Integrated Science Grade 8

Mrs. Malec Room 304

“The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.”

~Edward Teller~

COURSE OVERVIEW: Students in grade eight study topics in science, such as force and motion, earth in space, space exploration, genetic diversity and mutation, evolution and the fossil record, human activity and biodiversity, and science and engineering concepts. This year we are beginning our transition to the new science standards, The Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS. The updated standards can be found on the California Department of Education website.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

Students will be able to understand and explain the processes that change Earth’s systems at different spatial scales today also caused changes in the past by knowing that objects move and collide, noncontact forces influence phenomena locally and in the solar system, evolution explains life’s unity and diversity, and human activities help sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing world.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION: Interactive student notebooks,investigative labs, cooperative group work, simulations, demonstrations, class and group discussions, and student presentations.

UNITS OF STUDY :ASSESSMENTS EACH UNIT:

Objects Move and Collide Labs and Investigations, Group Projects, Summative

Noncontact Forces Influence Phenomena Assessments (Essay), Interactive Student Notebook

Evolution Explains Life’s Unity & Diversity

Sustaining Local & Global Biodiversity

Text/Instructional Materials:

  • Prentice Hall, California Physical Science Text
  • Sepup, Issues & Physical Science
  • Sepup, Issues & Earth Science
  • Sepup, Issues & Life Science
  • Website:

Required Materials Needed Everyday

Pencil and Pen

Colored Pencils/Colored Pens

Interactive Notebook (Students are required to bring a COMPOSITION notebook to be used in SCIENCE ONLY) *If a student loses their science notebook, they will be required to purchase a new one and recreate their lost notebook*

Agenda/Calendar

Lined Paper

Scotch Tape

Glue Stick

Recommended Materials

Ruler

Calculator

Post It Notes

All school rules in the Student and Parent Handbook will be followed!! Please make sure you read and discuss the handbook with your child.

Classroom Expectations:

At Corvallis, we follow the BARK policy of school rules:

  • Be prepared to learn
  • Act Responsibly
  • Respect everyone and everything
  • Keep the campus clean and safe

Discipline:

  1. The Four Questions
  2. Character Reflection in Office
  3. Office Referral/Contact Home
  4. Continued Discipline moves to Administrator Consequences

Classroom Procedures/Bell Work:

This will be on the board at the beginning of class. You will have no more than 7 minutes to complete the daily work, which will be more than enough time. Bell work includes copying down the agenda, homework, and completing the question or questions prepared for the day. The Bell Work is due on Fridays, but may be randomly checked throughout the week. After bellwork, please get out your interactive notebook and be ready to begin the day’s lesson.

Water is allowed in class, as long as it has a lid. No food or other beverage is allowed.You may sharpen your pencil, or get a Kleenex anytime, if it does not interfere with my teaching.Restroom use should be done during nutrition and lunch. In class only for emergencies.

All work must be properly labeled: Name (First, Last), Period, Date. Work should be done neatly and completely. Missing work will drastically affect your grade. Missing work automatically receives a 0. As long as you attempt your work, you will receive points.

Work with no name will be placed in the black tray by the door. It is the student’s responsibility to check for papers without names and notify the teacher if their paper is there. The teacher is not responsible for papers without names on them.

Grading: All grading is done on a point scale. Percentages are calculated based on the categories listed below. Late work will be accepted with a percentage penalty. Late work will be accepted until the date near the end of the semester as defined by the teacher.

Grading ScaleCategories

A90% - 100%Interactive Notebook – 60%

B 80% - 89%Tests/Quizzes/Projects – 30%

C 70% - 79%Classwork/Participation – 10%

D 60% - 69%

F 59% or lower

Interactive Notebook: The majoroity of all classwork, labs, and homework will be done in your Interactive Notebook, thus the notebook is worth 60% of your grade. If you lose your notebook, you will need to redo it.

Parent Portal: All assignments and grade book is available through the online parent portal. You can see your student’s grade 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Contact the office if you have not signed up to receive your pass code.

Remind: Remind is a text based service that allows parents and students to message the teacher, and the teacher can send announcements to keep parents and students informed about what is happening in the classroom. To join our classroom remind, please send the message @cmssci8 to 81010 or (657) 217-8525

Absences: Students have two days for every one-day they are absent to make up work. Students need to contact teacher to arrange time to make up an exam they miss.

Dismissal: The bell does not dismiss the class, the teacher does.

Classroom Visitors/ Substitutes: Please treat them with respect. If the visitor does NOT need to talk with me, continue working. If the visitor DOES need to talk to me, please quietly wait in your seat until we are done talking. You may whisper to each other IF you are given permission to do so. Students who misbehave will have consequences, as inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

HONORS STUDENTS Honors students will be required to complete at least one project per semester to delve deeper into Science content and expand their knowledge.

Each semester, students will be given an extension menu with nine options. These options will be topic based, and will not give specific directions on the type of project that must be completed. The purpose of this is to allow students to show their understanding in any way that works for them. Projects must include an essay, and a visual to show their new learning. Ideally, their honors project should incorporate technology. Please see Mrs. Malec if you have any questions. The extension menus will be assigned by the third week of each trimester.

EXTRA CREDIT

There is one option for extra credit, explained below. Extra credit work is not allowed. Students need to do all work when assigned.Families may choose to donate supplies to the classroom, for a maximum of 100 extra credit points in the Test/Quiz/Project category per quarter. The following supplies are most needed in our science classroom:

  • Copier Paper (20 Points/Ream of Paper) (Highly Needed Supply)
  • Composition Books (10 Points/Notebook) (Highly Needed Supply)
  • Scotch Tape (10 Points for one, 20 points for packs) (Highly Needed Supply)
  • Colored Pencils – Crayola (10 Points)
  • Markers – Crayola Bold or Crayola Skinny (10 Points)
  • Kleenex (10 Points/Box)
  • Rulers (must have a metric measurement scale) (10 points/ruler)
  • Glue Sticks (10 points/pack)
  • Safety (School) Scissors (10 points/pair)
  • Box of Pencils (10 Points)
  • Box of Pens (10 Point)

*There are occasions where we will be completing labs that require extra supplies. Any families willing to donate for these labs will be able to earn extra credit for their student in addition to the normal supply extra credit. Letters will be sent home periodically when this is an option.*

If you have questions or concerns, please call the school at 562-868-2678 to leave a message or send a note with your child. I am also available by email at: or you can contact me through my website: I will make every effort to respond to your request in 24 hours.Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to educate your child.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sarah Malec

Please sign and return this page of the syllabus only. This must be returned by Friday, August 25, 2017. By signing this paper, I acknowledge that I have read syllabus for Mrs Malec's Science 8 class, period _____ and understand the academic requirements for this class.

Por favor firme y devuelva esta página de sólo el programa de estudios. Esto debe ser devuelto antes del viernes, 25 de agosto de 2017. Al firmar este documento , reconozco que he leído programa de Ciencia 8 clase de la Sra Malec , periodo _____ y comprender los requisitos académicos para esta clase.

Name of Student/Nombre del Estudiante: ______

Student Signature/Firma del Estrudiante: ______

______

Parent/Guardian SignatureName & Relationship (printed)

Firma del Padre de Familia oNombre y Parentezco (imprenta)

Encargado de Nino

______

Home Phone/Telefono de la CasaWork Phone/Telefono de trabajo

______

Cell Phone/Telefono CelularEmail address/Correo electronico

______

Home Address/Direccion de la casa

Notes/Concerns

Notas / Preocupaciones :

Top of Form

Bottom of Form