SCIENCE 7: Course Outline
Teacher Mr. Ryan Letasy eText: Science in Action 7
Email: [email protected] Phone: (403) 327-3465
Welcome to Science 7! This is going to be a very exciting year of middle-school, and I am looking forward to being part of it with you. There is a lot of material to get through this year, so let’s get take a look at what we are exploring this year…
Unit 1: Plants for Food and Fiber What are the structures and functions of seed plants and their individual structures? What role do plants play in the environment and in meeting human needs? How can understanding soil protection and degradation help us to protect plant growth and ecosystems? What are the ways that plants are grown and used that are related to human needs, technology, and the environment?
Unit 2: Heat and Temperature What are the needs of humans that have led to technologies for obtaining and controlling heat? How does heat and temperature affect matter? How can understanding heat and temperature help explain natural phenomena and technological devices? What are some technologies that use heat that have benefits and costs to society and to the environment?
Unit 3: Structures and Forces What types of structures are found in natural and human-made environments? What are the external and internal forces that act on structures? How does the strength and stability of a structure depend on the properties of the materials and how they are joined together in the structure? How are structures designed, evaluated, and improved in order to meet human needs? Unit 4: Planet Earth What types of changes does the Earth’s surface experience? How can the rock cycle describe how rocks form and change over time? What kind of evidence and information can changing landforms provide us? What can the fossil record tell us about Earth’s changes over time?
Unit 5: Interactions and Ecosystems What are the relationships between living things and their environments? How can we use the Law of Energy and the cycling of matter to trace and explain interactions in ecosystems? What changes can be observed and monitored in ecosystems? How do we maintain sustainable environments using science and technology?
Your final grade will be calculated as follows: Assignments, Quizzes and Exams 80% Final Exam 20%
Each major topic may be followed by a review quiz. There will be a unit test at the completion of each unit. Notebook and lab assignments will be collected as they are completed and will be evaluated accordingly. The years’ work is cumulative and counts for 80% of the grade. The final exam is worth 20% (there is no mid-term exam).
Textbooks: Students will not be assigned a textbook. The complete textbook is online in a digital format located on the course Moodle page. Students are allowed to personally check out textbooks from the school library. Please note, however, that the library does not stock enough books for one per student.
Homework: Homework is kept to a minimum but it is an important component of your work each reporting period. Remember that extra help is always available after school. If you need extra help, please make arrangements with your teacher in advance of any assignment or homework due dates.
Absenteeism & Missing Assignments: Assignments are expected to be handed in on time and will be accepted until 3:30 that day. When and if you are absent from class, you are responsible for any work that was missed. If possible, have a friend or family member contact your teacher for missed work. If possible all missed assignments are due the day you return to class or on an agreed arranged date with your teacher. If your work is not completed on the due date, you will be given a grade of “NHI” which stands for “not handed in”.
PLEASE NOTE: I understand that life happens and that on some occasions, work may not be completed on time. If your work (whatever it may be!) is not going to come in on time, and you know that this will happen, please come speak with me in advance so that we can make other arrangements. I am more than willing to work with and help out in any way if you approach me before the due date, and not after.
This is going to be an exciting year! I am looking forward to learning and exploring with you in science 7 – let’s get started!
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Parents, please feel free to contact me using my contact information at the top of this outline should you have any questions or concerns.
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