Course Syllabus
Science 7-8 Earth and Space/Life Science Syllabus
Course Name: Science 7-8 Life Science Syllabus
Location: Room 213
Email:
Phone Number: 814-749-9211 Ex 238
Course Description:
Life Science 7and 8 is a quarter-long introductory biological science course that introduces basic life science concepts through inquiry labs, models, and hands-on activities. Students will expand scientific vocabulary, improve reading skills, and enhance writing proficiency. The topics covered are: the history and nature of science as it relates to life science, cells, genetics, evolution, classification, human biology, ecology, and environmental concepts. Life Science 7-8 prepares students for advanced high school science courses.
Materials:
Textbook: Life Science Published by Glencoe McGraw- Hill
Bring to class daily: Science Binder, Textbook, and Pencil or Pen
MMS
Parents and students are strongly encouraged to use MMS to follow student grades. Log-on information can be obtained at the School office. Parents and Students are also encouraged to use my webpage that can be found on the Jr. Sr. High School website.
EXTRA HELP
Please come to me early if you do not understand the material. DO NOT wait until the end of the quarter or semester to ask for help. I want EVERY ONE of you to succeed and I will do my
best to provide the assistance and tools you need. Help can be arrangement by contacting me by e-mail at or by phone at 814-749-9211 ext 238.
Instructional Methods:
The course will be taught using multiple instructional methods. These methods will
include lecture, group discussion and oral presentations, study guides, and laboratory investigation.
- Portfolios – Some of you may be familiar with these. A portfolio is just a collection of all your best work throughout the year. Each marking period you will reflect on this work.
- Chapter Exams, and Final (End of Quarter).
- Homework- Homework will be assigned once or twice a week for student to better understand the chapter that is being taught. Students who do not do homework will receive an infraction. Late Homework will be graded in the following manner: 1 day late homework is half credit, After 2 days students will receive a zero.
- Lab/Activity day – At the appropriate times we will have labs or activities to further our studies of a particular subject. These will be announced ahead of time.
- Notes – It is necessary for us to gain knowledge of a particular subject before we can do labs and activities. We will take notes as a class and you will need a notebook.
- A very neat, well-organized, and complete notebook will be to your advantage. These notebooks will be collected at the end of each marking period and IF IT IS COMPLETE, NEAT, AND WELL ORGANIZED YOU WILL RECEIVE A 50/50 (100%) – IF NOT IT WILL BE A 0/50 (0%).
- As part of your notebook we will also be doing journal entries as follow-ups to some of the lessons. If they are not in your notebook, it will be considered incomplete.
- Privileges – Finally, I like to keep things fair. Each of you will be given privileges to begin the first marking period. These privileges are as follows:
- Each student will be given 100 points to start each nine weeks as a preparation grade. Every time a student comes unprepared for class (no book, no pencil, no notebook, ect) they will lose 5 points from this grade.
- Anyone having an A average will be exempt from the Final
Course Outline (Science 8 will pick up where they left off in Science 7)
Introduction- Scientific Explanations
Unit 1 – Life: Structures and Function
Chapter 1 Classifying and Exploring Life
Chapter 2 Cell Structure and Function
Chapter 3 From Cell to organism
Chapter 5 Genetics
Chapter 6 The Environment and Change over Time
Unit 5 – Interactions of Life
Chapter 20 Matter and Energy in the Environment
Chapter 21 Population and Communities
Chapter 22 Biomes and Ecosystems
Chapter 23 Using Natural Resources
Earth space course outline
Chapter 3 Minerals
Chapter 4 Rocks
Chapter 9 Earthquakes and volcanoes
Chapter 13/14 Weather and Climate
Chapter 21 The solar system