Syllabus
Tanglewood Middle School
2022-23
Ms. Maureen Phend
Email: mphend@greenville.k12.sc.us
Phone: 864-355-4549
Room 621
Daily Schedule:
6th Grade
Huddle
7:50-7:57
On-Track Period
8:30 - 8:55
2nd Period
9:00-9:55
3rd Period
10:00-10:55
4th Period
11:00-11:55
Lunch
12:00-12:30
5th Period
12:35-1:35
6th Period
Related Arts
1:38-2:24
7th Period
Related Arts
2:29-3:15
Units of Study
1st Quarter: Lab Safety and Energy Transfer & Conservation
2nd Quarter: Earth’s Weather & Climate
3rd Quarter: Classification of Living Things & Animal Adaption and Survival
4th Quarter: Protists, Fungi and Plants & Review for State Testing
(Pace is set by student understanding. Some units may carry over into the next quarter as needed.)
Units of Instruction will be based on the SC Science Standards for 6th Grade Science. You can go to SC Department of Education website to view the standards, or click on the following link and scroll down to see the SC 6th Grade Standards: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/offices/cso/standards/science/documents/ScienceStandardsNov182005_001.doc.
The SC Science Standards for the sixth grade provide the foundation for a course that is based on a rich and wide variety of learning experiences that actively engage students and accommodate a broad range of student learning styles through varied materials and instructional strategies. Students should observe, interact with materials and with people, and ask questions as they explore new concepts and expand their knowledge.
Course Description
The focus for science in grade six is to provide students with a foundation for hands-on experiences that allow for the active engagement and concrete examples that students require in order to understand basic science concepts. Sixth graders continue to develop the investigative skills they have been acquiring since kindergarten, now expanding them to include the skill of differentiating between observation and inference. Specifically, students explore the life, earth, and physical sciences within the framework of the following topics: “Structures, Processes, and Responses of Plants” (structure and function of plants); “Structures, Processes, and Responses of Animals” (structure and function of animals); “Earth’s Atmosphere and Weather” (atmospheric properties and processes); and “Conservation of Energy” (properties of energy, work, and machines).
The skills and tools listed in the scientific inquiry sections will be assessed on statewide tests independently from the content knowledge in the respective grade or high school core area under which they are listed. Moreover, scientific inquiry standards and indicators will be assessed cumulatively. Therefore, as students progress through the grade levels, they are responsible for the scientific inquiry indicators—including knowledge of the use of tools—in all their earlier grades.
Instructional Procedures
In addition to the provided teacher materials from Discovery Education Science Techbook, I will be utilizing a variety of strategies and resources for my instruction and planning.
The student resources are:
Discovery Education Science Techbook
Class notes and handouts
Google Classroom: I will post the majority of our resources on here. Students will have access to them at school and at home. I also encourage parents to get to know this site with their student.
Behavior Plan
Classroom expectations:
1. Be on time to class.
2. Be prepared for class each day. (pencil, paper, Chromebook, notebook, textbook)
3. Be on task.
4. Be respectful to all, and follow our SOCIAL CONTRACT (please ask your child about this)
Disciplinary Steps:
Step One: Verbal warning, one mark
Step Two: Parent contact, one mark and lunch detention.
Step Three: Team conference with parent and student
Step Four: Referral
Note: In extreme cases, the student will be sent directly to the school’s administration.
Student Assessments
Grading Scale:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=59 or below
Evaluation of Student Progress:
Students will be graded, for mastery, on classwork, homework, quizzes, tests, labs and projects. Bonus work will be made available, IF the student has completed all required assignments. 100% effort is rewarded in every way possible.
Calculation of Grades:
50% of the grade will be Minor Assignments: quizzes, class-work, homework, labs, and science notebook (SNB)
50% of the grade will be Major Assignments: chapter tests, benchmark tests, projects, multi-day labs.
Missed Work/Make-up Policy:
Students are responsible for their missed assignments. Sufficient time will be given to make-up missed work.