7th Grade Syllabus
Life Science
2013-2014
Ms. Brosnan
[email protected]
Class Description and Goals
Science is mankind’s effort to learn about our world through the processes of observation and experimentation. Along with learning basic science processes, skills, and developing scientific literacy, our class will be focusing on the following five areas this year:
- From Bacteria to Plants
- Cells and Heredity
- Human Biology and Health
- Environmental Science
My main goal, as your teacher, is to help you succeed both in the classroom and in life. Science is a fascinating and applicable subject that helps us better understand the workings of the world around us. I want each of you to fall in love with learning, develop important skills and scientific literacy that will help guide you throughout your life. No matter how old we get, our ability to learn and understand new things plays an important role in our lives. I want each of you to become lifelong learners!
Textbooks
Students will be issued their own copy of Prentice Hall Science Explorer. This textbook should be brought home to help with homework and preparing for tests as it covers much of the same content.
Materials Needed
Along with the usual school materials (paper and a pen or pencil), each of you will need to purchase a 1 or 1½ inch binder and five dividers. This binder will become your “journal” for the duration of the school year. Each day, you will be asked to record your thoughts, observations, and knowledge of various science concepts in your binder. This binder will also serve as a place to store your warm-ups, “exit tickets”, “classwork”, “homework”, and “graded work”. This binder (or portions from) will be collected and checked periodically and will make up a sufficient part of your academic grade.
* If you prefer a notebook, you must have a folder.
Attendance
You are required to attend class on time every day. This is one of the most fundamental ways to ensure that one learns what needs to be learned in class. If timeliness becomes a problem, parents will be contacted.
When you are absent, you will still be held accountable for the learning that has taken place while you were gone. There is a filing container, labeled “While You Were Out” containing your missed assignments in the front of the classroom. Each student will be assigned an “Absent Buddy”, who will complete a “While You Were Out” form that details your missed work. The Buddy will also put any worksheets or handouts in this folder. It is your responsibility to locate this from the container and finish any assignments that you missed while you were absent. If a student is absent, they will have the number of days they were absent to complete any missed work. (Example: If a student is absent on Monday, the work is due at the beginning of class Wednesday.)
Classroom Procedures
All of us have certain routines that we go through each day (e.g., getting ready in the morning, the route we take to school, preparing and eating meals). These routines save us time and simplify the tasks we must perform. In a similar way, there are classroom routines, or “procedures,” that help a class function more effectively as a whole. The following are a few of the most important...
· First 5 Minutes: You are expected to turn in any homework/assignments in the “Turn-In” tray located at the “Student Station” in the front of the classroom.
· Last 5 Minutes: You will remain at your desk to answer the days “Exit Ticket” until you are excused.
These and other procedures will be taught and followed throughout the school year to help us use our class time effectively and get the most out of each period together.
Academic Grade
The following grade scale will be used in class:
A 93%–100%
B 85%–92%
C 77%-84%
D 70%–76%
F Below 70
Tests & Projects 30 %
Quizzes 30 %
Classwork 20 %
Homework 20 %
Homework
Homework is an important part of the curriculum and essential to reinforcing material that was taught in class. Homework is posted on the board every day and on the class website. Students should copy it into their agenda at the beginning of class. Homework is considered late if it is incomplete and/or not in the “Turn-In” file at the start of class. Also, when students do not have their homework, they must fill out the “Missing Homework” form in lieu of turning in their home. (See ‘Late Work’ for grading policy.)
Assignments (Worksheets, Activities, Labs, etc.)
Much of the work we will do is “in class work,” meaning we do it together in class. As long as you attend class daily and work hard, there is no reason why you can’t successfully accomplish these assignments during class.
Quizzes and Tests
Short quizzes will be given on a regular basis to ensure that you comprehend the content we’re learning together in class. At the end of each unit, a larger unit test will also be administered. Notes are not allowed during these tests, and there will be no retakes. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to study and prepare at home prior to test day. Review worksheets and/or study guides will be given out regularly to aid you in your review of the material. Time will be set-aside during class prior to the test to go over anything you want to have clarified.
