Physical Science Ms. Alvarez, Instructor 2016/2017
8th Grade Phone: 909-436-1005
Email:
Dear Parent/Guardian of ______,
I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with your child this year. I am excited, and I know that this will be a great year. Please take some time to review the course description that follows this form.
If you would like to communicate and receive updates or progress reports, please include your contact info below:
Parent Email: ______
Student Email: ______
Parent Phone: ______Is this a cell? _____ Is texting ok? _____
Student Phone: ______Is this a cell? _____ Is texting ok? _____
If I have not already, I look forward to meeting with you some time during the year. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email for any reason. Also, please take a look at our school website. I will be posting what we have accomplished and homework that will be due.Please sign the first and last page of this syllabus.
Sincerely,
Ruth Alvarez
The School of Arts and Enterprise
I have read the Physical Science course description, and I understand what is expected in this class.
Student Signature______Date______
Parent Signature______Date______
Physical Science Ms. Alvarez, Instructor 2016/2017
8th Grade Phone: 909-436-1005
Email:
Course Overview
In physical science, students study topics that will greatly enhance their ability to succeed in high school science classes. Students will focus on the basics of physics and chemistry. Students should begin to grasp four concepts that help unify physical sciences: force and energy; the laws of conservation; atoms, molecules, and the atomic theory; and kinetic theory. 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.
Standards-based Grading
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).
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
Final Course Mark Percentage Bands
A 85-100%
B 70-84%
C 60-69%
No Credit (Fail) 0-59%
The SAE does NOT allow a D to be used as a final course mark because we are a college preparatory school and a D is not an acceptable grade for college preparatory course work.
21st Century Learning skills is an important part of educating students for college and career readiness and are represented by The SAE’s UNLOCK Skills. UNLOCK skills are formally assessed as a part of the final grade in students’ courses.
UNLOCK Standards:
U nderstand the opportunities and challenges of diversity on a local and global scale.
•model respect for all human diversity
•understand environmental, historical, and global trends
•assume responsibility for your actions
N ever give up on excellence--rethink, revise, redefine.
•commit to high-quality craftsmanship and excellence through reflection and revision
•critique your work using established workplace criteria
Learn to problem-solve through creativity and critical thinking.
•seek out innovation and expert resources to analyze, evaluate and synthesize
•hypothesize creative solutions and complete rigorous experiments to test them
•use data to drive decision-making
Open yourself to allow for effective collaboration.
•practice active listening and reflective dialogue
•abide by community norms
•solve problems in teams using roles and expectations to set and monitor goals
Communicate your ideas and opinions clearly using 21sy century tools.
•use precise questions to drive your investigations
•critically use a variety of media formats to express ideas clearly, creatively, and concisely
Know how to market your talents using 21st Century skills.
•use social media with an understanding of the risks and power inherent in them
•understand and use the elements of discourse in the Information Age to effectively market your ideas
•analyze opportunities and challenges in order set and achieve life goals
Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
Common Core State Standards are a set of clear college- and career-ready standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. The standards were drafted by experts and teachers from across the country and are designed to ensure students are prepared for today’s entry-level careers, freshman-level college courses, and workforce training programs. The Common Core focuses on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills students will need to be successful.
Materials
Students will need to bring to class:
- 100+ pages, college-ruled, notebook or bound composition book used only for Physical Science class
- Binder or folder for handouts and returned papers (may be used for multiple classes)
- Day planner, agenda, or calendar
- Various art supplies for projects involving drawing, coloring, cutting, and pasting
- Scientific calculators
- IF MARKERS OR PENCILS GO MISSING IN THE IN CLASS “DISCOVERY KITS” THEN THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT.
8th Grade Team - Late Work Policy
When a student fails to turn an independent practice/summative/formative assessment in on time they lose the ability to retake/redo the assessment.Late work may receive half credit. All formative assessments must be turned in to be eligible to take the summative assessments.
8th GradeTeam - Assessment Retake Policy
Students are permitted on retake within two weeks of the original assessment date if turned in on time. If the assessment is designated “Formative” (Quiz, etc), students are required to attend one hour of tutoring prior to the retake. If the assessment is designated “Summative” (unit assessments, major essays and projects), students are required to attend at least two hours of tutoring prior to the retake.
Tutoring
Tutoring will be done on the days Ms. Alvarez post on Mondays. Days may change according to school activities.Ms. Alvarez is also available most days after school by appointment.
Absences
If you are absent, you are expected to make up all class work as well as the homework you missed. If you miss a lab, you must arrange to make it up with Ms. Alvarez. If the lab cannot be made up, Ms. Alvarez will provide you with another assignment to help you achieve the learning goals for the unit. It is your responsibility to get lecture notes from your classmates from the days that you were absent.
Laboratories(This is a hands-on lab course)
Students will conduct numerous labs which will bolster science literacy, classroom activities, and projects. Overall class behavior determines the number of labs versus teacher demonstrations. The goal of a lab is to enhance instruction not to play. The intent of these labs is to enable students to master science concepts, to develop scientific reasoning, and to work as a team. Lab assignments are expected to have accurate data and all questions completely answered. Before turning in your lab, check it for completeness and accuracy. Most missed labs due to absences should be made up the day the student returns during lunch by arrangement with Ms. Alvarez. Some labs cannot be made up. If this occurs, Ms. Alvarez will allow you to choose an alternate assignment that accomplishes the learning goals for the unit. Lab conclusions will be assessed for literacy.
Student Expectations
The following behaviors are expected to be exhibited by all class participants:
- Students must make every effort to learn.
- Students must be respectful to other students, staff, and others belongings.
- Students must not hinder other student’s learning.
- Active participation is a requirement. When there is something to do, do it.
- Collaborate. Work together to accomplish what you cannot accomplish alone.
- Help each other. Tutoring a classmate helps the school, and it helps you learn better, too!
Ms. Alvarez’s Classroom Norms
- Ms. Alvarezwill regularly arrange her students’ desks according to the needs of the activity for the day. DO NOT MOVE THE DESKS AROUND unless specifically asked to do so.
- Students should be willing to participate in class in an appropriate manner raising his/her hand, refraining from blurting out, staying in seat, staying focused and on task, sharing relevant material/ideas.
- Electronics must be turned off and put away when class starts, and will be taken away if seen by Ms. Alvarez.
- Backpacks and unnecessary materials must be kept off the desks during class activities.
- Be in your seat early. Ms. Alvarez starts class on time.
- Ms. Alvarez ends class, not the bell.
Ms. Alvarez’s Classroom Consequences
- First Infraction: Behavior conference with student during lunch or after school.
- Second Infraction: Call Home/Detention (15 min w/ Assignment)
- Third Infraction: Call home/Detention (30 min w/ Assignment)/Parent Conference
- Fourth Infraction: Office referral
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