Science at Marcy Open
2017 - 2018
Holly & Erin
Welcome! We are looking forward to exploring science and engineering with the Marcy Open middle school students this school year. In science you can expect to act as a scientist/engineer in order to draw conclusions about how things work in the world around us and solve engineering challenges. One way students will do this is the daily use of science notebooks for drawing, graphing, lab work, and reflecting.
Science 6 Content: Your child will learn about engineered systems, natural systems (subsystems, parts, inputs, processes and outputs), unit conversions and quantities, matter and the particle model of matter, physical changes in matter, motion and speed, forces (magnitude and direction), energy wave properties, and types of energy.
Science 7/8 Content: Your child will learn about the process of science using logical and reasoning, men and women in science history, natural world using maps and satellite images, physical properties of metals and non-metals, mixtures and pure substances, chemical changes and properties, energy waves, tectonic plates and earth layers, Minnesota's landscape, global climate and Earth's tilt, weather, water cycle, our solar system, and fossil fuels.
Grading: Holly & Erin will grade with the standard MPS grade scale.
Assessments: Students will take an MPS assessment at the completion of each unit.
Summative assessments also include writing claims-evidence-reasoning. This is a MAJOR part of students’ grades and provides important practice with critical thinking. The rubric is on the back of the page. Ongoing formative assessment will be done through discussion, notebook responses, and reflections.
Homework:
● ⅞ homework this year will focus on science vocabulary and will be due on Fridays.
● 6 homework will focus on scientists/engineers and will include a reading and sensory figure and will be due on Fridays.
● Regular weekly homework will be completed in students’ science notebooks.
● Students will need to complete CERs outside of class and can revise them.
Contact:
Holly Siasoco
Erin Clarke (Fenlon)
5 Above Proficient / 4 Proficient / 3 Approaching ProficientClaim-
A conclusion that answers the original questions / Meets proficient PLUS:
❏ Addresses if there are any qualifiers on the claim (is it always true or sometimes true and why) / ❏ Restates question
❏ Accurately answers question / ❏ Does not restate question
❏ Accurately answers question, but missing detail
Evidence-
Scientific data that supports the claim. The data needs to be appropriate and sufficient to support the claim. / Meets proficient PLUS:
❏ Identifies patterns and trends in the data
❏ Identify sources of error / ❏ Scientific data supports the claim
❏ All data is appropriate
❏ Data is sufficient
❏ 2 or more pieces of evidence / ❏ Scientific data supports the claim
❏ Some data is appropriate
❏ Data is insufficient
❏ 1 pieces of evidence
Reasoning-
Scientific principles are used to logically connect the claim to the evidence. / Meets proficient PLUS:
❏ Includes annotated diagram or drawing to support the evidence.
❏ Includes real-world connection / ❏ Science content explains why evidence supports claim
❏ Use sufficient content vocabulary
❏ Justification for why the evidence supports the claim / ❏ Science content explains why evidence supports claim
❏ Uses some content vocabulary
Mechanics / Meets proficient PLUS:
❏ Paper is typed and shared on google docs
❏ Name is on the google doc / ❏ Vocabulary is underlined or highlighted
❏ Complete sentences
❏ Capital letters
❏ Punctuation
❏ Spelling
❏ One color of ink
❏ NO PRONOUNS / Missing 1 of the following:
❏ Vocabulary is underlined or highlighted
❏ Complete sentences
❏ Capital letters
❏ Punctuation
❏ Spelling
❏ One color of ink
❏ NO PRONOUNS