Eighth Grade Science Syllabus and Expectations 2024-25
Ms. Christoferson – Team Matterhorn – lchristoferson@hr-k12.org
Course Overview
Welcome to 8th grade Science! I hope that we have a great year together and that you enjoy coming to class all year long, but most of all I hope that you will learn to ask questions, look for answers, make connections, and examine the world around you in new ways. This class will stress a variety of important life-long skills, such as observing, analyzing, problem solving, finding and explaining patterns, note taking, organization, independent and group work, communicating, and study skills.
The MA State Science Standards theme for eighth grade is “Cause and Effect”. The standards state that: Grade 8 students use more robust abstract thinking skills to explain causes of complex phenomena and systems. Many causes are not immediately or physically visible to students. An understanding of cause and effect of key natural phenomena and designed processes allows students to explain patterns and make predictions about future events. Being able to analyze phenomena for evidence of causes and processes that often cannot be seen, and being able to conceptualize and describe those, is a significant outcome for grade 8 students.
We will study and review a variety of topics, including:
Skills of Science
Making observations, asking questions and defining problems
Developing and using models
Designing and conducting scientific investigations
Analyzing and interpreting data, communicating evidence
Correctly using appropriate tools, including measurement tools
Matter and its Interactions - elements, compounds, mixtures, chemical reactions
Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
Life Science
Inheritance & Variation of Traits – chromosomes, mechanisms of inheritance, mutations
Unity & Diversity – biological evolution, mechanisms and evidence of natural selection,
influence of humans on genetic outcomes
Structures & Processes – environmental and genetic influences on growth
Earth and Space Science
Earth’s Place in the Universe – Earth-sun-moon relationships, gravity and orbits, seasons
Earth’s Systems – weather and climate, geologic processes
Earth and Human Activity – mineral resources, climate change
Classes will involve a variety of tasks to be completed either on your own or in groups. We will do experiments, demonstrations, investigations, activities, research, presentations, and projects, along with some note-taking. Participation is essential. Science requires you to demonstrate skills, follow instructions, and carry out experiments—you cannot earn participation points if you are not present and engaged, and you can lose participation points for not being on task and failing to follow directions. In order for you to safely participate in investigations it is very important that you follow all directions and stay focused.
I will always use my google drive document: Class at a Glance and sometimes Google Classroom to post assignments, support materials, and other important information on classroom activities for you and your parents, but you will still be responsible for recording daily homework in your planner, keeping all handouts in your 3-ring binder, and obtaining and turning in materials in person in the physical classroom. The daily entry on my Class at a Glance lists the homework, agenda, and objectives and is projected at the start of each class. There is also a linked list of materials for each unit at the top of my Class at a Glance that includes Unit Overviews/Study Guides. Once computers are issued, it is expected that students will check Google Classroom regularly, specifically looking under the classwork tab.
About me: I am starting my 19th year of teaching here at HRHS, and I went to school here at HRHS a few decades ago. At Williams College I majored in Biology, and I have a Masters degree from the University of Arizona in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. I live in Huntington with my husband, my dog Tucker and my cat Pixie. I enjoy outdoor adventures usually with my family, reading, and gardening.
Class Expectations, Policies and Procedures
A. Conduct: Students will demonstrate RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, COOPERATION, and EFFORT. These are the guiding principles of our classrooms. Students are expected to follow discipline guidelines outlined in the Student Family Handbook. Each student makes their own choices, and I expect each will take responsibility for the consequences, either positive or negative. You should display common courtesy to everyone, and disrespectful behavior will NOT be tolerated. We need to work together to create a classroom that is safe, productive, and fun.
Basic classroom expectations include:
1) Be prepared, on time, and involved, having only the necessary materials out.
2) Be polite in speaking and listening (wait your turn, be sure what you say is a positive and relevant contribution to the current discussion, speak so others can hear you, stay focused on speakers).
