Essentials of Geography
Mr. Dyrdahl
Email: [email protected] Phone: 320-629-4138
Course Description
This class will focus around the ideas of Cultural, Economic, Political, Human, Religious, and Physical Geography with the basis of the 5 themes of geography. Students will be looking at the relationships and connections that each of these have with one another and their effects on the people of a region.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Unit 1: 5 Themes of Geography
Unit 2: Political Geography
Unit 3: Economic Geography
Unit 4: Religious Geography
Unit 5: Human (Cultural) Geography
GRADING SCALE
A= 93-100% A- = 90-92.9% B+= 87-89.9% B=83-86.9% B- = 80-82.9% C+ = 77-79.9%
C= 73-76.9% C- = 70-72.9% D+ =67-69.9% D= 63-66.9% D- = 60-62.9% F= 0-59.9%
RESOURCES
*Parents/Students—If you have any questions regarding any materials or subjects covered in this class please contact the teacher to set up a meeting to discuss curriculum or use alternative assignments.
GRADES
50%--Daily Work, Homework, and Participation 50%--Tests/Essays/Projects
(Quarter 1 + Quarter 2) /2 = Semester Grade
A portion of classroom work will be self-evaluated and then be graded by the instructor to ensure credibility. Self-evaluation is an important part of both the maturation process as well as the ability to look at oneself in a non-biased fashion and know/understand what has/has not been accomplished.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Most students surveyed each year say they work best without distractions. If during class a student is interfering with another’s ability to learn they will receive two chances to change their behavior before they will be asked to leave the classroom. Consequences (detentions and behavior contracts) will be utilized if students are removed on multiple occasions. The exception to this rule is if a student is doing something to threaten other students physical, mental, or social well-being. During project time students will be asked to not distract themselves or others..
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Cheating has become a major concern at Pine City High School. Students taking this course are expected to abide by an academic honor code. A copy of the honor code is attached to the syllabus below. Violation of the honor code will trigger a notification of parents, the guidance counselor and principal. Consequences will result in at least a “0” for a unit, if not failure & repeat of the entire course.
Honor Code
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY is integral to the educational process in order for students to strive to make the most of their educational opportunities and for teachers to trust that work completed and evaluated represents the efforts of the student in question. Consequences are harsh in college for students caught plagiarizing. Often times the students is expelled.
To comply with the Honor Code, the student will avoid academic dishonesty and refrain from cheating or plagiarizing in all forms including these:
Copying the work of another student.
Allowing one’s work to be copied by another student.
Using unauthorized materials on a test or project.
Using unauthorized electronic devices on a test.
Obtaining unauthorized copies of materials, information, or knowledge prior to taking a test or completing a project.
Claiming credit on a group project for contributions that were nonexistent or below requirements.
Falsifying, being paid for, or forging any academic document.
Failing to list sources used.
Failing to indicate that material in a paper came from one of the sources.
Following the wording on the original source too closely when paraphrasing.
Using the ideas of another without proper citation.
Changing some of the author’s words by retaining his/her ideas and/or sentence structure without citing.
The student will furthermore report to the instructor any incidence of another student in class violating the Honor Code.
Technology Use
Technology will be used throughout this course in several different entities including but not limited to computers, laptops, tablets, and cellphones. It is the expectation that these devices are being used for education/class related needs. Examples of non-education/class related technology use includes but is not limited to social media, music, games, and inappropriate websites/images. Students who choose to use technology inappropriately can result in consequences ranging from a warning, to a detention, to loss of privilege to use technology. All students will be required to sign and agree to a classroom technology user agreement form to use technology.
Late Work/Make-Up Work
To help ensure that all students have as many opportunities to succeed as possible, the following provisions will be administered in this course:
Late Work—Any assignment turned in after the due date/time is considered late unless previous arrangements were made between teacher and student. Students may turn in late work for 50% credit until the end of each quarter.
Make-Up Work--Extension Slips are available at the back of the room for late work. If a student turns in an item late they must fill out this slip before turning in an assignment. Credit granted will be determined via a conversation between student and teacher.
1:1 Device Policy
As a member of a 1:1 program, it is your responsibility to bring your device to class each day charged and ready for use. Failure to do so will result in your being sent to the Media Center to receive a violation. If your device is in need of charging it will be kept and charged for the remainder of the class hour or until it reaches 50%. It is your responsibility to pick it up between classes. Loaner devices are available only for devices that are mailed in for repair.
Violation #1 - Warning Violation #2 - Detention
Violation #3 - Detention and loss of privilege to take device home for the period of 20 school days.
