Students enrolled in Accelerated Physical Science are subject-accelerated, meaning they are taking a high school-level course while in 8th grade. A Written Acceleration Plan will be provided at the beginning of the year for parent/guardian review and signature.
There is a 9-week transition period during which students may move to regular 8th Grade Science.
Academic support is available during Academy and by teacher request.
Students receive regular feedback through lab reports and homework assignments.
Tests are administered every 3–5 weeks and cover several standards.
Students cannot retake Physical Science in high school.
This course is as rigorous as high school Physical Science, possibly more so:
Students will cover all 8th Grade Science standards (life, earth, and physical sciences) in addition to all high school Physical Science standards (chemistry and physics).
Students must keep pace with a fast-moving curriculum and engage deeply with both lab work and written assignments.
Students will take the 8th Grade Science Ohio State Test in the spring, as there is no separate test for high school Physical Science.
Final grades will count toward the student’s middle school GPA and appear on their high school transcript (but will not affect their high school GPA).
Students are expected to continue with a science course every year in high school.
Homework: Homework will be assigned on an as-needed basis. There is no set amount of homework that will be assigned each week. Additionally, homework may or may not be taken for a grade on any given day. This is up to my discretion.
Lab Activities: Students will regularly participate in inquiry-based activities that will count as a grade. If working in groups, each group members’ lab sheet will be graded SEPARATELY. Therefore, each student is responsible for their own recordings, observations, and conclusions. Not all group members may earn the same grade.
Bell Work: Each day there will be a question that should be answered on a separate sheet of paper as soon as the students gets to class. Within the first 5 minutes of class, we will go over the question as a class. This questions review previous material or help transition into new material.
Tests/Quizzes: The majority of your grade will be made up of tests and/or quizzes. Students will take tests and quizzes that are focused on one or two units of content. Tests and quizzes will be given approximately once or twice each topic. During the year students will be required to take "team tests". Team tests do NOT have to have the same questions, but WILL cover the same concepts. This allows students to discuss general concepts without sharing answers. Students will be responsible for looking at my website and google classroom for topics that will be covered on the tests/quizzes. Dates for these tests/quizzes will be announced at least 5-7 days in advance.
A - 89.5-100%
B - 79.5-89.4%
C - 69.5-79.4%
D - 59.5-69.4%
F - Below 59.4%
Tentative weekly schedule, due dates and upcoming test/quiz info.
Monday: First Day of School!
Bellwork
Population Study Pt I
Goals
Process
Data Collection
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Classroom rules/procedures/policies
Classroom safety
Go over science supplies
Find website
Log into Google Classroom
Survey
Homework
Supplies Check - Thursday
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Graphing Notes
Population Study Pt II (on Google Classroom)
Homework
Supplies Check - Thursday
Population Study Pt II (graphs, data, questions) - Friday @ 3:00 on Google Classroom
Thursday:
Bellwork - 10 minutes to work on your Population Study Pt II
Check Supplies
Characteristics of Life Video
Characteristics of Life Notes
Sexual Reproduction Notes
Homework
Population Study Pt II (graphs, data, questions) - Friday @ 3:00 on Google Classroom
Friday:
Bellwork - Make sure your Population Study Pt II is turned in
Log Into Gizmo
Asexual Reproduction Notes
Reproduction Strategies Activity
Homework
Population Study Pt II (graphs, data, questions) - Friday @ 3:00 on Google Classroom
Monday:
Bellwork - Bunny vs Fly vs Bacteria
Continue Reproduction Strategies Activity
Go Over Reproduction Strategies Activity
What is DNA? What is a Gene? What is a Chromosome? Videos
Tuesday:
Bellwork
DNA, Chromosome and Gene Notes
Mitosis: Cell division for asexual reproduction and for growth and repair
Wednesday: No School!!
Thursday: No School!!
Friday: No School!!
Monday: Labor Day - No School!
