Aquatic Science

Course Outline

Aquatic Science is the study of the largest portion of the surface of the earth.  71% of the earth is covered by the oceans.  In the first semester, the formation of the oceans, the physical make-up of the ocean, and the chemical make-up will be studied.  In the second semester the study will shift to life and ecosystems in the oceans.

Major topics to be presented are:

• Earth and Ocean Formation
• Physical Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography
• Ecology
• Ocean Conservation
• Life in the Ocean

Course Syllabus

• Prerequisites are Biology I,Chemistry, and Physics.
• Aquatic Science is an advanced level lab science course dealing with the formation of the oceans as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of the ocean and its inhabitants.  
•  Assignments will be collected via the turn in procedures and dates on Schoology
•  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out about and complete your make-up work.
• If you are absent on a test day or the day before test day, you will take the test the day you return to class.
• Tardiness will be counted and action taken.
• If you are absent on a day when a quiz is given, you may take it the following morning before school.  Quizzes which are not made up at that time will have 20% deducted from the grade.  Grades will be assigned based on the following:

      50% =Major grades: chapter tests and lab practicals

      50% =Daily grades; homework, quiz, and lab grades which include grades on the     aquariums.

• Students are responsible for the set up and care of a marine aquarium through the school year.  This includes the purchase of fish, gravel, Instant Ocean (salt) and food.  They will be working in groups during this activity.

Five Most Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When do we get to work on our aquariums?
2. Do we fail on the aquarium if our fish die?
3. Do we get to dissect anything?
4. What kind of stuff do we study?

5.  Can we collect from the ocean or freshwater for our aquariums?

Answers to Questions

1. There will be days of the week designated for work on the aquariums.  The room will be open before and after school for students to come in and work on their aquariums.
2. Fish die and usually it is no one’s fault.  No, you do not fail if the fish die, but you are responsible for the maintenance of the aquarium.  Keep it clean and stocked with fish.
3. We do dissect.  During the spring semester we will dissect and shark.  This is required and major grades will be taken.
4. Aquatic Science will include a variety of topics which will include a wide range of scientific disciplines, such as: Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, and Physics.
5. Yes, students may collect from the Gulf of Mexico,Brazos River, or other fresh water bodies of water  to get specimens for their aquariums.  

Aquatic Science Supply List

BYOD - Bring Your Own Device

Notebook paper

Pen

Pencil

Map Pencils or Crayons

Aquarium supplies you will provide

fish

fish food