E Team Science—Grade 8 2011-2012

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Fun things we’ll do

Need for Speed—Create and use a variety of objects to investigate motion—including cars, zip line, parachutes, and roller coasters.

International Energy Challenge – Collaborate with schools in at least three different countries to answer the question: “Energy and the environment, can we have both?”

Musical Plates—Use Real-time data on earthquakes and volcanoes to explore the relationship between earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate tectonics.

The Cookie Case —Help solve a mystery using chemistry!

Patriot Page Members

Throughout the school year, you will have the opportunity to be a member of a social network for the teachers and science collaborators, students, and parents of students on our team. Teachers will be posting daily activities and assignments and you will be writing and uploading pictures and videos of your learning. Be on the lookout for the permission slip for our online spaces… coming soon!

Contact Information:

Phone: 671-4050

E-mail:

Class Description:

This Science class is designed around a philosophy of inquiry. We will complete many hands-on, project-based activities throughout the school year. In addition to helping you learn more about science, my goal is to increase your problem solving abilities in the following areas:

Working as a member of a team

Use of technology as a tool

Communication—both verbal and written

Science Topics to be covered:

Nature of Science

Science Process Skills, Scientific Knowledge, Scientific Investigation and Critical Thinking

Force and Motion

Newton’s Laws and Force and Motion, Simple machines, Electricity

Characteristics of Matter

Energy Transformations, Physical and Chemical Properties, Atomic theory

Earth Processes

Components of the Geosphere, Processes that Transfer Energy within Geosphere

The Universe

Celestial Bodies in our Solar System, Moon Phases

We Recycle!

Please put your plastic bottles in the bins.

Bring your Supplies!

Supply List:

Every Day—

  1. Pencil
  2. 2 Pens—different colors
  3. Composition science notebook
  4. Binder to hold papers
  5. Agenda
  6. Any assigned work that is due
  7. Earphones

As needed—

  1. Highlighter
  2. Calculator
  3. Glue stick
  4. Markers
  5. Jump drive

Expectations:

As a general rule, I expect EVERYONE—students and the teachers—to show Top 20 Teen behaviors.

YOU and ME

______

Stay above the “line”

Safety Contract

You will not be able to participate in Labs without a Signed Safety Contract.

You must follow the guidelines in the safety contract, or you will be removed from a lab.

Should you be removed, your grade from the lab will be a “0” or you may stay after school to make-up the work.

If safety violation is severe, you will be referred to the office.

Discipline Policies:

Please refer to our class discussion for a complete list of acceptable behaviors and an overview of consequences.

Grading Policies:

Grades will be assigned based on descriptors of achievement only, which means you will only be graded on how you personally show you understand a topic. Even though there will be many opportunities for cooperative learning, you will never be assigned group grades.

Periodically, you will be asked to show in various ways what you have learned about an expectation, and receive a score based on a 4 point scale (see Bode Science Grading handout). Extra credit is not given in this class.

Confusion

Rocks!!!

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