Tuesday:
Bellwork - Life Cycle of a Salmon
Finish DNA, Chromosomes and Gene Notes (4th period)
Mitosis Notes: Cell division for asexual reproduction and for growth and repair
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Meiosis Notes: Cell division for sexual reproduction
Thursday:
Bellwork - Chromosome Count
Finish Meiosis Notes
Mitosis and Meiosis - Real Videos
Friday:
Bellwork - Compare Mitosis and Meiosis (humans)
Heredity Vocabulary
Mendel's Laws and Meiosis
Human Trait Survey (if time)
Homework
Life Science Pt I Test - Friday (9/12)
Monday:
Bellwork - Mitosis vs Meiosis (Cat)
Human Trait Survey
Allele and Gene Video - Amoeba Sisters
Homework
Life Science Pt I Test - Friday (9/12)
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Smiley Baby Pt I
Flipping for alleles
Survey
Draw
Gregor Mendel Notes
Homework
Gregor Mendel Notes (if not done in class) - Wednesday
Life Science Pt I Test - Friday (9/12)
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Check Mendel Notes
Smiley Baby Pt II (Theoretical vs Experimental)
50/50 flipping
Determine the percentage using Google Sheets
Start Punnett Square Notes
Complete Dominance
Homework
Smiley Baby Pt II (Theoretical vs Experimental) - Thursday (turn in for points)
Life Science Pt I Test - Friday (9/12)
Thursday:
Bellwork
Turn in Smiley Baby Pt II (Theoretical vs Experimental)
Finish Punnett Square Notes
Complete Dominance
Review for Test
Homework
Life Science Pt I Test - Friday (9/12)
Friday:
Life Science Pt I Test
Monday:
Bellwork
Complete Dominance Punnett Square w/s (2 and 3)
Start Incomplete and Co-Dominance Punnett Square Notes
Homework
Complete Dominance Punnett Square w/s (2 and 3) - Tuesday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Finish Incomplete and Co-Dominance Punnett Square Notes
Incomplete and Co-Domiance Punnett Square Practice w/s
Compare the Three Types of Punnett Squares
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Practice All Punnett Squares w/s
Punnett Square Stations (if time)
Thursday:
Bellwork
Gurubop pg 1 and 2
Homework
Gurubop pg 3 (questions 1-4) - Friday
Entire Gurubop Packet - Wednesday (9/24)
Friday: No class due to water main break
Homework
Gurubop pg 3 (questions 5-8) - Monday
Entire Gurubop Packet - Wednesday (9/24)
Monday:
Bellwork - Discuss pg 6 and 7
Complete pg 4 aqnd 5
Sex-Linked Punnet Square Notes
Homework
Gurubop pg 6 and 7 - Tuesday
Entire Gurubop Packet - Wednesday (9/24)
Tuesday:
Bellwork - Discuss pg 8 and Make Gurubop
Finish Sex-Linked Punnet Square Notes (if needed)
Sex-Linked Punnett Square Practice
Homework
Gurubop pg 8 - Wednesday
Entire Gurubop Packet - Wednesday (9/24)
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Turn in Gurubop Packet
Team Activity (graded)
Thursday:
Bellwork
Pedigree Chart Notes
Simple Pedigree w/s
Friday: Interim Reports Out
Bellwork
Chicken Genetics Gizmo
If done early, complete the practice Punnett square w/s
Homework
Chicken Genetics Gizmo - Monday
Completion - Packet (5 pts)
Accuracy - Online Assessment Questions (5 pts)
Monday:
Bellwork
Turn in Gizmo
Finish Simple Pedigree w/s
Start Pedigree Packet
Homework
Family Pedigree Chart - Tuesday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Turn in Family Pedigree Chart
Finish and Check Pedigree Packet
Wednesday:
Bellwork - Sex-Linked Gurubop w/s
Sex-Linked Pedigree Chart w/s
Thursday:
Bellwork - Are you a mutant?