3) Follow directions and procedures the first time given, whether written or verbal
4) Stay focused, engaged, and safe - seats in chairs, four legs on the floor, hands to yourself.
5) Always try your best.
B. Grading: Each quarter grade is calculated based on the following categories: participation, homework, and daily classwork (30%), graded assignments, labs, and projects (40%), and assessments (30%). A cumulative final exam may be given in June, worth not more than 10% of the final grade.
Participation includes attendance, active engagement during the lesson, contributing ideas, observations, and questions during discussions, preparation and safe conduct, completing classroom tasks, maintaining a notebook, and homework.
Homework is an important part of mastering the material being explored, and is a great way to share learning with the family. You will frequently have homework assigned, but it may not be every night. Assignments may continue over several days, so it is important to develop organization and time-management skills. Some homework assignments will be collected and graded, and some will just be checked for completion.
Projects and lab work can be corrected and resubmitted up to one week from receiving the graded version--for group work, each student must submit corrections. You will be successful in science if you put in effort each day!
Assessments may come in various forms, such as quizzes, tests, and projects. Major summative assessments will be announced in advance, and review worksheets or other materials will usually be provided and reviewed beforehand. Smaller quizzes and formative assessments may or may not be announced. In most cases, if you do poorly on a test, you can gain 50% of the lost points up to a final score of an 85 by submitting a write-up of: 1) why you chose the incorrect answer you did, 2) what the correct answer is, and most importantly, 3) an explanation of why that is the better answer. Number 3 is the most important part and must include the use of vocabulary, examples, comparisons, etc. Corrections must be submitted within a week of getting the quiz or test back. There may be some instances when corrections will not be allowed.
Incomplete or late assignments: During the 1st quarter, any assignment can be handed in late with no penalty and will receive full credit when it is handed in under the following conditions:
The assignment is COMPLETELY done
The work is of high quality
You write a note, then have it signed by a parent, that explains why the assignment was late and how you can change things so it will not be late in the future.
This hopefully will help in a number of ways:
It will hold you responsible for your own work
You don’t need to stress over handing in something late if there is a legitimate reason
Your parents know when and why assignments are late and can help you in the future
After Quarter 1 there will be more stringent deadlines for handing in late assignments, with late assignments rarely being accepted during 4th quarter.
C. Absences: Regular class attendance is essential for a successful year. Discussions and hands-on experiences can not be easily duplicated. If you are absent from class, YOU are responsible for making up the material missed. Check the weekly agenda and Google classroom, call a classroom buddy, check the homework board, and if you still need help, set up an appointment with me. For absences of more than 2 days, see me to arrange a make-up schedule. Work not made up will receive a zero.
If you are absent the day an assignment is due, it should be turned in the day you return. If you are absent the day of a test or quiz, you should be prepared to take it the day you return. All missed tests and quizzes should be made up within a week of the original date.
D. Supplies: You will need a 3-ring binder and loose-leaf paper (reinforced if possible), and you might want a few section dividers. All class handouts, notes, and reflections will be kept in this binder. In addition, throughout the year students may need supplies at home to complete projects, such as poster board, construction paper, markers, etc.
It is important to be aware that classroom supplies are provided by someone and need to be shared by all of you. I expect all students to respect each other, their teachers, their classrooms and their school by not wasting or destroying equipment or supplies. I ask each student to donate something for classroom use to be shared by all students. You will earn a bonus point for each item donated (up to 5). Our biggest needs that get used up quickly are tissues. However, you could also bring paper towels, zip-lock bags, markers, food coloring, tape, empty containers with covers such as coffee cans or yogurt containers, old hand towels for rags, etc.
E. Communication and Extra Help: Students receive progress reports halfway through each quarter. If I have specific concerns about a student I may call home. My regular help day will be Thursday until 3:10. If parents have questions or concerns I can be reached by email at lchristoferson@hr-k12.org or by leaving a message on my voice mail at 437-5618. I will respond as soon as reasonably possible.