Chemistry & Agriscience
Dual Enrollment (AGRI 221)
Course Description: Chemistry & Agriscience is a dual enrollment laboratory physical science course and is the concentrator course in a series of classes in the Agrisciences CTE Pathways. Students will be involved in hands-on laboratory experiences and receive an in-depth look at various concepts in chemistry and its relationship to soil science, specifically matter and energy, the periodic table, bonding, chemical reactions, and chemical bonding. Throughout the course, students will be graded on participation in intracurricular FFA leadership activities as well as the development and maintenance of an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.
Units Covered in Class: (click here for a link to the Expected Learning Outcomes & Skills)
Unit 1: Experimental Design & Scientific Methods
Unit 2: Metrics & Dimensional Analysis
Unit 3: Atomic Structure
Unit 4: The Periodic Table
Unit 5: Soil pH & Plant Growth
Unit 6: Chemical Bonding
Unit 7: Chemical Reactions
Unit 8: Stoichiometry
Unit 9: FFA Leadership Activities & Involvement
Unit 10: Supervised Agriculture Experience: SAE Project Planning & Record Keeping
Welcome Golden Eagles!
I am excited to begin my 27th year of teaching with all of you! I am anticipating a year filled with hands-on learning, growth, laughter, memories and much more! Together we will strive to work hard and learn new information, celebrate achievements, serve each other and our community! I invite you to embrace the opportunities this year brings and develop respect for the changes that come our way! I am here to support you, so please email me and sign up for my interventions whenever you need! My door is always open!!
Why is FFA Part of the Class Grade?
By being in an agriculture class, you get to be a FFA member! It is an honor to be a part of the National FFA Organization and a member of the Del Oro FFA! State law says that FFA activities are intracurricular, not extracurricular and is therefore an integral part of the course learning objectives! This experience can positively impact your life by providing opportunities for personal growth, career success and leadership development!
Opportunities in the FFA are abundant and we suggest that students plan ahead to get involved as your schedule allows.. Each student can help us with our chapter fundraisers, join or lead a committee to plan and host our major community-wide events, attend monthly chapter meetings, socials and hang-outs and help with our community service events! Students will log their time in the AET each week & submit progress reports monthly!
What is an SAE Project & Why is it Graded?
The Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Project is a student-led planned project that is designed to provide students with valuable experiences and hands-on skills in the various industries surrounding agriculture and natural resources. It has the potential for students to engage in entrepreneurship opportunities, service learning projects, agriscience research projects, internships or job placements that they might be interested in!
Students will be using the online AET record book each week to develop their project idea, set learning objectives, plan a budget, record their weekly/monthly work hours, log financial expenses & income, and utilize the resume feature, which they can access at any time when they are ready to apply for a job and/or college! We hope that you see this as an opportunity to do something NOW for the future!
Class Grading Policy
Chemistry & Agriscience has 10 ELO’s and each is considered an individual unit of study within the course. 8 of those units are directly related to Chemistry & Agriscience and 2 are directly related to the Agricultural Education requirements of hands-on learning (SAE Projects) and leadership development (FFA activities).
In Aeries, the course ELO’s (units of study) are created as categories in the Gradebook and have equal weight in the course, with the exception of the SAE Project and FFA Leadership Development (each having approximately half the value of the other ELO units of study).
For instance, each of the 8 units of studying chemistry are each worth 11% of the total grade, the SAE Project is worth 6% of the course grade and the FFA Leadership development ELO is worth 6% of the total grade)
Homework, classwork, participation, some quizzes, small projects, group work, and quick labs are considered Formative assignments and encompass 30% of the grade in each unit of study.
Unit tests, some quizzes, critical labs and more in-dept projects are considered Summative assessments and encompass 70% of the grade in the each unit of study.
Students must pass each ELO studied and assessed in class to achieve a passing grade. I will provide accommodations for 1 retake on all summative assessments.