Lab Activities
A good portion of the science curriculum involves hands-on lab activities. Students and parents are required to read and sign the Laboratory Safety Contract. ANY inappropriate behavior will NOT be tolerated for the safety of everyone in the room. Students who cannot conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner during a hands-on activity will be given written work to do instead.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted up to one day after the due date. Late penalty for homework will be half off the assignment. (Each homework assignment will be graded for completion and will be out of 2 points.)
Discipline Plan
“The teacher has the right to teach, and each student has the right to learn.” To help protect such rights, and to ensure that everyone is completely able to learn and succeed in class, I have established the following rules and consequences:
Classroom Rules
1. Listen to instruction and others when speaking.
2. Enter and Exit Prepared.
3. Always try your best.
4. Respect.
5. Never Give up and No Excuses!
If You Choose to Break a Rule ...
· 1st time: verbal warning
· 2nd time: verbal/written warning
· 3rd time: Students will spend their lunch and/or recess time with the teacher; parents may be contacted
· Severe disruptions: sent immediately to principal; parents contacted
Teacher’s Right
As the teacher, I reserve the right to make changes to these policies or procedures as needed. Parents and students will be notified.
Class Web Site
Students and parents are encouraged to visit this site regularly for announcements, daily homework assignments, calendar of events, helpful documents, and other important information. Bookmark (or add to Favorites) the page below the first time you go to it:
www.scienceofthemills.weebly.com
In addition to the class website, I also like to contact parents on a regular basis about student progress and classroom participation. Please fill out the information neatly on the next page so that I may contact you as easily as possible.
Contact Information:
Ms. Tina Brosnan
St. Mary Of The Mills
(301) 498-1433
[email protected]
www.scienceofthemills.weebly.com
*E-mail is the best way to reach me. I will do my best to return all e-mails and calls within 24 hrs.
Life Science
2013-2014
Ms. Brosnan
[email protected]
Class Description and Goals
Science is mankind’s effort to learn about our world through the processes of observation and experimentation. Along with learning basic science processes, skills, and developing scientific literacy, our class will be focusing on the following five areas this year:
- From Bacteria to Plants
- Cells and Heredity
- Human Biology and Health
- Environmental Science
My main goal, as your teacher, is to help you succeed both in the classroom and in life. Science is a fascinating and applicable subject that helps us better understand the workings of the world around us. I want each of you to fall in love with learning, develop important skills and scientific literacy that will help guide you throughout your life. No matter how old we get, our ability to learn and understand new things plays an important role in our lives. I want each of you to become lifelong learners!
Textbooks
Students will be issued their own copy of Prentice Hall Science Explorer. This textbook should be brought home to help with homework and preparing for tests as it covers much of the same content.
Materials Needed
Along with the usual school materials (paper and a pen or pencil), each of you will need to purchase a 1 or 1½ inch binder and five dividers. This binder will become your “journal” for the duration of the school year. Each day, you will be asked to record your thoughts, observations, and knowledge of various science concepts in your binder. This binder will also serve as a place to store your warm-ups, “exit tickets”, “classwork”, “homework”, and “graded work”. This binder (or portions from) will be collected and checked periodically and will make up a sufficient part of your academic grade.
* If you prefer a notebook, you must have a folder.
Attendance
You are required to attend class on time every day. This is one of the most fundamental ways to ensure that one learns what needs to be learned in class. If timeliness becomes a problem, parents will be contacted.
When you are absent, you will still be held accountable for the learning that has taken place while you were gone. There is a filing container, labeled “While You Were Out” containing your missed assignments in the front of the classroom. Each student will be assigned an “Absent Buddy”, who will complete a “While You Were Out” form that details your missed work. The Buddy will also put any worksheets or handouts in this folder. It is your responsibility to locate this from the container and finish any assignments that you missed while you were absent. If a student is absent, they will have the number of days they were absent to complete any missed work. (Example: If a student is absent on Monday, the work is due at the beginning of class Wednesday.)
