7Th Grade Science Course Outline

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to Mrs. Goodwin’s 8th grade science class! I am very excited about this upcoming year and the discoveries that we will be making together. You will be attending my class for 50 minute periods on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and 90 minute periods on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This will give us plenty of time to unlock the world of science together.

Course Objective: By the end of this school year, you should have a fuller understanding of chemistry, Earth science, physics, and space and how their interactions affect our daily lives.

Supply list: It is important for each student to bring their supplies daily. (2) 1 subject 70ct spirals (We will be using one for each semester) Wish List Map pencils 1st period – ream of computer Pencils paper (colored or white) Hand held pencil sharpener 2nd period – Glue bottles or Glue Highlighters sticks Red pen 4th period – hand soap or hand Glue stick, or glue bottle sanitizer Scissors th Pencil bag 5 period – box of tissues th 1 roll of paper towels or 1 box of tissues (This you will turn into me) 6 period – paper towels $5 Science Lab Fee (if you did not already pay it at Tiger Check-In)

Interactive Science Notebook: This year we will be doing all of our work in a 1 Subject spiral. We will be keeping track of all assignments with a Table of Contents at the front of each unit, and all students will have the same information on the same pages in their spiral notebook. Organization is a MUST in the world and it will be the responsibility of the student to ensure that his/her notebook is organized.

Academic Honesty: All academic work that is done inside and out of class is to be the reflection of an individual student’s understanding and thus should be worked on independently unless Mrs. Goodwin states that a certain assignment is group work. Academic dishonesty, cheating, lying, and/or unauthorized assistance in all assignments and tests will not be tolerated. In the event that academic dishonesty occurs, all students involved will receive a 0 for that assignment with no ability to make it up.

Grading policy: Report card grades will be comprised of formative assessments (worksheets, quizzes, homework) and summative assessments (tests, projects, labs). On-Level students’ grades will consist of 50% formative and 50% summative and Honors will be 40% formative and 60% summative. Averages can be calculated at any time by using the following formula:

[(Summative Average) x .5] + [(Formative Average) x .5] = course average (On-level) [(Summative Average) x .6] + [(Formative average) x .4] = course average (Honors)

 Homework: Weekly homework assignments will be given, and they are expected to be completed and turn in on time.  Quizzes: Most quizzes will be announced before they are given, however notebook quizzes will be unannounced.  Labs: Labs will be done in class, and if they are not completed in class you may have to do lab write-ups as homework.  Tests: Tests will be a chance for every student to show Mrs. Goodwin how much they have learned in the unit. They will be announced at least a couple of class periods before they are given.

Course Description/Overview: During the course of the school year students will study the following topics. Notice how all material is covered before the 8th grade science TAKS test in April. Because of this, the 8th grade curriculum moves at an accelerated pace. Remember, this is a tentative schedule and may change as the year goes on. 1st Semester 2nd Semester Life Science (1st 6-wks) Force & Motion (4th 6-wks) . Safety & Measurement . Differentiate between speed, velocity & acceleration . Biotic & Abiotic Factors . Balance and unbalanced forces . Forms of Symbiosis . Calculate speed, velocity & net force . Carrying Capacity of an Ecosystem . Apply Newton’s Laws of Motion . Energy Pyramids Earth Science . Food Webs & Food Chains . Interpret how global patterns of atmospheric . Adaptation & Survival movement affect local weather . Human impact on Ocean Systems . Interpret local weather maps . Using and reading an anemometer and psychrometer . Plate Tectonics Chemistry Part I(2nd 6-wks) Earth Science (5th 6-wks) . Parts of an Atom . Earth’s seasons . Use of the Periodic Table . Lunar cycle . Galaxies, Stars, Nebulae . Reading a HR Diagram . Origins of the universe Chemistry Part II (3rd 6-wks) Application of 8th grade material (6th 6-wks) . Signs of a chemical reaction . Lab Reports . Parts of a chemical formula . Physics of flight . Analyze a chemical formula . Dissections . Use chemical formulas to identify common . Bacterial cultures substances . Law of Conservation of Mass . Balance & unbalanced Reactions

Late-work policy: It is the responsibility of every student to turn in their work in a timely and responsible manner. Homework is expected to be turned in the day it is due. Any late work will result in a grade reduction.

Abesent Policy: In the event that a student is absent from class it is their responsibility to go to the “Absent Work” binder and pick up the work they missed.

Re-Test policy: In the event that a student fails a Test, there will be an opportunity for the student to come in to a re-teach and a re-test session to improve their grade. This is based on the campus wide policy.

Website and E-mail Please feel free to visit my website for more information. It can be found by going to the AMS website and then teacher websites.Through my E-school E-mail list I will send out weekly/monthly emails explaining what is going on in class. Please feel free to contact me at any time at [email protected] or by calling me at 281-641-4665.

Please sign the bottom of this course outline so that I know that you have read and understood the layout of the course. I have read, understood and agree to abide by the policies and procedures in Mrs. Goodwin’s Science class Student signature ______Parent signature ______