Introduction to Environmental and Agricultural Science
Course Syllabus, Fall 2018

I.  Course Description
This course has been designed to give you an overview of the science and business related to agriculture and natural resources nationally and locally. Additionally, we will explore leadership topics and FFA.

II. Instructor Information
Mr. Philip Simpson 
Phone: (308) 346-4150 at school, (308) 346-4225 at home
E-mail address: philip.simpson@burwellpublicschools.com
Best times to contact: 7:30-8:00 a.m. & 3:15-4:30 p.m.

III. Instructional Materials
Texts: 			“Agriscience: Fundamentals and Applications,” 
“The National FFA Student Handbook” 
“Other Various Resources”

Required Materials:	Each student needs to have a: 
3-ring folder for notes and handouts
Pen or Pencil
1 Subject – Notebook
Calculator from time to time

IV. Course Outline

Class Topic							Text

Welcome to class						none
FFA/Leadership – public speaking & meeting people	none
FFA/Leadership – parliamentary procedure			Robert’s Rules & FFA
Animal Science – species, breeds, anatomy			NE Livestock handbook
Animal Science – livestock industry				NE Livestock handbook
Animal Science – livestock selection				NE Livestock handbook
Animal Science – breeding, genetics, reproduction		NE Livestock handbook
Introduction to FFA and SAE					none	
Ag Careers, SAE and Record Books				AgriSci, Unit 4
FFA – activities and programs				FFA Student Handbook
Natural Resources – range management			NE Range handbook
Natural Resources – plant identification			NE Range handbook

V.  Grading		
Student’s grades will be determined as follows:
100% --- Daily assignments, projects, test and quizzes and effort (clean-up) 

VI. Homework	
Due to the class nature most work will be completed during class time.  However if you are absent or there is an assignment I will announce if it is due at the beginning or end of the next class. (if you are in doubt, assume that it is at the beginning of class.) If you do not have your homework in on time, you automatically lose 25% of the points and have until the beginning of the next class meeting to turn it in. If it is not turned in at that time, you lose all credit for that assignment.  

Some assignments are important enough to your success in this class that I believe you
must complete them and I will make arrangements with you to insure that you do.

If you miss class, we will follow the procedure in the student handbook. If it is lab 
activity, you will be required to make up a related assignment since the lab or field trip 
may not be reproducible.

VII. Course Content
FFA is a key component of Agricultural Education and students enrolled in agricultural education courses will spend a great deal of class time preparing for various FFA events.   Examples - - Range Judging – Study Plants, Livestock Judging – Judge classes and give oral reasons, LSE’s – preparing and presenting public speeches/demonstrations, SAE’s  - Students will work on record keeping and preparing applications.   

VIII. Classroom Procedures
Student expectations are outlined in the expectation contract handed out by the instructor.  This contract must be read and signed by the student and a parent/guardian and returned to the instructor.