Class Information

Living Environment Course Description

Living Environment is a class that stresses inquiry and explores living organisms and their interactions. The class is meant to prepare you to sit for the Living Environment Regents Exam.

Both content and skills will be covered in this course. There is a separate lab period every other day that is required for the class. Labs must be completed to achieve the number of lab hours that enables you to sit for the Regents exam. The labs will be calculated as part of your grade for the class.

Regents Exam:

Students will be taking the LE Regents Exam in June. We will be preparing for this exam all year. Lab hours must be met to be eligible to sit for the exam.

Grading Policy

Tests – Tests will be mostly multiple choice and short answer questions. This reflects the format of the Regents exam to help you prepare for the test in June.

Quizzes - Usually based on homework and notes.

Homework and classwork assignments - These will be evaluated with a variety of methods including spot check, collection, discussion and unannounced quizzes based on assignments.

Lab (20%) – This portion of your grade will be evaluated by the lab instructor. The score will be calculated as 20% of the class average at the close of each marking period.

You must keep a lab folder with all of your completed work. The work needs to be in the folder. The work counts towards your lab hours required to sit for the NYS LE Regents Exam. If the lab requirement is not met, students will be denied entrance into the Regents Exam in June and will repeat the course.

Your lab instructor will go over the specifics of the lab portion of the course.

Homework policy

Homework is assigned when necessary to reinforce or support class material.

Late homework will not be accepted because it is reviewed in class the day it is due. Students who have not completed the assignment are encouraged to follow along as we review so they do not miss a valuable learning opportunity.

Class Expectations

1. Cell phones are a distraction to learning. They must be silenced and put away. The school electronics policy will be followed.

2. You are responsible for getting notes and completing assignments if you miss class due to absence. The notes are available from me during 9th period or from other students. If you are absent the day of a test or a quiz, you have one week to make it up.

3. Your work is expected to be your own.

4. If you know you will be out of school for an extended period, please arrange in advance to obtain the work from me.

5. A separate laboratory folder is required for official documentation of completed laboratory work. Keep all corrected lab reports in this folder. The labs and reports are not to be taken from this folder without the permission on the laboratory instructor. The NYS Education Department considers your lab folder to be a legal document, so treat your folder with respect.

6. You are expected to have the required materials in class.

7. Please be on time for class. The beginning of class is often the most important for understanding the lesson. If you need to use the restroom, it is best to wait until there is an independent work period so that you don’t miss instruction.

Supply list

Composition notebook

3- Ring Binder

Pencils

Colored Pencils

A highlighter may prove useful as well.

Course Curriculum

Major course themes:

· Scientific Inquiry

· Cellular Organization (unicellular and multicellular)

· Cellular Processes

· Body Systems

· Reproduction and Development

· Genetics

· Evolution

· Living things and the Environment (Ecology)

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