Mr. Dyrdahl
Email: [email protected] Phone: 320-629-4138
Course Description
This class will focus around the ideas of Cultural, Economic, Political, Human, Religious, and Physical Geography with the basis of the 5 themes of geography. Students will be looking at the relationships and connections that each of these have with one another and their effects on the people of a region.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Unit 1: 5 Themes of Geography
Unit 2: Political Geography
Unit 3: Economic Geography
Unit 4: Religious Geography
Unit 5: Human (Cultural) Geography
GRADING SCALE
A= 93-100% A- = 90-92.9% B+= 87-89.9% B=83-86.9% B- = 80-82.9% C+ = 77-79.9%
C= 73-76.9% C- = 70-72.9% D+ =67-69.9% D= 63-66.9% D- = 60-62.9% F= 0-59.9%
RESOURCES
- Sociology And You by: Shepard and Greene (Glencoe)
- Essentials of Geography by: Christopher Salter and Charles Kovacik (Glencoe)
- CNN Student News, The Week Magazine, Channel 1 News, and Flocab
- Teacher generated handouts, transparencies, worksheets, and activities
- Various online resources
- Motion Pictures-The Gods Must Be Crazy, A Bug’s Life, The Lion King, Wall-E (including but not limited to)
- Segments from a variety of geography related videotapes, documentaries, and motion pictures which are available for viewing from the instructor at any time
*Parents/Students—If you have any questions regarding any materials or subjects covered in this class please contact the teacher to set up a meeting to discuss curriculum or use alternative assignments.
GRADES
50%--Daily Work, Homework, and Participation 50%--Tests/Essays/Projects
(Quarter 1 + Quarter 2) /2 = Semester Grade
A portion of classroom work will be self-evaluated and then be graded by the instructor to ensure credibility. Self-evaluation is an important part of both the maturation process as well as the ability to look at oneself in a non-biased fashion and know/understand what has/has not been accomplished.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Most students surveyed each year say they work best without distractions. If during class a student is interfering with another’s ability to learn they will receive two chances to change their behavior before they will be asked to leave the classroom. Consequences (detentions and behavior contracts) will be utilized if students are removed on multiple occasions. The exception to this rule is if a student is doing something to threaten other students physical, mental, or social well-being. During project time students will be asked to not distract themselves or others..
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Cheating has become a major concern at Pine City High School. Students taking this course are expected to abide by an academic honor code. A copy of the honor code is attached to the syllabus below. Violation of the honor code will trigger a notification of parents, the guidance counselor and principal. Consequences will result in at least a “0” for a unit, if not failure & repeat of the entire course.
Honor Code
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY is integral to the educational process in order for students to strive to make the most of their educational opportunities and for teachers to trust that work completed and evaluated represents the efforts of the student in question. Consequences are harsh in college for students caught plagiarizing. Often times the students is expelled.
To comply with the Honor Code, the student will avoid academic dishonesty and refrain from cheating or plagiarizing in all forms including these:
Copying the work of another student.
Allowing one’s work to be copied by another student.
Using unauthorized materials on a test or project.
Using unauthorized electronic devices on a test.
Obtaining unauthorized copies of materials, information, or knowledge prior to taking a test or completing a project.
Claiming credit on a group project for contributions that were nonexistent or below requirements.
Falsifying, being paid for, or forging any academic document.
Failing to list sources used.
Failing to indicate that material in a paper came from one of the sources.
Following the wording on the original source too closely when paraphrasing.
Using the ideas of another without proper citation.
Changing some of the author’s words by retaining his/her ideas and/or sentence structure without citing.
The student will furthermore report to the instructor any incidence of another student in class violating the Honor Code.
Technology Use
Technology will be used throughout this course in several different entities including but not limited to computers, laptops, tablets, and cellphones. It is the expectation that these devices are being used for education/class related needs. Examples of non-education/class related technology use includes but is not limited to social media, music, games, and inappropriate websites/images. Students who choose to use technology inappropriately can result in consequences ranging from a warning, to a detention, to loss of privilege to use technology. All students will be required to sign and agree to a classroom technology user agreement form to use technology.
Late Work/Make-Up Work
To help ensure that all students have as many opportunities to succeed as possible, the following provisions will be administered in this course:
Late Work—Any assignment turned in after the due date/time is considered late unless previous arrangements were made between teacher and student. Students may turn in late work for 50% credit until the end of each quarter.
Make-Up Work--Extension Slips are available at the back of the room for late work. If a student turns in an item late they must fill out this slip before turning in an assignment. Credit granted will be determined via a conversation between student and teacher.
1:1 Device Policy
As a member of a 1:1 program, it is your responsibility to bring your device to class each day charged and ready for use. Failure to do so will result in your being sent to the Media Center to receive a violation. If your device is in need of charging it will be kept and charged for the remainder of the class hour or until it reaches 50%. It is your responsibility to pick it up between classes. Loaner devices are available only for devices that are mailed in for repair.
Violation #1 - Warning Violation #2 - Detention
Violation #3 - Detention and loss of privilege to take device home for the period of 20 school days.