7th Grade Science Syllabus
Ms. Kaleigh Esposito
Room 805 (Classroom Library)
email: kespositorussell@greenville.k12.sc.us
Berea Middle School Mission: Berea Middle School will provide an environment that balances love, support and accountability, so that students are empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Course Description: This course is designed to follow the South Carolina Standards for Science. The standards are performance expectations that are three- dimensional. These three dimensions are: Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). The students will actively engage in science and engineering practices and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of each field’s disciplinary core ideas. The students will learn across the curriculum when using math and writing skills to explore the world of Natural Sciences (Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science), Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science. Units covered during this term include: Laboratory Safety, Matter and Its Interactions, Energy, Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes, Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics, Earth and Human Activities.
General Learning Objectives:
1. The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, and apply crosscutting concepts to deepen their understanding of the science content.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and properties of matter and that matter is conserved as it undergoes changes.
3. The student will analyze how the mass and distance of an object affects the amount of kinetic and potential energy it has.
4. The student will analyze the cycling of energy through living systems in both plant and animal cells.
5. The student will predict the interactions and flow of energy between organisms in various ecosystems.
6. The student will explore how human activity and consumption of natural resources impact the environment and earth’s systems.
Berea Middle School Late Work and Retake Policies
Make Up Work:
In order to receive full credit for make-up work, all work must be submitted within five school days, immediately following the absence. In cases of prolonged illness beyond five days, special consideration will be given. It is the responsibility of the students, not the teachers, to arrange for make-up work. After the five-day deadline, work will be considered late. Please refer to the Late Work Policy below.
• Work assigned before the absence or field trip will be due the day the student returns.
• Tests assigned before the absence will be taken on the scheduled test date or date arranged with the teacher.
• If a student misses a test or quiz while absent, on the first day back, arrangements should be made with the teacher to make up the assessment within five days.
• Ideally, work is made up before or after school in order not to miss more class time. Arrangements may also be made with the teacher to make-up assignments during support times. Arrangements should be made with the teacher to complete this in a timely manner.
• Students are expected to check teacher websites and Google Classrooms for assignments during any absence
Late Work Policy:
Greenville County Schools and Berea Middle School is committed to Building a Better Graduate by creating college and career ready students. As such, students must develop character traits that align with workplace expectations. Some examples of these include responsibility, strong work ethic, and self-direction. Students are expected to give their best effort when completing assignments and should strive to complete them by the due date. Students are expected to turn in ALL assignments and should never have a Not Handed In (NHI) recorded in the grade book. Extra opportunities are available for students to make up work through after or before school tutoring, OnTrack Time, and at other times designated by the teacher. Late work will be accepted during the unit of study or within 5 days of the completion of the unit of study. Points will not be deducted for late work.
Retake Policy:
Since the goal is for students to master content and skills, students will be allowed to retake/redo major tests only; however, students must commit to doing their part in preparing for the re-test. Students must initiate the request to retake/redo a test within 5 days of receiving the grade on the test. Students are allowed to retake/redo a major test one time. The student must submit a formal email request to the teacher explaining the rationale for the request. The student can cc the parent and grade level administrator as a part of the formal email request, if they choose. Following a re-test, the higher grade will be recorded in the grade book.
Classroom guidelines and Expectations:
Success in the classroom is greatly affected by the conduct of those in the classroom. The following four rules have been developed to help our students be successful.
Only behavior that does not interfere with other students’ right to learn is permitted.
Be respectful to your classmates and teachers.
Be seated with materials and ready to work when class begins.
In Science/Lab based classes:
Because we will be conducting some lab activities, it is imperative that students practice safe behavior. They will be expected to follow the guidelines set forth on the Science Safety Contract.
Materials:
-Science Binder
-Pencils
-Chromebook with Charger
Grades:
-Tests & Major Projects = 50%
-Quizzes, minor Projects, and Assignments =50%
Homework:
There will not be any science homework besides studying for any assessments.
Grading Scale:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
Planned projects:
All projects will be completed in class. There will be at least one project per quarter that will count as a MAJOR grade.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Matter and its Interactions
Week 1: School & Classroom Orientation
Week 2: Lab Safety, SEPs, DCIs, CCCs
Week 3: Atom, Elements, Periodic Table, Composition of Simple Molecules, Properties and Changes in Matter
Week 4: Unit Test Part 1, Chemical Change
Week 5: Chemical Change
Week 6: Synthetic Materials
Week 7: Conservation of Mass
Week 8: Conservation of Matter, Unit Test Part 2
Week 9: Project - Chemical Change and Heat Engineering
Unit 2: Energy
Week 1: Energy and Motion
Week 2: Energy
Week 3: Particle Motion
Week 4: Unit Test Part 1, Energy and Forces
Week 5: Potential and Kinetic Energy
Week 6: Energy Transformations and Law of Conservation of Energy
Unit 3: Molecules to Organisms
Week 7: Photosynthesis
Week 8: Respiration and Growth, Unit Test Part 2
Week 9: Project - Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Unit 4: Ecosystems
Week 1: Interactions in Ecosystems
Week 2- 3: Carbon Cycle
Week 4: Unit Test Part 1, Biodiversity in Ecosystems
Week 5: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience
Week 6-7: Biodiversity and Humans
Week 8-9: Project - Developing Possible Solutions for Maintaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Unit Test Part 2
Unit 5: Earth & Human Activity
Week 1- 2: Natural Resources
Week 3: Reducing Human Impacts
Week 4: Unit Test Part 1, Earth and Human Activity
Week 5- 6: Population and Natural Resources
Week 7- 8: Global Climate Change, Unit Test Part 2
Week 9: Project - Clarifying Climate Claims