Homework Due September 4th

Textbook

Read and take notes on Chapter 3 in Cliffs  

Make sure you understand the bolded words in the text and consider researching further anything you don't understand. 

Study

Review the quizlet on last weeks materials

Observing the Skies

Scientific Method

Project

Choose a topic and begin work on your upcoming project from a topic discussed in the first 4 chapters of the Cliff book. 

Essay/Report

Speech/Visual Presentation

Filmed Experiment/Demonstration

If you have another type of project you would like remember to ask me for teacher approval

If you have any questions just let me know

Reminder

Wanted to send a reminder to make your first payment.

Looking forward to class.

Homework Due August 28th 2012

Textbook

Read and take notes on Chapter 2 The Science of Astronomy 

Make sure you understand the bolded words in the text and consider researching further anything you don't understand. 

Study

Review the quizlet on last weeks materials

History of Astronomy

Project

Choose a topic for your upcoming project from a topic discussed in the first 4 chapters of the Cliff book. More information on the project will be announced next week. 

If you have any questions just let me know

Summer To-Do and Homework

I am looking forward to the first day of school. Completed the following things before the first day of school. These should not take more than a few minutes. 

1. Subscribe to class blog. Use the feature on the left called “follow by email” Submit your email address to receive an automated email when new assignments and articles are posted on the class blog. You will need to confirm your subscription to each blog. If you need help with this just let me know. You may prefer using an RSS reader to follow the blog.

2. Make sure I have your preferred email.

3. Accept my invitation to a shared Dropbox folder for convenient way to turn in homework and receive additional support materials during the course. (Optional but highly reccomended)

4. Review the following posts and complete any necessary steps. 

• Required Materials- Make sure you come to the first class prepared. 
• Make sure you have purchased all of the astronomy materials. You may find it helpful to bring the materials to class but this is optional.
• Extra Credit- Keep your eyes for extra credit opportunities which will sometimes be labeled E.C. throughout the year.
• Late Work Policy- Make sure you are familiar with the policy. 
• In Class Activity Rubric- Review what will be expected in-class and during in-class activities. 
• Student Notebook - Review and come to class with the required supplies set up in your notebook.

5. Homework- 

• Read Chapter 1 "A Brief History of Astronomy" in Cliffs Astronomy
• Take notes making sure to leave room to add additional notes during in class lecture.

Looking forward to a great year!

Required Materials

These are the materials used in this class

Cliffs Astronomy

Taking Back Astronomy

Spark Chart Astronomy

Discovering Computers 2010 (or newer)

Additional materials are recommended for those interested in taking the DSST or CLEP exams. Ask me for further details.

Student Notebook

You will need to come to class with your Student Notebook ready to begin note taking.

You need a binder with six tabs (or tabs inside another subject binder)

Tabs:

• History/Observation
• Solar System
• Milky Way
• Stars
• Galaxies/Universe
• Important Papers

binder should be filled with college ruled notebook paper

You will also need to bring the following weekly to class

• pencils
• pens/highlighters
• colored pencils (optional but highly recommended)
• Notes from previous weeks reading.

Extra Credit

Opportunities to complete extra credit projects will appear periodically throughout the year.

• Projects are due the next week unless otherwise stated.
• Projects will be eligible for 10 points unless otherwise stated.
• Projects will be graded on how well you met the requirements of the projects, quality, and creativity. 
• Questions about the projects can be directed to me mid-week. 
• There is no limit to how many different projects a student can complete in the year. However, you can only complete each project once. 
• Projects have the same due date as other projects. 

Late Work Policy

The late work policy for Astronomy and Computer is as follows.

• The due date for any electronic assignment is the Monday before class.
• Any electronic work needs to be readable by my computer or it will not be counted as completed.
• All work has to arrive in my email inbox or dropbox folder before 8:00 PM on the Tuesday it is due. 

• The due date for paper work is the day of class. 
• I am not responsible for work that a student forgot to turn in.

• If homework is one week late a 10% penalty will be applied to the work. 
• If homework is two weeks late parents will be notified and a 30% penalty will be applied to the work.
• If homework is three weeks late the homework will not be counted as complete. 
• These rules apply except for at the end of the semester and if work does not arrive before the grade-book closes work will not be counted as complete.

In Class Activity Rubric

Points	1	2	3	4	Total
Adequate Time Spent on Activity	Student spent too much time or too little time on the class activity	Student spent too much time on parts of the class activity	Student spent an adequate amount of time on the class activity to ensure good results	Student spent an adequate amount of time on the class activity to ensure the best results
Effort	Student put little to no effort towards the class activity	Student put little effort towards the class activity	Student put a good amount of effort towards the class activity	Student put a great deal of effort toward the class activity
Completion of Task	Student completed less than ½ of the class activity	Students completed about ½ of the class activity	Student completed about 80% of the class activity	Student completed all of the class activity
Directions and Participation	Student poorly listens to and follows the directions and adds to class discussions	Student listens to and follows the directions and adds to class discussions in a positive manner occasionally	Student listens to and follows the directions, adds to class discussions in a positive manner most of the time	Student listens to and follows the directions and adds to class discussions in a positive manner
Understands Concepts and Applies Concepts	Student does not demonstrate knowledge of concepts when   completing assignments and does not apply concepts to assignments and situations.	Student  demonstrates knowledge of concepts when completing assignments and applies concepts to assignments and situations that follow occasionally.	Student demonstrates knowledge of concepts when completing assignments and applies concepts to assignments and situations that follow most of the time.	Student demonstrates knowledge of concepts when completing assignments and applies concepts to any assignments and situation that follow all the time
				Total Points (20 points possible)

Astronomy and Computer Science Course Description

Class Title – Astronomy and Computer Science

Class Description

8^th-12^th grade students will examines scientific exploration of the universe and the technology that surrounds us. During this two-semester course students will study the earth, the planets of our solar system, stars, quasars and deep space. While studying, students will be exposed to Darwinian/Evolutionist and Christian/Creationist views on the origin of our universe and the celestial bodies and learn to marvel at the creation God has made.

Also during this course students will learn the science behind the technology they encounter daily. Understanding computers is necessary for any 21st century student. They will discover the development and use of computers: computing history from the abacus to the supercomputer, from Babbage to Gates, from IBM to the iPhone, from spam to Trojan horses and from the ARPANET to telecommuting.

Upon completion of this two-semester course, motivated students should be able to take the college credit earning DSST Astronomy and DSST Introduction to Computing. Additional materials may be recommended for students who desire to take the DSST tests. Both classes can act as a science credit on a high school transcript.

Grade Level(s) 8-12

Curriculum Required

Astronomy (Cliffs Quick Review)

Astronomy (SparkChart)

Taking Back Astronomy –please purchase the latest edition

Discovering Computers- please purchase the 2010 version (or newer)

Prerequisites: none

Class Days/Hours: Tuesdays/10:30-12:00

Start Date: August 21, 2012

Tuition $21.00 per student per 4 weeks for 32 weeks ($168 total)