Aquired vs Inherited Traits
Sex-Linked Pedigree Charts
Friday:
Bellwork
Punnett Square Stations (finish)
Start Natural Selection Notes
Monday:
Bellwork - Extra Punnett Square w/s
Finish Natural Selection Notes
How does one species become two? Reading
Homework
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Next Wednesday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Natural Selection and the Fossil Record
Challenge Pedigree Chart
Homework
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Next Wednesday
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Mutation vs Adaptation
Charles Darwin Notes
Homework
Charles Darwin Notes - Thursday
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Wednesday
Thursday: Conferences (3-9pm)
Bellwork
Check Homework
Prep for Natural Selection Lab
Review for Life Science Pt 2 Test
Homework
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Wednesday
Friday: NEOEA - No School for Students!!
Monday:
Bellwork
Natural Selection Lab
Homework
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Wednesday
Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions) - Friday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Natural Selection Lab
Homework
Life Science Pt 2 Test - Wednesday
Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions) - Friday
Wednesday:
Life Science Pt 2 Test
Homework
Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions) - Friday
Thursday:
Bellwork
Why does the Earth have layers? video
Earth's interior notes
Density problems
Homework
Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions) - Monday
Friday: End of Quarter 1
Bellwork
Latent Heat Activity
Density and Graph Practice Problems
Homework
Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions) - Monday
Monday:
Bellwork
Turn in Natural Selection Lab (Data, Graphs, Questions)
Latent Heat Video
Latent Heat Notes
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Latent Heat w/s
4 sources of heat inside the Earth - Notes
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Density Columns
What heats Earth's Core? Reading
Homework
What heats Earth's Core? Reading - Thursday
Thursday:
Bellwork
Check Homework
Convection Gizmo
Homework
Convection Gizmo (10 pts) - Friday
Friday:
Bellwork - Theory vs Law
Check Homework
Continental Drift vs Plate Tectonics Reading and Discussion
Monday:
Bellwork
Wave Vocab
Plotting EQ
Reflection/Refraction Reading and Questions
Tuesday:
Bellwork - Plot EQ
Reflection/Refraction Reading and Questions
Reflection/Refraction Notes
Homework
Plot EQ - Wednesday
Wednesday:
Bellwork - Plot the 10 biggest EQ in red
Richter Scale
Seismic Wave Notes
Thursday:
Bellwork - Plot EQ
Slinky Math 1
Homework
Slinky Math 2 - Friday
Friday:
Bellwork
Check Homework
Slinky Lab Prep
Monday:
Bellwork
Slinky Lab Expectations
Collect Control Data
Homework
Control Data Calculations - Tuesday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Collect Amplitude I Data, Number of Coils Data, and Distance Data
Homework
Amplitude I Calculations, Graph, Questions - Wednesday
Wednesday:
Bellwork - Plot Earthquakes
Collect Distance Data and Type of Wave Data
Homework
Number of Coils Calculations, Graph, Questions - Thursday
Earth Science Pt 1 Test - Wednesday
Thursday:
Bellwork - Plot Earthquakes
Time to work on lab
Review Seismic Waves
Shadow Zone Video
Shadow Zone Notes
Homework
Distance Calculations, Graph, Questions - Friday
Earth Science Pt 1 Test - Wednesday
Friday:
Bellwork - Plot the 10 Biggest Earthquakes
Time to work on lab
Earthquake Gizmo I and II
Homework
Type of Wave Calculations, Graph, Questions - Monday
Earth Science Pt 1 Test - Wednesday
Earthquake Gizmos (20 points) - Thursday (on test)
Monday:
Bellwork - Shadow Zone Practice w/s
Last minute slinky lab questions
Earthquake Gizmo I and II
Homework
Slinky Lab - Tuesday
Earth Science Pt 1 Test - Wednesday
Earthquake Gizmos (20 points) - Thursday (on test)
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Turn in Slinky Lab
Talk about Gizmo Concepts
Review for Test
Homework
Earth Science Pt 1 Test - Wednesday
Earthquake Gizmos (20 points) - Thursday (on test)
Wednesday:
Earth Science Pt 1 Test
Homework
Earthquake Gizmos (20 points) - Thursday
Thursday:
Bellwork
Turn in Gizmos
Faults Lab
Friday: Interim Reports Out
Bellwork
Faults Lab
Monday:
Bellwork
Fault Identification Practice
Start Divergent Plate Boundary Notes
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Check Homework
Finish Divergent Plate Boundary Notes (if needed)
Sea Floor Magnetism Video
Divergent Plate Boundary Video
Homework
Sea Floor Magnetism Reading and Questions - Wednesday
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Transform Plate Boundary Notes
Transform Plate Boundary Video
Homework
San Andreas Fault Reading and Questions - Thursday
Thursday:
Bellwork
Check homework
Convergent Collisional Plate Boundary Notes
Convergent Collisional Plate Boundary Video
Friday:
Bellwork
Convergent Subduction Plate Boundary Notes
Convergent Subduction Plate Boundary Video
Monday:
Bellwork - Plate Boundary Convection Practice
Tsunami Video and Questions
Tsunami Notes
Tsunami Graph?
