Our Year at a Glance

8th Grade Honors Science covers all 3 types of science:
Physical, Earth, and Life Science!

Subjects Covered Include:

• Lab Safety

• Changes in and Properties of Matter

• Force and Motion

• Properties of Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

• The Universe

• Weather and Climatic Influences

• Ecological Succession

• Ecosystem Biodiversity, Stability, and Sustainability

• Structures and Functions of Cells

• Genetics, Inheritance, and Variation

All 8th Grade TEKs can be found here 🙂

8th Grade Honors Science Syllabus

2026-2027

Instructor:

Kari Potter
kari.potter@argyleisd.com
940-900-3505
Conference Time: 6th Period 1:15 PM - 2:05 PM

Tutorials: School days during advisory and Tuesdays before or after school (see below).

Course Description:

8th grade Honors Science is a combination of Physical, Earth, and Life Science. Students will explore topics such as changes in and properties of matter, force and motion, properties of waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, the universe, weather and climatic influences, ecological succession, ecosystem biodiversity, stability, and sustainability, structures and functions of cells, and genetics, inheritance, and variation.

Review the 8th Grade Science Texas Learning Standards (TEKs) here 

Daily Supplies: 

Students’ science folder, a pencil and earbuds/headphones are expected to come each day. Our curriculum follows HMH Into Science (overview). Please ask your student to show you how they access the online HMH workbook and resources through ClassLink.

Grading Policy: 

Classwork & Quizzes (formative) - 40% of the total average

Tests & Projects (summative) - 60% of the total average

Redoing Tests/Assignments:

Retests and/or corrections are allowed on any major assessment that a student scores below a 70. Students will only be given 1 opportunity to retest or do corrections to earn no higher than a 70. The teacher of the course may require students to attend tutorial sessions and/or complete any missing work from the unit of study prior to taking the retest or completing the corrections.

Once the failed assessment is returned to the student the student will have up to one week to complete all necessary remediation and complete the retest/test corrections.

Late Work:

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a penalty of up to (10) points per class meeting deducted from the earned grade with a maximum of 30 points deducted. Minor grade assignments (classwork, homework, minor quizzes, etc.) will be accepted for a grade (not to exceed 70%) until the major grade assignment (tests, exams, projects, etc.) for that content is completed or until the teacher documents personal contact with a student’s parents regarding a late assignment.

Absent Work:

Students will be allowed the number of days they were absent to complete make-up work. For example, if they missed 3 days, they will have 3 days once they return to turn in the classwork/homework. Any assignment not made up within the allotted time will be considered missing. If the student misses an extended amount of time, please communicate with the teacher to set up a plan for assignment completion. If the student misses a test or quiz, a time will be set up during Advisory period for the student to come in to complete the test.

Skyward:
Please monitor your students' grades in all courses on Skyward.

Weekly Vocabulary Quizzes:

A solid knowledge of the academic vocabulary in each unit is essential for success. Weekly vocabulary quizzes will be completed every Friday to ensure students are keeping up with the current and former unit vocabulary terms. These vocabulary words are available in their Science folder as well as on Google Classroom. The quizzes are fill in the blank and the student will read the definition and select the word from the word bank that goes with the definition. 

These weekly vocabulary quizzes will be minor formative grades.

Legends of Learning:

This online program is a fantastic way for students to review concepts we are currently learning. The program can be accessed via Google Classroom and is for enrichment purposes only. The lessons are not required to be completed, but they are highly recommended! The games and practice assessment questions assigned align with the state standards (TEKs), and the students really seem to enjoy the games.

Tutorials:  

Tutorials will mostly happen through the advisory period but may also be requested and made by appointment with the teacher for Tuesday mornings from 8:00 to 8:25 and Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-4:20.

Class Expectations:

Students will be expected to

• Come prepared

• Work hard

• Respect one another and our classroom

• Be kind

• Take accountability

• Accept responsibility

• Ask questions

• Participate

• Have fun! 🙂

- It is going to be an outstanding school year! -