In the event that a students earns less than a total of 70% of the ELO’s assessed in the class, the grade will show up as a F throughout the term. At the end of the term, the grade will either become categorized as an “Incomplete” and showing up as an “I”, OR the grade will be an F if the total percent falls below a 60%. If the student receives an “I” at the end of the semester, they will have up to 4 weeks after the course has ended to improve the grade to a D or higher.
Dual Enrollment: Sierra College Dual Enrollment (Academic Enrichment) textbooks are chosen by Sierra College and/or the course instructors. PUHSD has no involvement in the selection process and does not evaluate the courses' textbooks, curriculum, or supplemental materials.
The Placer Union High School District (PUHSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. PUHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, disability, parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex, sexual orientation, military or veterans status, homelessness, foster status, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws consistent with Education Code 200 and 220, Government Code 11135, and Title IX.
If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying you should contact Title IX Coordinator (Students) Steve Caminiti 13000 New Airport Road, Auburn, 530.886.4402, scaminiti@puhsd.k12.ca.us; Title II (Students) and Section 504 Coordinator Carrie Warda, 13000 New Airport Road, Auburn, 530.886.4443, cwarda@puhsd.k12.ca.us; and/or Title IX and Title II Coordinator (Staff), Elena DalFavero 13000 New Airport Road, Auburn, 530.886.4426, edalfavero@puhsd.k12.ca.us.
Del Oro High School’s Technology & Cell Phone Policy
All electronic devices (cell phones, Chromebooks, tablets, etc.) are only to be used for academic purposes during instructional time as determined by the teacher. Inappropriate use may include text messaging, storing phone numbers, AirDropping, checking the time, taking a photo, playing a game, being on social media, etc. Student use of cell phones, or any other recording device, without the prior consent of the teacher may disrupt and impair the teaching process, and such use is prohibited and the student subject to disciplinary action. Electronic devices such as earbuds/AirPods must be taken out at the teacher's request to ensure students are attentive to the presented lesson. Misused cell phones/electronic devices will be confiscated and brought to the Assistant Principal.
Be sure to read the details of the Del Oro High School Cell Phone policy linked here, as they will be enforced!
Cell Phone Policy
“Disconnect to Reconnect”
*Contact teacher individually for special circumstances!
Important Links to Access
@deloroffa
Text @deloroffa to 81010
National FFA
website
Other Classroom Policies:
Bathroom use: With teacher permission you may INFREQUENTLY use the restroom 15 min. after the block begins up until 15 min before class ends. & take a hall pass with you, use only the designated bathroom. WASH YOUR HANDS, and return to class in a timely manner!
Food & Drinks: There are times when food is ok in my classroom, but you must ask to eat in class and clean up after yourself. Water bottles ONLY!
Seating Charts: Seating charts will be created and adjusted by the teacher; you must sit in your assigned seat each day until the teacher decides upon a new chart
Academic Integrity: The use of AI is helpful in seeking answers to questions, it is NOT to be used to replace your own writing or independent work. Cheating will NOT be tolerated; the administration and your parent will be contacted!
Tardy Policy: The school wide tardy policy will be enforced. You will receive a warning after 2 tardies, a phone call home after 4 tardies & if you are late to class 5 times, you will be reported to the admin and receive a cut!
Accessing the Course Curriculum: The majority of the course content and learning materials will be accessed through Canvas. ALL students will be required to use this platform to submit their electronic work, take tests and quizzes, and to stay connected to the class information!
Student Expectations:
*Access the class agenda on Canvas DAILY!!
*Turn in all work in a timely manner, including make up work! Once you take the unit test, NO late work from that unit will be accepted!!
*Use AI as a tool to help you learn, but do NOT use it to replace your own work!
*Prepare for all tests and labs to reach the learning target the first time!
*Attend interventions to improve and retake assessments for learning targets!
*Ask questions and get clarification on class topics and grades!
Access the FFA Calendar & Plan Ahead!!
*FFA Requirement: 10 hours of involvement in at least 3 different activities!
STRIVE | INVITE | SERVE | RESPECT | CELEBRATE