8Th Grade Integrated Science s2

7th Grade Integrated Science Course Guidelines / Disclosure Mrs. Harris 2016-2017

Philosophy Come prepared to work hard and have FUN! We will focus on SKILLS you will need for success in adult life – things like interpreting data, creating charts and graphs, communicating, and thinking logically.

Basic Learning Format We will conduct 8 units of investigation. Each unit will consist of engaging demonstrations or stories, hands-on inquiry, reading, recording observations, gathering data, and making inferences. We will keep a record of our experiences in a science journal (composition notebook) and these will be graded. Each unit will end with a big test which you will take online through the district’s Moodle system. Preparation will be a part of your grade, and you can make up missing or poorly done work, but you CANNOT make up preparation. We will not learn from a textbook, but we will learn how to find credible information on the Internet.

Late Work / Vacation / Extended Illness If you miss a class, please check the blog http://blog.wsd.net/aharris/ to find out what we worked on that day. If you cannot get things finished by the notebook due date, please come talk to me so we can work out a plan. I try to be as flexible as possible if you are making an EFFORT to learn.

Expectations / Consequences You are expected to abide by the school-wide policies. There is only one other rule for science class: Show Respect - to others, to the classroom, and to yourself. If you violate the rules, there will be a consequence. The consequence will be determined by the severity of the infraction.

Technology We will be using the Internet extensively for games, virtual labs, video, assignments, tests, and research. We will also use graphing programs and other apps. If you do not have Internet, please come talk to me. In addition, we will use electronic devices during class. If you have a device, please bring it and use it WHEN INSTRUCTED and AS INSTRUCTED. If you are using your device at inappropriate times or in inappropriate ways, there will be a negative consequence.

Movies We will watch episodes of Bill Nye the Science Guy, Mythbusters, Nova, Nature, Building Big, and portions of several movies. Thse include: Shrek, Ice Age, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Finding Nemo, Bee Movie, Harry Potter, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and others. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would prefer not to watch these movies and I will give you an alternate assignment.

Communication If you need to get a message to me, please send an e-mail to [email protected] . Please do not leave a phone message. I also send out blast text messages. We’ll sign up on the 2nd day of class.

Conclusion We can have a BLAST in this class! I hope that you leave at the end of the year feeling that our time was well spent, thinking that we did fun and interesting things, and knowing that science affects almost every facet of your life!

Please use the back arrow to return to the blog and electronically-sign the disclosure page showing that you have read and understand this information.