Syllabus
Hillcrest Middle School
Caring. Committed. Connected.
Welcome to 6th Grade Science!
Communication
Teacher: April Weaver
Email: aweaver@greenville.k12.sc.us
Phone: 864-355-6143
Website Link:
Google Classroom Codes:
Below are the links to your Google Classroom
2nd Period r7au3jn
3rd Period kjayoh3
4th Period i2h562w
5th Period gtqeyop
Supplies
2 composition notebooks
2 glue sticks
Color Pencils
Earbuds
Scissors
Ruler
Highlighters
Pencils
Classroom Expectations
All students are expected to maintain acceptable behavior in and out of school. At HMS we expect that all Wildcats demonstrate positive character and behavior. Any behaviors that oppose a positive learning environment will be subject to the HMS discipline policy. Please see the student handbook for additional information.
Grading Policy
The State Board of Education requires all schools to follow a statewide uniform grading scale. Middle school course averages have a floor of 50 for each grading period for each course.
Grading Scale: A (90-100) B (80-89) C (70-79) D (60-69) F (50 or less)
Major Assessments: 50% Minor Assessments: 50%
Late Work & Redo Policy
Late Work Policy
Maximum Time to turn in NHI (not handed in):
School-wide: 7 school days from the assignment due date. After 7 days the NHI will be recorded in the grade book as a GFA (Grade Floor Applied)
Absences:
3 days or less: 7 days to make up work without penalty from the date of return. After 7 days, work will not be accepted for a grade. NHI will be documented as final grade.
4+ days: 10 days to make up work without penalty from the date of return. After 10 days, work will not be accepted for a grade. NHI will be documented as final grade. Students with documented extended illness will be handled on a case by case basis with guidance from administration.
Redo Policy
All students have the opportunity to correct major tests (not projects) for mastery of content. It is the student’s responsibility to request this opportunity from the teacher according to the following guidelines:
● All students are eligible for the redo policy; all redos must be completed within 5 days of the return of test date.
● Teachers can offer either test corrections or a condensed assessment retake of the standard requiring remediation.
● Redo’s must be completed during PAWS, 8:00 AM - 8:25 AM, or scheduled time with the teacher.
● Test corrections must be in writing explaining the correct answer and what mistake the student made.
● Recorded grade will be the average of the two test grades or the highest score, if the higher score was the first test taken.
Science 6 Course Overview:
Course Description:
In grades six through eight, the standards and performance indicators for the science and
engineering practices and core science content, transition students to developing and planning
controlled investigations to create more explicit and detailed models and explanations. The seven
core concepts (patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system
models; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change) are reinforced in the
appropriate context of the core science content through hands-on instruction in the classroom.
Science in the middle school provides students with the foundation to be successful in high school
science courses, by providing a range of content in the life, earth, and physical sciences.
The 5 core areas of the grade six standards include:
States of Matter and Energy
Waves and Their Applications
From Molecules to Organisms
Earth's Geologic and Human Activity
Earth's Atmospheric Systems and Human Activity
Unit 1: States of Matter and Energy Transfer
Students explore the interactions of matter and energy. Matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space. Energy is the ability to do work. This unit includes wave properties and behaviors, heat, and energy transfer. Students may build and design a device to minimize or maximize heat transfer.
Unit 2: Waves
Students will use models to describe wave behavior. Students will explore how waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
Unit 3: From Molecules to Organisms
Students explore the properties of living things. This unit includes opportunities for students to conduct investigations on cells, create models of the parts of the cell, and explore how groups of cells make up the human body. In addition, students will discover how the brain responds to stimuli and stores memories.
Unit 4: Earth's Geologic Systems and Human Activity
Students explore the geologic processes that shape earth. Topics include plate tectonics, meteor impacts, weathering, landslides, continental drift, and the geologic time scale. Students will apply their knowledge by using data on natural hazards to forecast and mitigate a potential catastrophic event.
Unit 5: Earth's Atmospheric Systems and Human Activity
Students explore the water cycle and weather patterns. They will develop models to understand how the uneven heating of earth and the rotation of earth determines the climate of a region. Students will apply their knowledge by using data to forecast and mitigate a potential catastrophic event.