Disclosure

Hello, and welcome to your new favorite science class, Earth Science!

My name is Matt Affolter, and I am excited to teach you all about this world that we live on.

To contact me, email mdaffolter@graniteschools.org.

Earth Science has four main topics/units:

• Space, including how the Universe formed, how our solar system formed, and we will wonder if and where aliens could exist
• Plate Tectonics, including how and why the Earth's outer layer moves around, and the results of these movements like earthquakes
• Water, including what makes water special, how water ecosystems work, and how the ocean moves water around
• Weather, including measuring weather, tracking weather fronts, climate zones, and climate change

I have two main rules in my class. I ask that you think and I ask that you treat others with respect. Think about what you are doing, and actively put your mind and effort to it, and you will be great. Respect is important to have in a class with equity. Every human deserves respect, so please give it liberally.

There are 5 main ways to earn your grade in this class.

1. Starter points: Everyone gets 5 points per week for being ready, at the start, and working on your starter. It is participatory, not graded for ability or correctness. I use starters as a way to get ready for assessments. Not doing the starter or not being ready for the starter at the start of class will result in losing a point from the weekly total.
2. Classwork: This mainly stems from work in your class notebook. It is graded two (2) points per page. Notes pages will be graded on summaries and questions. Pages will be graded periodically, with or without warning.
3. Quizzes: Quizzes will be done 2-6 times per unit (less in ESL classes, more in normal/honors classes) and usually have 10 questions. Quizzes can be retaken, usually after school. Each question is worth three (3) points.
4. Exams: Tests/exams will be given at the end of each unit and the end of the year. They can also be retaken. Each exam question is worth five (5) points.
5. Projects: Projects are sporadic throughout the class, with the main one being the Make A Planet review project toward the end of the year. Points will be delineated with each project.

All work is subject to the end of quarter deadline, in which no more work graded on that quarter will be accepted. Unexcused late work will have a 10% per week deduction, capped at 50%. I will remove points based on the penalty. For excused absences, late work will be able to be turned in with no penalty, as long as it is turned in with a reasonable time frame after the return of the student. Please let me know as issues arise BEFORE they occur in order to avoid late penalties!

The class calendar will be mainly on canvas. For class topics, only A days will be shown, but due dates will be shown on B days. Assignments still may be due on A days for A day students and quizzes/tests may still be taken on A days. I reserve the right to move items around on the calendar as need arises.

Check mraffolter.com for info. Quizlet is a good resource for class vocabulary, and my page is found at quizlet.com/mraffolter. Please keep up to date with canvas, the calendar on canvas, and assignments on canvas to keep your grade up!