Welcome to Integrated Science 8

scguy

Welcome to Integrated Science 7! The major theme of the 7th grade science curriculum is to look for cause and effect in nature which will allow students to make predictions. Students will investigate how forces affect motion and motion are responsible for the transfer of energy and matter. We will study Earths interior as well as the fossil record and how rocks preserve fossils. A study of basic genetics and cells will lead into the study of evolutionary relationships among species, and how living things adapt to change.  

Office Hours:

I will hold office hours four hours each day, Monday thru Friday. These office hours will be posted weekly on the course page. I am also available to help students by appointment outside of the posted office hours. Please feel free to leave a message or email me if you need to make an appointment or if you have any questions or concerns. 

Coursework:

There are several different types of assignments in this course. Some of the types of assignments are described below:

Assignment Type Description Typical Points
BrainPop Assignments BrainPop assignments involve watching video clips and then completing a worksheet, activity, or quiz. Be sure to follow directions carefully to make sure you turn in the correct assignment. 10 points
Labs Involve either online simulations or projects you complete at home. A lab kit was provided and you should use the supplies to complete the correlating assignments. Some labs may require additional items from home. These should all be easy to access and inexpensive items. If there is a problem with the lab items please contact me immediately.  20 points
Projects Larger projects such as presentations will periodically be assigned.  20-30 points
Quizzes Quizzes will be given in the middle of each unit. You have unlimited attempts on quizzes. This means you should retake the quiz until you have 10/10. 10-20 points
Tests Each unit will have a final test. You only have one attempt on tests.  50 points

Course Overview:

We will be learning about a wide range of topics this year in science. Each quarter will have several units. Each unit will include assignments, labs, discussions, review and a test. There will also be opportunities for projects. It may be helpful for you to have a general idea of what we will be learning about. The outline below shows what topics we will be learning about each quarter. 

Quarter 1:

      • Unit 1: What is Science? 
      • Unit 2: Forces and Motion
      • Unit 3: Electricity, Magnetism and Gravity

Quarter 2:

      • Unit 4: Rocks and Fossils
      • Unit 5: Earths Interior

Quarter 3:

      • Unit 6: Cells
      • Unit 7: Genetics

Quarter 4:

      • Unit 8: Evolution

Grading Policy:

Grades in this course will be determined based on assignments, tests, and quizzes. Assignments are worth 70% of the final grade. Tests and Quizzes are worth 30% of the final grade. 

Grading Scale:

93.0 % - 100% A
90.0 % - 92.9 % A-
87.0% - 89.9 % B+
83.0% - 86.9 % B
80.0% - 82.9 % B-
 77.0% - 79.9 % C+
73.0% - 76.9 %
 C
70.0% - 72.9 %
 C-
67.0% - 69.9 %
 D+
63.0% - 66.9 %
 D
60.0% - 62.9 %
 D-
0% - 59.9% F

Due Dates:

The course is organized in weekly modules. Each week students will watch videos, read information, and complete activities. They will also complete several assignments and will have periodic quizzes and tests. Work is due on the Friday of the week it was assigned. All assignments and tests will be due by 6:00 pm on the listed due date. Due dates will be posted well ahead of time.

Extra Credit:

Extra credit may be offered periodically. Students should take advantage of these opportunities when presented. Students may not make up more than one letter grade with extra credit.

Makeup Policy and Absences: 

If you plan to be absent for an extended period of time such as a vacation, please email me and let me know in advance. You will be expected to finish your work early so that you don't fall behind in the course. If you have an emergency or unexpected absence please email me and let me know as soon as you are able so we can make arrangements.

Classroom Rules:

1. Be prepared and check in to class daily.

2. Follow instructions at all times.

3. Respect the opinions and ideas of others.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

When completing assignments in this class, it is expected that answers to questions be written in your own words. It is not acceptable to copy and paste directly from the reading or any other source.  

Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. Consequences will result in the loss of all points for assignments or tests. Plagiarism and cheating includes copying written or verbal work from a website or other source without citing that source, copying or turning in another student’s work, asking other students to share quiz or test questions, and having someone other than you complete assignments, quizzes or tests. The complete policy on cheating and plagiarism can be found in the Student Handbook.

Parents and students should frequently check the school Genius SIS system to stay informed about missing scores and grades.


Last modified: Wednesday, 14 June 2017, 9:05 PM