Course Syllabus: The Living Enviornment Lab

Instructor: Aaron Pascucci

School Year: 2014-2015
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Course Description:
The lab portion of The Living Environment is designed to provide students with relevant
hands on experiences that enhance the content presented in the classroom. Throughout the year,
students will participate a number of different activities that will model concepts and provide a
deeper understanding of core concepts. Participation in these experiences is designed to develop
basic laboratory skills such as operating specific laboratory equipment as well as develop critical
thinking strategies.

Course Format
The lab portion of The Living Environment is primarily a hands on experience. As with
all scientific experimentation, students will be required to maintain a laboratory notebook of their
experimental procedures and results. This notebook will serve as the sole repository for their
work.

Grading Policy
Lab activities are a required component of The Living Environment class; as such they
comprise a 30% portion of your total science grade. In addition, failure to complete the required
laboratory investigations to a satisfactorily level will make you ineligible to take the regents
exam in June.

Students will be required to maintain a laboratory notebook of all their work. This notebook will
be kept on file as required by the New York State Education Department. The work completed
in this notebook will make up the majority of your grade.

Each lab will be composed of two grades.
1. A pre-lab assignment - This assignment will be completed as homework and is expected
to be completed before your designated lab time.
2. A finished lab report

In addition lab reports, students will be graded on their participation and as needed periodic
assessments.

Materials
Pen
Pencil
Composition Notebook
Student:_________________________________________