Earth Science Honors Experiences Overview
Earth Science students are provided a unique opportunity to receive honors designation for completing long-term science experiences in the field of Earth science. Honors Experiences enable students to study one area of Earth science in greater depth than is required by the New York State Physical Setting: Earth Science Regents core curriculum. This is the philosophy behind the honors designation accepted universally by higher education institutions. Successful honors experiences can be used to satisfy the requirements for honors designation in Earth science and are recorded as having completed an honors course on each students high school transcript which are evaluated by colleges and universities when students apply for admission. This honors designation is not counted into the grade for the course. However, students who are failing for any quarter during the year are automatically disqualified from receiving honors designation on their transcripts, regardless of level of completion of the honors experience.
Students work in two-student teams. Groups of two-student teams will collaborate on specific projects for the purpose of creating larger topic projects. However, the two-student team is required to complete their tasks separately from the larger group. Two-student teams may be made up of other middle school Earth science students from other periods.
As described in the New York State Science Standards, "It should be a goal of the instructor to encourage science process skills that will provide students with background and curiosity to investigate important issues in the world around." Likewise, Standard 1 - Analysis, Inquiry, and Design "where students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions" are the fundamental principles by which Honors Experiences are based. Complete Honors Experiences inherently call upon higher order thinking.
Given that most Earth changes are gradual, Honors Experiences are generally long-term in design and require a longer investment of time. A successful Honors Experience can be used to satisfy the requirements for Honors Designation in Earth Science. The Honors Experience must include a long-term experience working to better understand a specific area of Earth science. There are 3 main areas of understanding that lend to this type of experience; Climate Change Science, Meteorology, or Astronomy.
The Climate Change Science Program (click here for more information) involves critical review of climate science research and the creation of a documentary-style video of climate change science that will serve as an instructional tool that other students can learn about climate change science. Student teams will present their instructional video at the science symposium at the end of the year.
The Students As TV Meteorologist Program (click here for more information) involves students creating a video production of the process of forecasting as well as creating regular broadcasted public video forecasts. Student video production of the forecasting process is presented at a science symposium at the end of the year.
The ‘Live’ Planetarium Program (click here for more information) involves the development of a ‘Night Sky’ presentation for the BCES and/or CHES Elementary Students in the MS/HS auditorium. This presentation involves heavy reliance on astronomy software, computers, and LCD projectors. Students must narrate their show as an interactive presentation of the night sky and use music to set the tone for an out-of-this-world experience for young learners.
DEADLINES
The Honors Experience choice form must be made by Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 and must be completed by the specific check point times throughout the year.
STUDENTS MUST PRINT THE FORM (click this link) AND GET SIGNATURES OF A MINIMUM OF ONE PARENT PER STUDENT ON ONLY ONE FORM.
An Experience must achieve a score of at least 75% (or 3 out of 4) to receive Honors Designation.
A student whose class average drops below passing at any time during the school year is disqualified from the Honors Experience program. Incomplete projects do not receive Honors Designation
Honors Experience must be completed by April 1st, 2012 or sooner. Science Fair Entry's must complete their project following Honors' Experience Guidlines and Guidelines set by the Champlain Valley Science Fair's Guildelines. All Honors Experiences must be completed by the specific check point times throughout the year as indicated on the specific Honors Experience outline. Honors Experiences cannot be changed after November 1st.
The Science Symposium is held over three days from Monday, April 30th through Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Complete information about deadlines is available on the individual Honors Experience description sheets handed out to students at the beginning of the school year. Additional information is available at Honors Experiences link http://EarthScienceIsCool.net