• Regents Earth Science Syllabus
    Mr. Robison’s Class     

    Welcome to the dynamic, earthshaking, thundering, stellar class we call Regents Earth Science!  We will mentally climb the highest mountains and dive into the deepest trenches to explore our vast, almost inconceivable universe. Be prepared for a very challenging class!
    Note: Your assignments and our daily agenda will be posted on Google Classroom and this website.
    Ensure you finish your assignments on time and submit them as done in Google Classroom.
    Materials: Three-ring Binder (2 inches), Composition Notebook (100 pages), simple 4-function calculator, earphones, pens/colored pencils/highlighters. You will probably need two composition notebooks for the year.
    Homework: Please bring your review books to class daily. You will regularly be given review book topic assignments. These are rather large assignments; you are typically provided at least a week to complete. A few days after your homework is assessed, you will have a quiz on the topic. The quiz will consist of random (but slightly altered) questions from your homework. Your quiz grade will count as your homework assessment. If you need help understanding the material, take the time to seek additional help before your homework quiz. Do not feel bad if you get incorrect questions on your homework, as the homework assessment is not taken for a grade. You will automatically be assigned academic detention if you do not finish your homework on time and receive a zero on the homework quiz if you do not stay after.
    Earth Science Journals: You will use a composition notebook to keep a class journal of activities and reflections as you work through Regents Earth Science. Occasionally, you can use your journals for your exams or assessments, so take good notes. You will also be given extra credit opportunities to go above and beyond our daily lessons to learn and reflect more deeply on these scientific concepts. 
    Please write neatly, express yourselves thoughtfully, and keep your journal safe.  If you lose your journal, you must make up for your missed work. These journal lessons will be available online for you to review for the end-of-the-year regents exam and to perfect your journals for their peer review assessments.
    Classroom Laboratories: We will investigate approximately 20 laboratories throughout the school year. These labs are required to take the Regents Exam at the end of the year. If you miss a lab because of your absence, you must make up that laboratory within one week. Be responsible for your laboratories; they will determine your eligibility for the regents exam. You must fulfill this requirement to take the regents!
    Quizzes: You will have quizzes on review book homework assignments, lab activities, and pop quizzes on class activities/demonstrations. Keep your journals handy and up to date, including any images or drawings. There may be times when you can use your journals on quizzes or even tests!
    Exams: You will have chapter exams on the topics covered in class about once a month. These exams are primarily composed of regents questions to become more accustomed to the end-of-the-year regents exam. I often give castle learning review assignments so that you can practice for these exams.
    Small-Group Presentations: Throughout the school year, you may need to design and present mini-science lessons for your classmates using Google Slides and Google Classroom. Each presentation should include an introduction, lesson, and summary.  I want to start the year by discovering astronomical phenomena! We only have a little time to spend on these assignments, but I find them worthwhile.
    End of the Year Regents Exam: Your final exam is the NYS Earth Science Regents for the Physical Setting. This exam counts for 40% of your last semester's average and must be passed to pass this class.  You can use a clean copy of the Earth Science Reference Tables for all your exams.  Be sure to bring your copy of the ESRTables to class daily, as we will be adding additional information to your copy.  Students must pass the Earth Science Regents exam and a passing class average to pass this course. 

    I hope you have an excellent school year.

    Mr. Robison