Syllabus
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BYfGggiGdcu5ClQ8SiLee8k3fs4bVuiglsq0aCEuPaQ/edit?usp=sharing
Mrs. Johnson's Site
BEREA MIDDLE SCHOOL
7TH GRADE SCIENCE SYLLABUS
Instructor: Mrs. Maria’ Johnson Team 7-1 Lead & BellXcel Program Manager
Mhjohnson@greenville.k12.sc.us
Class Times: 1ST, 2ND, 3rd LUNCH 6th, & 7th ( LUNCH IS AT 10:56-11:18)
Planning- 4TH and 5TH PERIODS
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:
A general objective for all classes is for the students to become more successful with their scientific skills, connect science to the world around them, participate in problem solving and individual investigations and experiments, as well as develop their analytical and communication skills.
By the conclusion of the year,
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
Make Up Work Deadlines
Late Work Policy
Greenville County Schools and Berea Middle School are 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.
Food, gum, and drinks (except water) are not allowed in the classrooms or hallways
In addition, all students should follow all district and school guidelines as specified in the student handbook.
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
Grades
Homework
Grading Scale
Planned projects
Scissors
Pencils
Color pencils or crayons
Pencil Sharpener
Ruler
Highlighter
Pen
Marker
Tests & Major Projects = 50%
Quizzes, minor Projects, and Assignments =50%
Homework includes materials assigned by the teacher to provide practice on newly learned concepts.
The majority of assignments will be checked for completion and effort rather than accuracy.
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
Quarter 1:
Chemical Change and Heat Engineering
Quarter 2:
Organization for Matter and
Energy Flow in Organisms
Quarter 3:
Developing Possible Solutions for Maintaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Quarter 4:
Clarifying Climate Claims
Course Outline
1st Quarter
Unit Topic 1: Matter and Its Interactions
(Standard 7.PS1. 1-5)
Lab Safety, SEPs, DCIs, CCCs
Embedded throughout the year
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 Making- Chemical Change and Heat
Engineering
2nd Quarter
Unit Topic 2: Energy
(Standard 7.PS3. 1-5)
Unit Topic 3: Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
(Standard 7. LS1. 6-7)
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
Week 7: Photosynthesis
Week 8: Respiration and Growth
Unit Test Part 2
Week 9: Project Making- Organization for Matter and
Energy Flow in Organisms
3rd Quarter
Unit Topic 4: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy,
and Dynamics
(Standard 7. LS2. 1-5)
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 Making- Developing Possible
Solutions for Maintaining Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services
Unit Test Part 2
4th Quarter
Unit Topic 5: Earth and Human Activity
(Standard 7.ESS3.1, 7. ESS3. 3-5)
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 Making- Clarifying Climate Claims
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Supplementary materials to accompany given units such as:
Rubicon Atlas
Use of Promethean Board to display content.
Film segments from related or relevant movies. (United Streaming)
Posters and diagrams to illustrate various components of any lesson.
Students will have access to a computer in classroom, laptops, computer lab, and media center.
Software including Powerpoint, Inspiration, and Word as well as the use of the pre-approved websites on the internet for webquests and research.
I provide a 3 ring binder for every student! Students will provide their own pencils, pens, & paper. (In special cases the teacher will provide materials when there is a financial hardship)
Supplemental Materials (either supplied by the district or from the teacher’s private collection) used for planning lessons include:
· National Geographic Books & Magazines
· Current Science Magazine
Rules & Procedures
Disciplinary rules are outlined in the Student Handbook. In addition to these rules, our 7th grade team has agreed to put additional emphasis on these areas:
1. Enter the room quietly and be ready to work immediately.
2. The teacher, not the bell, dismisses the class.
3. Respect yourself and others.
4. Raise your hand before speaking.
5. Stay in your assigned seat during instructional times. *Hands before you walk Hands before you talk!
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Rewards/Incentives
Positives notes and phone calls to parents
Positive praise and notes to students
Names posted in the hallway for students who make progress on a report or report card or progress report.
Homework passes or treats for science related games winners
A boy and a girl will be picked weekly for student of the week