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Neurons Pumping Mental Iron

Tell Me About Earth Science	Tell Me About GeoScience
Who is RockFossilMan?	How Will Grades be Calculated?
Why Study the Earth?	I'm Into Neatness!
Write and Speak Clearly	Tutoring and Extra Help
Extra Credit Work	Parental Contact
Classroom Manners	Textbooks and Equipment
Absence, Tardiness, Discipline	RockFossilMan's Pet Peeve
Classroom Computers	Calculators
Computer Use for Assignments
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Academic Earth & Earth Science Honors

Earth Science at Tulpehocken Area High School is a one-credit, required course for all Sophomores. The course emphasis is on geology and its relationship to mountain-building, weathering, erosion, the environment, natural resources, hydrology, astronomy, meteorology, oceanography and map studies. Performance assessments and laboratory activities are included to provide an active learning environment for the students. The addition of individual laptop computers for each student, our receipt of the GIS/ESRI Software Grant and our participation in the iGIS Watersheds program offered by the National Science Foundation and University of Maryland’s Appalachian Laboratories allow us to use computer technology as a research tool in solving practical scientific problems.

GIS and the Environment (Offered 2008-09)

This course is offered to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. Students will survey, collect and download data, then design their own maps on a laptop computer with the help of state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) technology such as ArcView 3.2a and ArcGIS 9.1. Scion Image software will be used as an image analysis tool as well. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices will be used to gather data to be used in the creation of a GIS project. Students in this class will have the opportunity to participate in a mapping project on the Marine Science Consortium field trip to Wallops Island, Virginia. Students will complete a presentation that integrates ArcGIS 9.1 mapping software, PowerPoint, video and photos they have created.

Who is RockFossilMan? Welcome to the strange world of RockFossilMan. I am Mr. Emanuelson. I teach Earth Science and GeoScience at Tulpehocken Area High School. I am married with five grown children, 2 grandsons and another grandchild due in February. I graduated from Penn State with a BS in Education and Wilkes University with a Masters in Classroom Technology. I also earned my Certificate in ArcView 3.2 mapping software from the University of Montana . After teaching for nine years at Peters Township High School in suburban Pittsburgh, and substituted for several years in schools near DuBois, PA. This is my seventeenth year in "Turtle Country". Let me tell you a little bit about my approach to teaching Earth Science and GeoScience.

My Philosophy of Education? Living IS Learning I try to encourage my students’ natural curiosity about what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell in the world around us. We are unique beings placed in what appears to be a unique location in the Universe. Trying to know and understand more about our place in that Universe is what keeps me going.

Why Study the Earth? Earth Science, GIS and GeoScience are among the most relevant of subjects taught in school today. The topics covered deal with issues that students are likely to encounter as teenagers and as adults. What minerals are in short supply today? Is the ozone hole really a hole? How long will our oil reserves last? Is sea level rising? How does acid rain affect us? How does computer technology help us search for answers to these questions? How are maps and remote sensing used to study these questions? Was Pennsylvania’s Drought of 1999 really that bad? As droughts go, how bad was it? Will another occur again soon? Are trees a truly renewable resource? These are just a few of the questions that are discussed in these courses--all issues that affect our day-to-day lives.

How Will Grades be Calculated?

GRADE CALCULATION--To calculate your percentage grade at any point in time:

Add the total of all points scored on all tests, quizzes, worksheets, participation, labs, homework, Study Point assignments to get your Actual Point Score.

Add the total number of points possible on all tests, quizzes, worksheets, participation, labs, and homework assignments to get your Possible Point Score.

Divide the "Actual" by the "Possible", then multiply by 100% to get your Current Grade.

Current Grade =

Actual Point Score/Possible Point Score X 100%

PROGRESS REPORTS—Individual grades are available online at www.tulpehocken.org Your parents can follow the instructions to view your week-to-week progress. At mid-quarter, you will receive a grade report to review with your parents after I have checked it for accuracy. This progress report will list all grades for the current quarter and your average grade year-to-date.

I'm Into Neatness! All work must be presented in a neat, orderly and legible manner--now is the time to develop good work habits. Sloppy, crumpled or hard-to-read materials will be returned with a grade of "0".

Computer Use for Assignments Assignments completed on a computer must include a hard copy and a disc copy.

Classroom Computers These are to be used for assigned activities only. Change no settings unless doing so is part of the assignment. Students who misuse these computers will lose their computer privileges.

Calculators Calculators are a must in a science class. Have one with you every day. It does not have to be a scientific calculator. You should already have developed basic math skills and understand basic operations so that you can use a calculator for in class work.

Write and Speak Clearly Employers, bosses, customers and others (even teachers) are conscious of whether or not you speak and write correctly. I pay attention to your use of the English language. Although it does not generally affect your grade in this class, I will make corrections of your spoken and written work. Consider this one of the "perks" of being in Earth Science Class.

STUDY POINTS—In the Earth Science Courses, with each topic studied, I offer extra credit points for certain written assignments from the textbook. These include Critical Thinking Questions and Concept Review Questions. Students who do their Study Point Work consistently get better grades on tests-these problems are an excellent study tool if you truly try to find the correct answers.

Tutoring and Extra Help Everyone needs extra help now and then. I am available to offer tutoring immediately after school some days as well as during some Study Halls. Advance warning is needed so that I may arrange my schedule accordingly. After-school tutoring is available in Room 208 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 PM.

Parental Contact Parents need to be informed of your progress. I welcome any questions from your parents concerning your work. They may call the High School Office (610-488-6286) and leave a number and time where they may be reached. I will return their call promptly. I can also be contacted at vemanuelson@tulpehocken.org via email.

Classroom Manners My expectations as to your behavior in the classroom are very simple--do nothing that will distract yourself or others from the lesson at hand. Come to class prepared: v Pencil ready, text, calculator and notebook out and you in your seat before the bell rings v Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking v One person at a time may leave their seat during class discussion to sharpen pencil, get paper, etc. without asking permission-just don't be a distraction in the process.

Absence, Tardiness, Discipline Your "Student Handbook" spells out Tulpehocken's rules about these topics very clearly. I go "by the book" in these matters.

Textbooks and Equipment The cost of these items comes ultimately from your family's pocket. It is common sense that you should be interested in being careful with materials and equipment for which you have paid. If you detect any damage to equipment you are given to work with, inform me immediately so that I will not hold you responsible for that damage when the equipment is returned.

RockFossilMan's Pet Peeve (We all know I have only one pet peeve!) All written work in this class is to be completed neatly in #2 black pencil. This includes, tests, quizzes, homework, labs, extra credit, study points, etc. The one exception to this is work that is done on a word processing program on a computer--in which case you must turn in both a printed copy and the disc.

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