Please read the Course Guidelines and sign the document below.
8th Grade Science Course Guidelines
Course Description
This is an introductory class in which you will explore how chemistry, physics, earth and space science affect you, your environment and the world.
You will become proficient in all 8th grade State and National Standards that relate to:
1. Laboratory Skills, the Scientific Method and Engineering Design 2. Plate Tectonics
3. Weather and Climate 4. Chemistry
5. Physics 6. Astronomy
Materials
Students are to come to class everyday prepared to learn with the following materials
These rules are in place to provide a maximum learning environment for all individuals
1. Be respectful of yourself and your classmates, your teacher, and the school.
a. Please do not talk or get out of your seat while the teacher or other students are participating in classroom discussions.
b. Please do not touch other student’s belongings or lab supplies without permission.
c. Please keep our classroom clean.
d. Please do not write or remove things from the classroom.
e. Please treat lab and school equipment with care & respect.
2. Be responsible
a. Please be prepared to work, have materials and any homework with you before the tardy bell rings.
b. Please be on time. Tardy is not being in your seat, with supplies, and quiet when the bell rings.
3. Put forth effort in all work you do.
a. Pay attention in class, take notes, ask questions and participate in discussions about the material being studied.
b. Please do your work when asked and have all your work finished.
c. Do your own work, resist the temptation to copy or mimic other people, be an original!
4. Respect diversity and differences of opinion
a. Keep an open mind to others ideas and different perspectives
b. Please be mindful of your comments towards others
5. Be safe at all times
a. Please walk and move with care in our classroom – especially during labs.
b. Follow all lab and computer safety guidelines
Discipline Policy
Each student is expected to following the classroom rules for treating the school, teacher and others in a respectful manner, and will be held accountable for their actions and behavior while in class. If a student violates the classroom rules, appropriate action will follow to remedy the situation. In lab situations this will directly impact the lab performance grade and could result in removal for the experimental procedure.
Grading Policy and Levels of Proficiency
Grades will be based on the mastery of skills and concepts based on the State and Next Generation Science Standards for 8th grade as well as the Oregon Diploma Essential Skills. For each standard, students will be given multiple opportunities to work towards exceeds, and meeting proficient level work. Students are expected to put forth effort to re-do and correct any work below the Meets level.
Academic Grading Scale
4.0 Exceeds: In addition to meeting the course goals, students are able to make in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond what was taught in class. Students will have earned all Exceed scores with only a few in the Meeting category.
3.0 Meets: In-depth understanding of course goals. Majority of Meets or higher, no more than one In-Progress score.
2.0 In-Progress: Demonstrates understanding of basic course goals but there are errors or omissions of more complex ideas or processes. Mix of different scores; majority in Meeting or Progressing scores, no more than one Not-Yet score.
1.0 Partial: With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes.
0.0 Not Yet: Insufficient evidence to measure learning; three or more scores of Not Yet.
Synergy Grading Conversions
Exceeds 89.45-100% Meets 79.45-89.44% In-Progress 55-75.99% Partial 38-54.99% Not Yet: 0-37.99%
Behavior Expectations
While behaviors are not part of a students' grade in science, they are life long skills and as important as grades. It is obvious to say that if a student performs the following behaviors they will be successful in not only their work, but they will also be a positive role-model for others. Below is a list of the behaviors expectations for the class, as well as how students will be evaluated on their behaviors.
This is an introductory class in which you will explore how chemistry, physics, earth and space science affect you, your environment and the world.
You will become proficient in all 8th grade State and National Standards that relate to:
1. Laboratory Skills, the Scientific Method and Engineering Design 2. Plate Tectonics
3. Weather and Climate 4. Chemistry
5. Physics 6. Astronomy
Materials
Students are to come to class everyday prepared to learn with the following materials
- A 3-4" school binder that doesn't zip, with dividers and lined paper
- Two pencils with lead and eraser
- Highlighter, one or more
- Pencil pouch
- Daily planner/calendar (provided)
- Textbook: Interactive Science Custom Textbook for 8th Grade Science
- Colored pencils / pens
- Dry erase marker
- Calculator
These rules are in place to provide a maximum learning environment for all individuals
1. Be respectful of yourself and your classmates, your teacher, and the school.
a. Please do not talk or get out of your seat while the teacher or other students are participating in classroom discussions.
b. Please do not touch other student’s belongings or lab supplies without permission.
c. Please keep our classroom clean.
d. Please do not write or remove things from the classroom.
e. Please treat lab and school equipment with care & respect.
