Eighth Grade Physical Science

Mrs. Hunt

Room 201

Email: ehunt@mariemontschools.org

       

 

TEXTBOOK:

Physical Science with Earth Science

Glencoe Science 2006

 

Welcome to eighth grade science!  The new school year promises new and exciting learning experiences for everyone.  I hope that students will develop and continue to use science process skills that will help them think critically and scientifically.  This packet will explain the requirements and expectations for succeeding in this class.  It is my hope that this guide will help you achieve your potential in the up and coming year.

 

Eighth Grade Science Curriculum:

* Laboratory Skills & Safety                        * The Earth, Moon, & Solar System

* Principles of Science                                 * Waves

* Scientific Measurement                            * Stars & Galaxies

* Motion & Forces                                        * Classification of Matter

* Energy

 

Classroom Expectations:

* Be respectful of your teacher and your classmates

* Be on time and come prepared

* Stay on task

* Have fun and enjoy science

 

Consequences:

* First offense – Verbal Warning

* Second offense – Reflection, writing assignment, possible detention

* Third offense – Detention

* Fourth offense – Office Referral

 

Grading Scale:

92% - 100%           A

83% - 91%             B

74% - 82%            C

65% - 73%            D

64% and Below       F

 

Tests and Quizzes:

Tests and quizzes may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in, short answer, calculations, and essays.  Please correct mistakes on tests as we review them.  You must save all of your tests for exam preparation.

 

Extra Credit:

There are many extra credit opportunities throughout the year.  Each week, you may read an article related to science in a magazine or newspaper, and then write a summary, your opinion, and the source and turn it in.  For a well done article review, I expect a ½ page summary, and ½ page opinion.  You can get up to 10 points a week for an article review.  No extra credit will be accepted the last week of any quarter.  You will usually be limited to one extra credit item per week.

 

Materials:

The following materials should be brought to class each day:

          * A binder with the following sections:

                   * Handouts

                   * Graded Worksheets

                   * Labs

                   * Tests/Quizzes

                   * Loose-leaf Paper

                   ** Binder Pocket: This is where you should put homework when it is complete

                   and ready to turn in

          * A spiral notebook with binder holes for warm-ups and notes

          * Pen and pencil

          * Metric and English ruler to use at home (inches should be divided into 16ths)

          * Highlighter

          * A green pocket folder should be kept at home for non-current material

 

Make-Up Work:

* It is your responsibility to come and see me before or after school to get your make-up work when you are absent.  Make-up work needs to be completed according to school policy.  This means that you have the number of days you were absent plus 1 to get work turned in.  If the work is not turned in within the appropriate time period, it will turn into a zero.  I am not responsible for reminding you about make-up work!!!

* If you were in school when an assignment was assigned, but are absent on the due date, the assignment is to be turned in on the day you get back to school.

* If you miss a test/quiz while you are absent, you must make it up before or after school or during a study hall.  You cannot take it during class time.  If you do not make it up in an appropriate time period, you will be assigned a detention where you can make it up.

 

Homework:

Yes, there will be homework!  I will post homework assignments on the board as well as on progress book.  It is your responsibility to copy the homework assignments into your plan book at the beginning of the bell.  The eighth grade homework policy is that late homework receives a zero!  (If there are exceptional circumstances, please talk to me.)  Homework is considered late if it is not turned in when I collect it.  On nights that there is no assigned work, you should spend 20 minutes reviewing the day's work, current chapter, or organizing your binder.  Most assignments need to be answered in complete sentences and all calculations need to have set-ups and units.

 

Lab Safety:

I am very concerned about safety in the classroom. Dangerous behavior, such as unsupervised use of chemicals or glassware, running in the lab, throwing objects, or pushing, will be dealt with immediately. If this occurs, you will forfeit any points that you would have earned for that period or lab.  There will usually be equipment set up around the classroom and I ask that you PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO USE IT.  This will result in an automatic detention.

 

Proper Lab Format:

Many labs are completed on a handout where it is only necessary to finish certain parts of the lab.  Some labs will require a full lab write-up which needs to be typed.  Depending on the lab, you will be asked to complete several or all of the lab parts described below:

         

Title:……………… Should indicate the nature of the experiment.

Purpose: ……… What you are testing and trying to determine.

Hypothesis:…… What you think the outcome will be and why.

Materials:……… What equipment and materials were used.

Procedure:……… The steps followed to test your hypothesis.  This should include

enough detail so that someone could follow your exact experiment.

Data/Results:… What was the outcome?  Data should be given in a way that can be

quickly and easily examined like in a graph or chart.

Conclusions:…… This includes two parts.  The first is a statement about whether your hypothesis was correct or not.  The second is a discussion of the results such as: How do the results compare to the hypothesis and why?, Did the data contain unexpected results and why?, What was the effect of altering the variable?, or Why do you think the experiment turned out the way it did?

 

Communication:

I strongly advocate close student/teacher/parent communication. I will be making numerous parent contacts throughout the year for various reasons. If you need to contact me, the best way is to email me at the address listed above.  Also, feel free to leave me a message on my voicemail (272-7300) if you prefer this mode of communication.  Remember, if you have a question about homework, you should email me or see me before or after school.  If it is not complete when class begins, then you will lose points.  Please contact me with any questions or comments you have regarding the syllabus or the class in general.

 

 

Parents,

        To help advocate your child’s success in this class, it would be helpful to review this syllabus with your child.  Please sign below indicating that you and your child have read and understand the syllabus.  I would also appreciate if you could provide some information to help keep the communication lines as open as possible.  Again, I am looking forward to a great school year.  Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

 

 

Thank you,

 

 

 

Emily Hunt

 

 

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