests. Cornell Cooperative Extension Publication, Ithaca, NY.
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/index.html
Johnson, W.T., Lyon, H.H. (1991). Insects that feed on trees and shrubs. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY
Jacques, H.E. (1947) How to know the insects. WM.C. Brown Company, Dubuque, IA.
Forestry
Watts, M.T. (1998). Tree finder: a manual for the identification of trees by
their leaves. Nature Study Guide Publishers, Rochester, NY.
Watts, M.T., Watts, T. (1998). Tree finder: a manual for identifying
deciduous trees in Winter. Nature Study Guide Publishers, Rochester, NY.
Martin, J. et al. (1997). University of Wisconsin forestry fact sheet series.
University of Wisconsin Department of Forestry and University of Wisconsin Extension (UWEX), Extension publications, Madison, WI. http://forest.wisc.edu/extension/forfact.htm
Ketchum, R.M. (1970). The secret life of the forest. American Heritage Press, New York.
Farb, P. (1961). The forest. Time Incorporated, New York. Course Outline:
Fall
1. Introduction
2. Plants as living organisms 3. Pest Control and Insects 4. Plants and their environment 5. Plant Science
7. Soil Science 8. Crop Production
9. Project/ Term Paper: Survival Garden 10. Forestry
Spring
1. Introduction
2. Plants as living organisms 3. Plant Science
4. Plant cultivation
5. Plants and their environment 6. Soil Science
7. Crop Production
8. Project/ Term Paper: Survival Garden 9. Forestry
10. Pest Control and Insects
Grading/Evaluation of Learning:
Notebook/ Portfolio: Students are expected to maintain a well organized notebook: there must be a place for hand-outs and corrected work. I will expect you to keep lecture, laboratory and activity notes, as well as the work sheets handed out in class.
Labs, Outdoor Activities and Projects: Laboratory safety requires that you know what you are doing. Therefore, a written pre-lab that includes a summary of procedures may be assigned before each lab is begun. Each student is responsible for his or her own written work. My observations of your preparedness and work habits, both inside and outside, will determine the participation part of your lab grade. When the class performs a formal field study, it is the student’s responsibility to write out all parts of the study based on instructor comments and class notes.
Homework/ Seatwork: Expect written assignments every week based on readings and other activities. Most will occur during class time. Lab reports may require some time at home.
Grading: Quarter grades will be calculated as follows:
Activity Type Points per Assignment Percentage Tests & Quizzes 10 to 100 40%
Labs, Projects & Activities
30 to 100 30%
Notebook, Written
Assignments, homework
5 to 50 15%
The mid-term exam is worth 1 exam grade; the final exam is 10% of the final grade.
Make-up Work: It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for assignments missed due to an excused absence. Please approach me or the co-teacher near the end of class, between activities or after school so that we may give you our full attention. In the meantime, check the whiteboard or consult with your neighbor.
Expectations: Students are expected to arrive in class on time and prepared to learn. Anything that interferes with my (or any otherteacher’s) instruction may result in a detention. If another teacher or aide gives a detention to a student while in my class, I will enforce it (and add one of my own). My
detentions involve a special writing assignment and silence or will be considered as not served. Detentions not served, cutting class, smelling of smoke and insubordinate behavior will result in administrative action.
Materials: Students are expected to bring a working writing implement (a pencil or pen with black, blue or green ink), paper and a notebook. Repeated failure to do so means you are not prepared to learn (see Expectations above)
Examinations: Tests and quizzes are based on readings, class notes laboratory investigations and field studies. Open response questions appear on all tests and most quizzes. Exams are given at or shortly after the end of units or sub-units. Retakes are handled on a case by case basis and depend on the effort put into the first attempt.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity provides the foundation for educational achievement and personal growth within Tantasqua’s school community. Integrity guides the choices which lead toward honesty, respect, and responsibility. A student with academic integrity gains knowledge through hard work and honest effort. The result is genuine accomplishment and learning.
Academic Integrity promotes:
• positive relationships based on trust
• work that reflects one’s own best effort
• respect for the intellectual property of others
• responsibility for one’s own actions
• real learning
Violations of Academic Integrity
Violations of academic integrity include cheating and plagiarism.
Cheating is an unacceptable form of behavior. Real learning stops when cheating begins. It casts a shadow of doubt on the credibility of a student’s academic performance preceding the cheating incident, and may have an effect on how people perceive the student for the consideration of future honors, awards, or letters of recommendation.
Test or homework dishonesty is the use of any means not specifically accepted by the teacher to obtain answers to a test, quiz, or homework assignment. Test or homework dishonesty includes giving, receiving, passing, or using in any way
specific information about the test, quiz, or homework assignment, whether in oral or written form.
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, ideas, or facts as if they were your own, without giving credit to the original source. Plagiarism may occur in any medium, including written composition, oral or artistic presentations, and technology. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. During the first weeks of school, teachers will clarify their specific policies on plagiarism.
Consequences
A student found in violation of academic integrity may face one or more of the following consequences:
• loss of credit for the assignment/paper/test, and a grade of zero
• notification of parent or guardian
• disciplinary referral to the assistant principal and resulting penalty Repeated violations of academic integrity will result in:
• a meeting including the student, parent(s) or guardian(s), teacher, counselor,
and/or an administrator
