At the beginning of the school year, each student received a copy of the class policies and syllabus, and lab safety contract. Students were instructed to have a parent/guardian sign the paper and bring it back.
Classroom
Policies & Syllabus - Lab
Safety
Or you may read about the class policy, lab safety, or syllabus by clicking on one of the links.
Student Information and Responsibilities for Eighth Grade Physical Science
2008-2009 Policies, Procedures, and Syllabus
| Teacher: | Mrs. Jacque Middleton | Web address: | http://www.auburnschools.org/ajhs/jmiddleton/ | |
| Textbook: | McDougal Littell Physical Science 2006 | Email: | jmiddleton@auburnschools.org |
Purpose of Course: The eighth grade course is a hands-on oriented approach to the study of physical science. The topics covered include:
1. The Scientific Method in Problem Solving, Variables, and Observations
2. Chemistry and Lab Skills development with emphasis on measurement, characteristic properties of substances, solubility, and various ways to separate different types of mixtures
3. Physics of everyday processes with applications to machines
4. Energy and its various types, and how it can be changed to other types of energy
The students do laboratory activities and collect their own information. Mathematics is an important part of the course. The students collect numerical data and learn to organize and interpret this data. The students generally like this hands-on approach to the study of science, but parents must realize that this approach differs from the way other subjects are taught.
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Classroom Policies |
Welcome to your 8th grade science class at AJHS!
Class Expectations For us to have a successful year together in science class, you should know what I expect of you.
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Student Behavior Expectations and Tigers “R” In the Classroom |
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| BE RESPECTFUL | BE RESPONSIBLE | BE READY |
| Follow all adult instructions. | Bring all materials to class. | Be on time. |
| Be considerate of classmates. | Keep your area clean. | Be prepared for class to begin. |
| Use polite and appropriate language. | Keep up with assignments and due dates. | Move quickly to your seat. |
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Follow acceptable use policy for all technology. |
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In the event that you choose to violate one of the classroom expectations, the following will result:
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Warning (After three warnings an "N" on your report card)-
Student Behavior Conference (Automatic "N" on your report card)-
Parent Communication-
Parent Conference (Unimproved behavior results in a "U" on your report card)-
Office Referral (Automatic "U" on report card)-
Severe Disruptions or Fighting will result in Office Referral.
Class Procedures
| Bell Work | To be found on board/projector each day |
| Almost every day when you come into the classroom, there will be a short question for you to copy the question down and answer the question. I expect you to be in your seat and starting the Bell Work when the bell rings. You should complete this work on a Bell Work sheet. | |
| Composition Books | To be updated daily |
| We will spend time setting up your composition book in a specific way to help you stay organized. You should plan on looking over the notes in your composition books for about 10 minutes each night. If you are absent, you are responsible for either copying the missed notes from another student, or from Mrs. Middleton’s electronic composition notebook copy posted on her website. You will be asked to turn in your composition book 2-3 times a month, to be checked both for completion, and to grade certain assignments. Your composition book is EXTREMELY important. | |
| Textbooks | To be found in class |
| We have a class set of textbooks available for our use in our classroom. You also have an option of checking out a textbook. | |
| Homework | To be found on the board/on-line |
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You are expected to look over your notes for 10 minutes each night, and this is an ongoing “assignment” for you. Other homework assignments will be assigned once-twice a week, and are expected to be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date given for the assignment. |
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Labs are designed to be completed during class. For a variety of reasons (equipment malfunction, lack of student focus, etc.), you may find that you do not have lab work completed by the end of the period. You may complete post-lab questions and turn the lab in the following day for full credit if the lab is being collected.
| 1. Quizzes/Tests: Tests are usually given once a week and cover recent material gone over in class during that time as well as the lab work done in class. Tests may also be given at the conclusion of a unit. A test maybe re-taken for full credit within five schools days for taking the original test by losing four TIGER STRIPE points. Even with test retakes available, students must fully prepare for each and every test or quiz. |
A |
100-90 |
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B |
89-80 | |
| 2. Laboratory work: Most days, students will be doing lab activities in class. Each individual student's lab work is graded, although students usually work with other students as lab partners. Since lab work is the main focus of the course, it is difficult to send this type of work home when a student is absent. If a student misses a class when a lab activity is scheduled, they are expected to complete make-up work that corresponds with the laboratory objectives to receive credit for missed class time. | C | 79-70 |
| D | 69-65 | |
| 3. Homework: Most of the time the work the students bring home will be finishing a lab or classwork we are working on. Other times though, there will be selected questions from various sources that will be assigned or a worksheet will be given. The questions are gone over in class the following day and many times the students will see similar questions on tests or quizzes. It is imperative that students read the pages assigned for homework. Too often, students are just starting their assignment when they enter class, and then they wonder why they don’t understand it. Being rushed doesn’t help the thinking process. This is why homework is meant to be done at home, and prior to class. Homework that is turned in after the teacher collects it, results in a loss of one TIGER STRIPE point. So even if the assignment is done, you forget to turn it in on time, or forget it at home will still only cost you a TIGER STRIPE point. Homework turned in later than 5 days will not be accepted. | F | 64-below |
How Can I Succeed in Science?
