Seventh
Grade Science
Introduction:
I
am the Seventh Grade Science for this year. I have been teaching 7th
Science for a number of years.
Philosophy:
I
believe that students are responsible for their own learning. It is my job to
provide you with as many different opportunities to be successful in learning
the course material.
My
job then is to be a facilitator of
learning rather then the dispenser of information. I intend to provide
situations where you have choices in how you may best learn the course
material. It is my hope that by providing students choices on how they learn,
we as a class can make this course a positive, enjoyable, and rewarding
learning experience.
Course Description:
Our Seventh
grade Science course is part of the
state’s suggested sequence of secondary science courses. The students will have
the opportunity to study the major topics of Life, Physical and Earth sciences
to a level of understanding described by the Washington State Essential
Learning’s (EALR’s) for Science. The course will be product driven in that
students will be engaged in variety of projects through out the course. Some
will be accomplished in a class period while others may take weeks to complete.
Each of the products is designed to accommodate various learning styles. I am
committed to providing product choices for my students whenever possible.
Classroom Work Environment:
Students will be allowed
to work collaborative in groups as teams or individually on all daily
assignments.
This privilege will be
lost if a student’s behavior causes them to be off task, disrupts the classroom
learning
environment, or
interferes with another student’s right to learn.
Grading Policy:
Student’s
final quarter grades are based primarily on their test scores. Daily assignments,
projects, presentations, and entry tasks are designed to prepare the student to
successfully master the course material as demonstrated by the student’s test
scores. However, the instructor will weigh these activities in determining the
student’s final grade for that quarter.
Approximate
weight of each category:
Assessments of Learning
(Tests, Quizzes, Projects, Presentations) – 80%
Assignments/homework/ Entry
Tasks -20%
The
instructor retains to the right to modify the weight of each category depending
on the focus of the course at that time. Students and parents are encouraged to
check with instructor if they have any concern regarding their grades. The
instructor has been known on occasion to make errors. An error corrected early
prevents hurt feelings later on.
Daily Routine:
-Entry
Task:
-Review/Correct Entry Task:
-Instructor
presentation or Class Activity
The instructor either
presents information on a topic or the student’s are involved in an
activity/activities
that is related to a
presented topic.
-Activity/Work time:
If applicable for the
topic of study, students will be given a block of time to complete instructor
designed or
student
designed projects.
Weekly Routine:
The
routine for the week will be varied. There will be significant amount of
reading in the text and supplemental sources- newspaper, magazines, and library
books. The instructor may make several presentations during the week. Time for
working on daily assignments (short answer questions, lab work, short or long
term project work, or student presentations, will make up the remainder of the
class time.
Course Outline:
Scientific
Inquiry/Measurement
Forces
and Motion
Weather
and Climate
Interior
Forces/Rocks and Minerals
Exterior
Forces and Geological History
Cells/Life
Processes
Ecology
Science Web Pages: (www.manson.org)
I
have on my website (http://169.204.146.130/pauly/7th%20Grade%20Integrated%20Science.html)
a
variety of resources: including interesting sites on the Internet, as well as
courses information (lecture notes, assignment lists, enrichment activities,
practice tests, project information, and a course calendar).
I
encourage you and your family to use it both at school and at home.
Required Materials:
Students are required to
have the following materials:
1.
Writing
utensils: a pen and one pencil
2.
A
3 ring notebook
3.
A
spiral notebook to be used as learning
log.
Students or Parental Concerns:
If students have any
questions or concerns about the course at any time please feel free to
meet
with me as soon as possible. If parents have a concern please contact me by
email, a
note
or a phone call. I will try to respond to you that same day.
C
Pauly