Name______Date______Period______
8th Grade Physical Science Syllabus 2017-2018
The School of Arts and Enterprise
Dear parents and students,
I am so excited to be a part of your academic pursuits this school year. I am pleased to have you be in my class, and I look forward to getting to know you!
I need to preface this by telling you that I have very high expectations in regard to both behavior and academics, but if you are willing to work hard, I think we are going to have a lot of fun this year working on labs, projects, and scientific investigations. On my end, I intend to teach thought-provoking lessons and an environment where work in groups and learn in a variety of different ways. Should you ever need to remediate a test or assignment, or if you need extra help, I have tutoring in my classroom on Mondays from 3:35 to 4:25 pm and Wednesdays from 8:10 to 8:50 am.
I look forward to this school year with great enthusiasm! If you ever need to contact me, e-mail is the easiest way to reach me!
Sincerely,
Anna Torres
The School of Arts and Enterprise
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I have read the 8th grade science course description and I understand what is expected in this class.
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About Me
I was born and raised in Pomona, and I actively seek to teach in communities that reflect myself and my upbringing. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Mills College and am working on my master’s degree at Claremont Graduate University. I am personally committed to bringing a different perspective to the field. Science is usually viewed as rational, concrete, and technical, but I think the field of hypothesizing and experimenting is always thirsting for creativity!
Course Overview
The SAE’s Middle School Physical Science course presents the fundamentals of physics and chemistry. Students explore the amazing universe we live in, including motion, energy, the nature of matter and atoms, how chemicals mix and react, and the forces that hold the universe together. Students will be expected to think critically about the standards presented in class. Major assignments in this class include responding to current events, visual and performing arts projects, group tasks, reading comprehension, note taking, essays and experiments. Midterm and semester final exams are cumulative. This class is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
Course Units
Unit 1 – The Nature of Science:
Lab Safety
Introduction to Physical Science
Scientific Inquiry
Basic Math Review
Unit 2 – Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Acceleration
Forces
Electricity and Magnetism
Unit 3 – Energy
Nature of Energy
Conservation of Energy
Using Machines
Simple Machines
Unit 4 – Matter
Matter
Atoms
Periodic Table
Unit 5 – Chemical Interactions
Chemical Bonds and Equations
Thermal Energy
Solutions, Acids, and Bases
Grading Criteria:
Learning and Standards-Based Grading Policy
The SAE has adopted the Mastery Learning model of standards-based grading. Students are evaluated based on specific academic standards and UNLOCK skills. Students are not given “points” for simply completing work or participating. Student must demonstrate their knowledge and abilities on a variety of assessment types (quizzes, oral quizzes, discussions, tests, essays, reports, speeches, projects, presentations, portfolios).
Some key aspects of mastery learning include:
● Learning objectives will be transparent from the first day of a unit and on each assignment.
● Students will have opportunities to track and reflect on their progress on the standards.
● Formative assessments are opportunities for students to practice the standards.
● Summative assessments are the primary factor in academic grades.
● Multiple summative assessments that address various learning styles will be used.
● Grades are based ONLY on mastery of academic standards and UNLOCK skills;
● Students must earn a C to pass a course; unless a C or higher is unearned no credit (NC) will be given.
For every assignment, students are evaluated on a 4-point rubric:
4.0 = Advanced
3.5 = Approaching Advanced
3.0 = Proficient
2.5 = Approaching Proficient
2.0 = Basic
1.5 or 1 = Below Basic
Please refer to The SAE Student Handbook for Learning and Standards Based Grading Policy.
Final Course Mark Percentage Bands
A 88-100%
B 75-87.9%
C 63-74.9%
No Credit (Fail) 0-62.9%
Materials
Students will need to bring to class every day:
● 2-inch, 3-ring Binder (**students only need ONE binder for Math and Science, we will use the same binder for both classes)
● Pencils
● Notebook Paper
● Scientific calculators
8th Grade Team Policies:
● Late Work: Students must turn all independent practice/summative/formative assessments in on time in order to retake/redo the assessment. No late work will be accepted.
● Assessment Retakes: Students are permitted to retake within one week of the original assessment date unless otherwise noted.
● Promotion Requirements: Students must take and pass all courses with a “C” or higher for both semesters to be eligible to participate in promotion activities.
Tutoring
Monday 3:35-4:25 pm (after school)
Wednesday 8:10-8:50 am (before school)
Student Expectations
All class participants are expected to showcase the following behaviors:
✓ Treat yourself, others, all specimens, and all equipment with respect.
✓ Be in your seat with supplies on your desk when the bell rings.
✓ Speak truthfully and respectfully at all times.
✓ Collaborate. Work together to accomplish what you cannot accomplish alone.
✓ Be proactive in your own learning. Participate and ask questions.