Turn in your homework. The sole reason students do not do well in this science class is failure to complete and turn in homework assignments. A student who turns in all work, regardless of test scores, etc., should have a C- in science. That is how I structure grades. It is *crucial* for you to turn in your completed homework.
Take notes in class and spend 10 minutes per night looking back over them. Studying the night before a quiz or a test is not a smart practice. If you determine that you do not understand something, it is hard to find the time to get help if you've discovered this last minute. In addition, all research shows that you remember the material better if you study as you go along.
Ask questions when you do not understand something. As a 9th grader, I expect you to take initiative and come ask for help when you need it. I am available to help you both before and after school. I get here at ~7AM and leave at the earliest at 3:30 PM. Plenty of time to answer questions...
Turn in your homework. Did I mention this already?
Be skeptical of any results you get in an experiment. Sometimes the answer isn't the most obvious one, and sometimes, I will throw you a red herring to get you to think a bit.
Use the website I've provided you. You can find out homework assignments there, download copies of handouts and labs if you are absent or lost your copy, and find links to help you understand concepts.
Send me an e-mail. I'm a techie geek. If you're having trouble with homework or concepts, e-mail me. I'm very responsive to student e-mails.
Have fun! Whether you want to be a scientist or not, you will always do better in science if you have a good attitude and enjoy yourself.
Ask for help. If you know you will have difficulty completing an assignment, ask for help. Be proactive in keeping your grade high!
Required Class Supplies:
Students should bring these items to class with them every day. Failure to do so will result in students missing opportunities for key instruction. Coming to class without your supplies will result in the loss of a TIGER STRIPE point.
1) Bound Composition book. No spirals.
2) Science section (labeled) in binder.
3) Set of colored pencils (8 colors are plenty).
4) Metric ruler
5) Simple Five-Function Calculator
6) 2 Rolls of Scotch Tape
7) Pens and Pencils (no purple or red pens).
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Lab Safety Rules |
There are many specifics in the lab safety contract, but there are also some general guidelines in place in our classroom to keep you safe:
1.
Students will refrain from needless wandering around.We sometimes deal with glassware (breakable things), chemicals, and hot things. It is easy to walk into the path of someone carrying these items. If you need to ask me a question, raise your hand and wait...PLEASE! If your lab group needs to get chemicals from the front of the room, designate ONE person to always get supplies for your group.
2.
Students will wear goggles when dealing with fire, hot substances, and most chemicals....and not on top of your head either! We have a great goggle cabinet that disinfects our goggles. Germs are no excuse, and neither is fashion. You won't be very fashionable with an eye patch or permanent facial scarring. Trust me, this will become habit.
3.
When in doubt: read your lab sheet, ask your lab group, and if your question still isn't answered, ask me!I shouldn't be your first resource, but you shouldn't be afraid to ask me a question about how to do something if you really don't understand.
4.
Consequences are more severe during lab.These rules are here for your safety. If I see you repeatedly breaking the rules, I will remove you from the current lab activity, and maybe for more labs, depending on the particular case.
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Pacing Guide |
Physical science is roughly a nine-weeks of chemistry and a nine- weeks of physics. However, many other aspects of science will be addressed, including earth science, astronomy, and life science.
UNIT |
(Topic Covered Chapter) |
Time Elapsed |
Course Of StudyObjectives |
METHODS OF SCIENCE |
(Science Skills, Lab Equipment, Lab Safety, Graphing, Math) |
9 days |
1 |
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER |
(Solids, Liquids, & Gases Chapter 1, Properties of Matter Chapter 2; Solutions Chapter 8) |
10 days |
4,6 |
PERIODIC TABLE, ELEMENTS, & THEIR PROPERTIES |
(Structure of the Atom, Periodic Table, Elements & Their Properties Chapter 5) |
12 days |
2,3 |
CHEMICAL BONDS & CHEMICAL REACTIONS |
(Types of Bonds, Electron-dot Diagrams Chapter 6; Chemical Reactions, Types of Reactions, Balancing Equations Chapter 7) |
12 days |
5 |
FORCES & MOTION |
(Motion, Speed Acceleration Chapter 10; Force, Mass Momentum Chapter 11; Simple Machines Chapter 14; Gravity, Friction, Pressure Chapter 12) |
20 days |
7,8,9 |
ENERGY BASICS |
(Energy, Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, Conservation of Energy Chapter 13) |
15 days |
10,11 |
WAVES, SOUND, & LIGHT |
(Measuring Waves Chapter 15; Sound, Frequency, Intensity Chapter 16; Electromagnetic Waves, Visible Light Chapter17) |
15 days |
12 |
FINAL |
(Review Chapter 1-8; 10-17) |
2 days |
1-12 |
I verify that I and my child _______________________________________have gone over the course requirements and we understand it is my child's obligation to follow them and we will work together with the teacher to meet them.
Student signature
Parent/Guardian signature
Parent/Guardian phone number(s) (day) (cell)
Parent/Guardian Email address