2. Be responsible
a. Please be prepared to work, have materials and any homework with you before the tardy bell rings.
b. Please be on time. Tardy is not being in your seat, with supplies, and quiet when the bell rings.
3. Put forth effort in all work you do.
a. Pay attention in class, take notes, ask questions and participate in discussions about the material being studied.
b. Please do your work when asked and have all your work finished.
c. Do your own work, resist the temptation to copy or mimic other people, be an original!
4. Respect diversity and differences of opinion
a. Keep an open mind to others ideas and different perspectives
b. Please be mindful of your comments towards others
5. Be safe at all times
a. Please walk and move with care in our classroom – especially during labs.
b. Follow all lab and computer safety guidelines
Discipline Policy
Each student is expected to following the classroom rules for treating the school, teacher and others in a respectful manner, and will be held accountable for their actions and behavior while in class. If a student violates the classroom rules, appropriate action will follow to remedy the situation. In lab situations this will directly impact the lab performance grade and could result in removal for the experimental procedure.
Grading Policy and Levels of Proficiency
Grades will be based on the mastery of skills and concepts based on the State and Next Generation Science Standards for 8th grade as well as the Oregon Diploma Essential Skills. For each standard, students will be given multiple opportunities to work towards exceeds, and meeting proficient level work. Students are expected to put forth effort to re-do and correct any work below the Meets level.
Academic Grading Scale
4.0 Exceeds: In addition to meeting the course goals, students are able to make in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond what was taught in class. Students will have earned all Exceed scores with only a few in the Meeting category.
3.0 Meets: In-depth understanding of course goals. Majority of Meets or higher, no more than one In-Progress score.
2.0 In-Progress: Demonstrates understanding of basic course goals but there are errors or omissions of more complex ideas or processes. Mix of different scores; majority in Meeting or Progressing scores, no more than one Not-Yet score.
1.0 Partial: With help, a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes and some of the more complex ideas and processes.
0.0 Not Yet: Insufficient evidence to measure learning; three or more scores of Not Yet.
Synergy Grading Conversions
Exceeds 89.45-100% Meets 79.45-89.44% In-Progress 55-75.99% Partial 38-54.99% Not Yet: 0-37.99%
Behavior Expectations
While behaviors are not part of a students' grade in science, they are life long skills and as important as grades. It is obvious to say that if a student performs the following behaviors they will be successful in not only their work, but they will also be a positive role-model for others. Below is a list of the behaviors expectations for the class, as well as how students will be evaluated on their behaviors.
Assignments and Resources
Please check my website http://msbrownclass.weebly.com/ on a regular basis for information, assignments and homework, as well as learning and review resources. There are also helpful links to our Textbook, Google Classroom, and Synergy, just to name a few.
Online Accounts
Students are required to set-up a Google Classroom account, as many assignments will be completed and graded on-line. Our 8th grade science class code for Google Classroom is: 70xkpb
Students are also required to log-into their account for the on-line Interactive Science Textbook
Please check my website http://msbrownclass.weebly.com/ on a regular basis for information, assignments and homework, as well as learning and review resources. There are also helpful links to our Textbook, Google Classroom, and Synergy, just to name a few.
Online Accounts
Students are required to set-up a Google Classroom account, as many assignments will be completed and graded on-line. Our 8th grade science class code for Google Classroom is: 70xkpb
Students are also required to log-into their account for the on-line Interactive Science Textbook
Signature: Click on this link to serve as your signature.
Science and Engineering Practices
There are a number of skills that students must work towards mastering as they hone their Science and Engineering Practices. Below is a list of the skills and practices students should be working on throughout this course.
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Resources to Support Practices
On-Line Textbook: Interactive Science Link
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