Classroom Procedures
All of us have certain routines that we go through each day (e.g., getting ready in the morning, the route we take to school, preparing and eating meals). These routines save us time and simplify the tasks we must perform. In a similar way, there are classroom routines, or “procedures,” that help a class function more effectively as a whole. The following are a few of the most important...
· First 5 Minutes: You are expected to turn in any homework/assignments in the “Turn-In” tray located at the “Student Station” in the front of the classroom.
· Last 5 Minutes: You will remain at your desk to answer the days “Exit Ticket” until you are excused.
These and other procedures will be taught and followed throughout the school year to help us use our class time effectively and get the most out of each period together.
Academic Grade
The following grade scale will be used in class:
A 93%–100%
B 85%–92%
C 77%-84%
D 70%–76%
F Below 70
Tests & Projects 30 %
Quizzes 30 %
Classwork 20 %
Homework 20 %
Homework
Homework is an important part of the curriculum and essential to reinforcing material that was taught in class. Homework is posted on the board every day and on the class website. Students should copy it into their agenda at the beginning of class. Homework is considered late if it is incomplete and/or not in the “Turn-In” file at the start of class. Also, when students do not have their homework, they must fill out the “Missing Homework” form in lieu of turning in their home. (See ‘Late Work’ for grading policy.)
Assignments (Worksheets, Activities, Labs, etc.)
Much of the work we will do is “in class work,” meaning we do it together in class. As long as you attend class daily and work hard, there is no reason why you can’t successfully accomplish these assignments during class.
Quizzes and Tests
Short quizzes will be given on a regular basis to ensure that you comprehend the content we’re learning together in class. At the end of each unit, a larger unit test will also be administered. Notes are not allowed during these tests, and there will be no retakes. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to study and prepare at home prior to test day. Review worksheets and/or study guides will be given out regularly to aid you in your review of the material. Time will be set-aside during class prior to the test to go over anything you want to have clarified.
Lab Activities
A good portion of the science curriculum involves hands-on lab activities. Students and parents are required to read and sign the Laboratory Safety Contract. ANY inappropriate behavior will NOT be tolerated for the safety of everyone in the room. Students who cannot conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner during a hands-on activity will be given written work to do instead.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted up to one day after the due date. Late penalty for homework will be half off the assignment. (Each homework assignment will be graded for completion and will be out of 2 points.)
Discipline Plan
“The teacher has the right to teach, and each student has the right to learn.” To help protect such rights, and to ensure that everyone is completely able to learn and succeed in class, I have established the following rules and consequences:
Classroom Rules
1. Listen to instruction and others when speaking.
2. Enter and Exit Prepared.
3. Always try your best.
4. Respect.
5. Never Give up and No Excuses!
If You Choose to Break a Rule ...
· 1st time: verbal warning
· 2nd time: verbal/written warning
· 3rd time: Students will spend their lunch and/or recess time with the teacher; parents may be contacted
· Severe disruptions: sent immediately to principal; parents contacted
Teacher’s Right
As the teacher, I reserve the right to make changes to these policies or procedures as needed. Parents and students will be notified.
Class Web Site
Students and parents are encouraged to visit this site regularly for announcements, daily homework assignments, calendar of events, helpful documents, and other important information. Bookmark (or add to Favorites) the page below the first time you go to it:
www.scienceofthemills.weebly.com
In addition to the class website, I also like to contact parents on a regular basis about student progress and classroom participation. Please fill out the information neatly on the next page so that I may contact you as easily as possible.
Contact Information:
Ms. Tina Brosnan
St. Mary Of The Mills
(301) 498-1433
[email protected]
www.scienceofthemills.weebly.com
*E-mail is the best way to reach me. I will do my best to return all e-mails and calls within 24 hrs.