Mike Brown
The following information is for anyone wanting to know about my science classes, teaching methods, grading systems, and class expectations.
Courses taught:
Physics. This subject deals with the basic laws of nature; students will learn about kinematics (motion and force), energy, thermodynamics, waves (including sound and light), electricity and magnetism. The labs are all related to the material covered and include roller coaster design, projectiles, wave tables, colors and lasers, circuits, and polarity.
Chemistry. This subject covers the relationships between matter and energy; students will learn about atoms, molecules, bonding, reactions and reaction rates, electron configuration, gas laws, the mole and stoichiometry, types of reactions, thermal energy, equilibrium and redox. The class is “lab-heavy” and there are plenty of chances for students to explore chemical principles. I try to show at least one “cool-chemistry” demo every week.
Earth Science. This subject is essentially geology, with some meteorlogy and astronomy too! Students will learn about the Earth’s energy budget, spheres, maps, rocks and minerals, tectonics, natural resources (petroleum, metals, sand), natural hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes), weathering, water, the weather, geologic history, and the galaxy and universe. It’s a lot to cover in a semester! Labs and activities are an integral part of the curriculum and we even get to take a field trip to the local geologic “hot spots”.
AP Environmental Science. This course is offered to students who want a feel for what a college science course is like (I taught a few years at Fresno State and National University). Students will learn the human impacts on our environment: water and air pollution, endangered species habitats and preservation, population control, effective resources management, including soils, and the human interactions with our oceans. Students will read a lot of material and the class is a combination of effective writing strategies, lecture, discussion, and labs that stress modeling.
Grading System:
40% quizzes and tests, research projects; 40% assignments, labs and activities; 20% interactive notebook.
Expectations:
When a student completes a science class, they will have a better understanding of the world around them. They will have fun and learn much more than they would have expected. I don’t expect students to memorize facts and figures, but to learn tools they can use later to find out the information for themselves.