Tuesday:
Bellwork - Tsunami Graph
Three Plate Boundary Practice
Wednesday: Thanksgiving Break - No School!!
Thursday: Thanksgiving Break - No School!!
Friday: Thanksgiving Break - No School!!
Monday: Professional Development - No Students!
Tuesday: SNOW DAY!!
Wednesday:
Bellwork - Plate Boundary Review w/s
Plate Boundary Map
Thursday:
Bellwork - Plate Boundary Review Video
Hot Spot Notes
Make Hot Spot Tool
Hot Spot Video
Friday:
Bellwork
Hot Spot w/s
Start Mountain Formation Notes
Homework
Surtsey Reading and Questions (turn in for accuracy) - Monday
Monday:
Bellwork
Turn in homework
Finish Mountain Formation Notes
Hawaiian Hot Spot w/s
Homework
Hawaiian Hot Spot w/s (turned in for accuracy) - Tuesday
Tuesday:
Bellwork - Yellowstone 1/2 sheet
Turn in homework
Rock Cycle Notes
Relative and Absolute Age Lineup
Start Relative Age Notes
Homework
Rock Cycle w/s - Wednesday
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Check homework
Relative Age Notes
Thursday:
Bellwork
Finish Relative Age Notes (if needed)
Relative Age and Fossil Notes
Site A
Site B
Homework
Relative Age Practice w/s - Friday
Earth Science Part II Test - Thursday (12/18)
Friday:
Bellwork - Fill in Absolute Age Chart
Check Homework
Site C
3 Columns of Sedimentary Rock and Index Fossils
Start Absolute Age Notes
Homework
Earth Science Part II Test - Thursday
Monday:
Bellwork
Finish Absolute Age Notes
Skipped Question in Relative Age Notes
Card Sort
Homework
Date A Rock - Tuesday
Earth Science Part II Test - Thursday
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Check Homework
Relative and Absolute Age Stations
Homework
Earth Science Part II Test - Thursday
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Relativie and Absolute Age Stations
Review
Homework
Earth Science Part II Test - Thursday
Thursday:
Earth Science Part II Test
Friday: End of Quarter 2
Bellwork
State Test Review Session
Monday: Winter Break - No School!
Tuesday: Winter Break - No School!
Wednesday: Winter Break - No School!
Thursday: Winter Break - No School!
Friday: Winter Break - No School!
Monday: Winter Break - No School!
Tuesday: Winter Break - No School!
Wednesday: Winter Break - No School!
Thursday: Winter Break - No School!
Friday: Winter Break - No School!
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday: MLK Day - No School!!
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday: Interim Reports Out
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday: Conferences (3-9pm)
Bellwork
Friday: Midwinter Break - No School!!
Monday: President's Day - No School!!
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday: End of Quarter 3
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday: Spring Break - No School!!
Monday: Spring Break - No School!
Tuesday: Spring Break - No School!
Wednesday: Spring Break - No School!
Thursday: Spring Break - No School!
Friday: Spring Break - No School!
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday: Interim Reports Out
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday:
Bellwork
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday:
Bellwork
Monday: Memorial Day - No School!!
Tuesday:
Bellwork
Wednesday:
Bellwork
Thursday:
Bellwork
Friday: End of Quarter 4
Bellwork