Laura Woods
Beck International Academy
Room 721
Phone: 864-355-1481
Email: lwoods@greenville.k12.sc.us
BECK VISION STATEMENT:
The mission of Beck International Academy is to meet the needs of our diverse student body in an environment that nurtures, accepts, and encourages all students to make empowering choices to impact their academic success.
COURSE TITLE: Science 7
TEXTBOOK: SAVVAS Elevate Science Grade 7
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students in 7th grade continue to deepen their knowledge of science concepts through more complex investigations and explanations. The concepts studied begin with matter and each unit builds upon itself until we reach the ecosystem.
Seventh grade students continue to develop investigative skills started in K-6 and increase these skills through generating their own questions, recognizing and explaining the relationships among concepts being studied, and begin drawing their own conclusions based on scientific evidence discovered through exploration, research, and inquiry.
Students will explore these topics:
Lab Safety and Science and Engineering Practices
Chemical Nature of Matter – atoms, matter classifications, properties and changes in matter (8 weeks)
Energy – How do mass, speed and position affect kinetic and potential energy of objects? How is energy transferred from one object to another? (6 weeks)
From Molecules to Organisms – How do organisms interact with other organisms in the physical environment to obtain matter and energy? (3 weeks)
Ecosystem Dynamics – How does matter and energy move through an ecosystem? How is the health of an ecosystem determined? (9 weeks)
Earth and Human Activity – How does surface processes and human activity affect Earth temperature and systems? (9 weeks)
The standards provide the foundation for a curriculum that is based on a rich and wide variety of learning experiences that actively engage students and accommodate a broad range of student learning styles through varied materials and instructional strategies. Students should observe, interact with materials and with people, and ask questions as they explore new concepts and expand their knowledge.
COURSE OUTLINE / INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS FOR THE YEAR:
Standards can be accessed on the NGSS website listed below:
https://www.nextgenscience.org/search-standards?keys=&tid%5B%5D=106
TEACHING METHODS AND STRATEGIES:
Although we use an integrated approach to Science instruction, we will also be utilizing Google Classroom as well as an online based text called SAVVAS as well as various text based resources in class. A typical week will include a variety of instructional formats: lecture, small group instruction, independent reading, laboratory work, webquests, and research. Using a variety of instructional strategies as well as specific learning targets, students will extend and refine their learning with activities designed to promote higher levels of thinking such as analysis and evaluation.
MAGIC SCHOOL AI STATEMENT
This year, students will use MagicSchool AI, a generative AI platform designed specifically for education. As tools like ChatGPT and Gemini become standard in the professional world, utilizing MagicSchool prepares students for the future workforce by teaching safe and responsible technology use.
Students will use these tools for real-time feedback and dynamic problem-solving. To ensure appropriate use, teachers retain access to all student chats. MagicSchool strictly protects privacy and does not collect or utilize student data. All AI software, including MagicSchool, complies with GCS Board Policy and Administrative Rule IA.
ASSESSMENTS AND GRADING FOR SCIENCE 7:
These are the procedures for recording student progress. Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Daily class assignments, tests, projects, group work, labs, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. Students will receive interim progress reports and quarterly report cards.
REDO/RETAKE POLICY
Students may request to retake major assessments if they have completed and turned in all minor assignments leading up to that major assessment. For example, if there were 4 minor assignments leading up to the test, the student must have completed all of them in order to request a retake. This ensures that the student has put in the effort needed to understand the tested concepts. In order to request a retake, the student must fill out the retake request form online. This form can be located in google classroom and on the Beck Academy website, as well as my own teacher website.
Students may NOT request a retake for minor assignments.
The district-wide grading scale is as follows:
100 - 90 A
89 - 80 B
79 - 70 C
69 - 60 D
59 - 50 F
Students will have five days after the due date to turn in late coursework without point deductions. Starting on day six, 5% will be deducted for each day the work is late. (For example, if an assignment is turned in six days late, 5% will be deducted. If it is turned in seven days late, 10% will be deducted and so on.) After ten days, the assignment will no longer be accepted.
NEW: Work that is not handed in will be labeled as NHI in the gradebook. Previously, assignments marked as NHI had an automatic score of 50. Now, per state law and Greenville county school policy, all NHI assignments will automatically count as a zero. Work may be marked NHI and then later updated if the assignment is turned in late. However, work will not be accepted past ten days late.
MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:
Students will need...
Chromebook
Loose-leaf notebook paper
pencils
pens
Markers or colored pencils
Folder
Composition Notebook
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Students will…..
Bring their supplies to class each day
Treat one another with respect
Treat the teacher with respect
Appropriately use and care for shared classroom supplies
Stay seated during classtime
Raise their hands to ask a question
Take responsibility for both their actions and their learning
Follow directions
Try their best each day
Follow all school rules
SCHOOL-WIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN 5 Step Plan
Beck Academy’s 5-Step Discipline Plan
Step 1
Warning to student
Step 2
Parent contact
Step 3
Detention with parent contact
Step 4
Detention with parent contact
Step 5
Referral to office
HONOR CODE AND PLAGIARISM:
I adhere to our school honor code and plagiarism policy.
Cheating or copying of work belonging to another person is a violation of school rules as well as personal ethics. Both the lender and borrower will receive zeros on the work, and parents will be notified. Plagiarism is cheating. Examples of plagiarism include:
Copying and pasting from the Internet or copying directly from books or magazines without properly citing the source.
Copying another student’s work, turning in another student’s work, or having another student do the work.
Buying papers on the Internet.
PARENT COMMUNICATION:
Parents, teachers, and students work together to promote learning. The absolute best way to reach me is by email. Email is checked throughout the day and is much faster than a phone call. However, some issues are best discussed by phone. Calls during the instructional day are directed to my voicemail and will be returned within 24 hours of receipt. Please ensure you have access to the Parent Portal in order to view your student’s grades on a regular basis.