Course Syllabus (September 30th -November 1st)

Instructor: Carla Jefferson

Email:

Course Description:

This course will focus on the knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, principles, concepts, relationships and experimental techniques including laboratory skills in science inquiry, Earth science, biology, physical science, astronomy, physics, meteorology, and technology.

Class Requirements:

  1. Bring materials to class each day. This includes a composition book, binder, pencil, two-pocket folder, calculator, and pencil.

  1. Take careful notes and participate in class. Students should study all notes and assignments at home to prepare for Friday exams.

  1. Record all homework assignments in your planner.

  1. Read and study assigned chapter section weekly.
Students are required to read, complete section assessments and create two-column notes for each chapter section.
  1. Fridaytest questions will come from:
  • labs
  • section assessments
  • projects
  • videos
  • notes
  • homework

  1. All students are required to read and summarize a science article weekly.

Classroom Expectations/ Consequences

Students should follow the code of conduct for Jennings Junior High school. A uniform set of consequences will be used according to rules and standards set by the junior high. We expect our students to follow these rules for success.

  1. Absolutely no talking during instruction and presentations.
  2. Do not get out of your seat without permission.
  3. No playing or use of profanity.
  4. Do not ignore classroom signals.
  5. Absolutely no talking during the Do Now.

Consequences

  1. Verbal Warning
  2. Student Conference
  3. Parent Contact
  4. Lunch Detention
  5. Referral

Standard for all Assignments

Work is neat and professional done

Work is complete and turned in before due date

Work reflects an above average knowledge of content

Tutoring: (Monday and Thursday) Students should use this time to prepare for exams, complete or correct classroom assignments, and make-up failed exams. The USA Test Prep website and Buckle Down Workbooks will be used during this time to help prepare students for future exams. Students can make-up an exam the week after an exam is administered. Students must complete one week of tutoring before they will be allowed to retake an exam. No additional assignments will be offered.

Homework: Students are responsible for recording homework assignments daily in their planners. Homework is assigned Monday- Thursday. Parents are the key to making homework a rewarding and positive experience. Please make homework a priority, provide the necessary quiet time and contact me if you have any questions.

Weekly Assignments

Week of September 30thPhysics/Force and Motion

7th Grade/8th Grade

  1. Recognize every object exerts a gravitational force of attraction on every other object
  1. Recognize an object’s weight is a measure of the gravitational force of a planet/moon acting on that object
  2. Compare the amount of gravitational force acting between objects (which is dependent upon their masses and the distance between them)
  3. Explain that when forces (including magnetic, gravity, friction, push or pull) are balanced, objects are at rest or their motion remains constant
  4. Explain that a change in motion is the result of an unbalanced force acting upon an object
  1. Describe how the Earth’s gravity pulls any object on or near the Earth toward it (including natural and artificial satellites)
  2. Describe how the planets’ gravitational pull keeps satellites and moons in orbit around them
  3. Describe how the Sun’s gravitational pull holds the Earth and other planets in their orbits
  4. Recognize all free falling bodies accelerate at the same rate due to gravity regardless of their mass

Homework: Essay: Why are Astronauts weightless in Space? What would Guion Buford say about weightlessness?

Week of October 7thPhysics/Force and Motion

  1. Compare the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces (including magnetic, gravity, friction, push or pull) on an object’s motion
  2. Explain that when forces (including magnetic, gravity, friction, push or pull) are balanced, objects are at rest or their motion remains constant
  3. Explain that a change in motion is the result of an unbalanced force acting upon an object
  4. Explain how the acceleration of a moving object is affected by the amount of net force applied and the mass of the object

Homework: Essay: Why do planets orbit the sun? What would happen to planets if they didn’t orbit the sun? What do scientists say about space time? Do you believe them? Explain? What would Benjamin Banneker or Egyptians say about planets orbiting the sun?

Week of October 14thPhysics/Force and Motion

  1. Recognize examples of work being done on an object (force applied and distance moved in the direction of the applied force) with and without the use of simple machines
  2. Calculate the amount of work done when a force is applied to an object over a distance
    (W = F x d)
  3. Explain how simple machines affect the amount of effort force, distance through which a force is applied, and/or direction of force while doing work
  4. Recognize the amount of work output is never greater than the amount of work input, with or without the use of a simple machine
  5. Evaluate simple machine designs to determine which design requires the least amount of effort force and explain why

Homework: Essay: Explain how ____contributed to scientific discoveries and how his/her innovative invention has evolved overtime. Do you believe that his/her contribution was necessary? Explain.

Week of October 21st Astronomy

  1. Classify celestial bodies in the solar system into categories: Sun, moon, planets, and other small bodies (i.e., asteroids, comets, meteors), based on physical properties
  2. Compare and contrast the size, composition, atmosphere, and surface of the planets (inner vs. outer) in our solar system and Earth’s moon
  3. Identify the relative proximity of common celestial bodies (i.e., Sun, moon, planets, smaller celestial bodies such as comets and meteors, other stars) in the sky to the Earth

Homework: Essay: Why is Pluto not a planet? Do you agree? Why or why not? Why are other celestial bodies not classified as planets?

Week of October 28th

  1. Describe how the Earth’s placement in the solar system is favorable to sustain life (i.e., distance from the Sun, temperature, atmosphere)

b. Compare and contrast the characteristics of Earth that support life with the characteristics of other planets that are considered favorable or unfavorable to life (e.g., atmospheric gases, extremely high/low temperatures

c. Recognize stars are separated from one another by vast and different distances, which causes stars to appear smaller than the Sun

  1. Compare the distance light travels from the Sun to Earth to the distance light travels from other stars to Earth using light years

Essay: What is a light year? How is a light year determined? Why is it necessary to use light years in science? Compare the light years of Earth with asteroids, stars, sun, moon, andother galaxies.

Assignments

Classroom Participation (Do Now)

Daily Homework

Projects/Lab Reports

Friday Performance Event and Written Exam