VCMS Teacher Connection - Lauri Siverson

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!

I look forward to an amazing year with the class of 2031! Please use this page as a reference for everything you need. Don't hesitate to email me with any questions that you may have.-Mrs. Siverson

The Villages Charter Middle School @ Buffalo Ridge

8th Grade Physical Science Honors

Mrs. Siverson

Lauri.Siverson@tvcs.org

Class Syllabus: Please click on the link below to access the Physical Science HONORS syllabus

Important Documents (Due Aug. 14):

Syllabus Document - By signing the signature form, you and your parent are indicating you have read ALL documents noted on the Electronic Signature Page.

Syllabus Signature Form

Lab Safety Contract (Paper copy will be sent home to be signed by both student and parent):

Please make sure to have the following supplies with you daily!

Science Folder and Notebook

Pens, pencils, and highlighters

WIRED Earbuds

Current Class Curriculum

Lab Safety, Chapter O-Nature of Science

Important Dates:

08/10/26-Monday
- Lab Safety Contract Due
08/14/26-Friday
- Lab Equipment Quiz
- Written Vocab in notebook Due
- Syllabus signature due date
Quizizz Lesson Reviews Due-
- - L. 1- 08/18/26 (Tuesday)
  - L. 2-08/20/26 (Thursday)
  - L. 3 and L. 4- 08/25/26 (Tuesday)
08/26/26-Wednesday:
- Quizlet Extra Credit Opportunity (Due by 7:45am)
  - 5 mastery points added to vocab quiz
  - https://quizlet.com/_4zrk24?x=1jqt&i=d0ddl
- Vocab Quiz

08/27/26-Thursday
- IXL due by 11:59pm
  - MASTERY
08/28/26: Ch. 0 TEST

BENCHMARKS:

SC8N1.1 / SC912.N.1.1

The student defines a problem and carries out a scientific investigation – observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.

SC8N1.2

The student will design and conduct a study using repeated trials and replication.

SC8N1.3

The student will use phrases such as “results support” or “fail to support” in science, understanding that science does not offer conclusive ‘proof of a knowledge claim

SC8N1.4

The student will explain how hypotheses are valuable if they lead to further investigations, even if they turn out not to be supported by the data.

SC8N1.5

The student will analyze the methods used to develop a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science

SC8N1.6

The student will understand that scientific investigations involve the collection of relevant empirical evidence, the use of logical reasoning, and the application of imagination in devising hypotheses, predictions, explanations and models to make sense of the collected evidence

SC8N2.1

The student will distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas

SC8N3.1

The student will select models useful in relating the results of their own investigations.

SC8N3.2

The student will explain why theories may be modified but are rarely discarded

SC8N4.1

The student will explain that science is one of the processes that can be used to inform decision making at the community, state, national, and international levels.

SC8N4.2

The student will explain how political, social, and economic concerns can affect science, and vice versa.

SC.912.N.1.2

Describe and explain what characterizes science and its methods.

SC.912.N.1.3

Recognize the strength or usefulness of a scientific claim is evaluated through scientific argumentation, which depends on critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.

SC.912.N.1.4

Identify sources of information and assess their reliability according to the strict standards of scientific investigation

SC.912.N.1.7

Recognize the role of creativity in constructing scientific questions, methods and explanations

SC.912.N.2.1

Identify what is science, what clearly is not science, and what superficially resembles science (but fails to meet the criteria for science).

SC.912.N.2.3

Identify examples of pseudoscience (such as astrology, phrenology) in society.

SC.912.N.2.4

Explain that scientific knowledge is both durable and robust and open to change. Scientific knowledge can change because it is often examined and re-examined by new investigations and scientific argumentation. Because of these frequent examinations, scientific knowledge becomes stronger, leading to its durability

SC.912.N.3.1

Explain that a scientific theory is the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all the current evidence concerning a substantial range of phenomena; thus, a scientific theory represents the most powerful explanation scientists have to offer

SC.912.N.3.3

Explain that scientific laws are descriptions of specific relationships under given conditions in nature, but do not offer explanations for those relationships

SC.912.N.3.4

Recognize that theories do not become laws, nor do laws become theories; theories are well supported explanations and laws are well supported description

SC.912.N.3.5

Describe the function of models in science, and identify the wide range of models used in science

SC.912.N.4.1

Explain how scientific knowledge and reasoning provide an empirically-based perspective to inform society's decision making

STEM OPPORTUNITIES

-Ecybermission

https://www.ecybermission.com/StudentOverview

-Science Olympiad-Contact Mr. Froehle for more information

-Sumter County Invention Convention

-Conduct a science fair project following rules and paperwork for the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair

(See Mrs. Siverson if interested)

The most up to date information will be posted on Google Classroom!!

A Daily Agenda is posted every day on the Stream Page.

Please make sure you have your Chromebook with you daily and make sure it's charged!

IF YOU ARE ABSENT...

Please log into your Google Classroom and read through the Daily Agenda (Stream Page) for any days missed.

Read the information for both classwork and homework for the day(s) you are absent

Any homework assignments/paperwork given out in class can also be found using the "Classwork" tab in Google Classroom

In addition, copies of paper based assignments are available in the classroom.

PLEASE NOTE: Any computer assignments with pre-assigned dates will be due on that date even if you are absent.

The assignment automatically closes on it's assigned time/date. There is always plenty of time to complete these assignments both in class and at home.

MC GRAW HILL SCIENCE TEXTBOOK INFORMATION

Please log in using Clever. Click on McGraw Hill.

IXL INFORMATION

IXL will be assigned for every chapter as a progress monitoring tool

-Mastery Grade

-Minimum grade required to earn credit (Unlimited attempts)

Honors students-90% required for mastery

All due dates are clearly posted on the calendar below, as well as on the IXL assignment posted in GC Classwork page at the start of the chapter.

Usernames and passwords will be provided to students by their teacher.

Students will have access from their google classroom account for our class. When creating an account, Please include your first name and last initial in your username. You must also remember your password. I recommend that you use the same password as your chromebook log in. I can not change or access your passwords.

All class codes to join a class are posted in your class period Google Classroom. You can find the class code on the Classwork page under "website Information"

YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN UNDER YOUR CLASS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT!

HOW TO EARN EXTRA CREDIT WITH QUIZLET (Available with every unit)

Complete all activities (except Gravity) and earn a 100% on the Practice test-5 extra credit points will be added to your vocab test

SKYWARD -

Skyward is our online gradebook that can be accessed at any time by both students and parents.

Students have their own username and password:

USERNAME: Same user name as school computer (first initial followed by student ID number)

PASSWORD: Same one they have been using on the VCS computers. (IF STUDENTS CHANGE THEIR PASSWORD AT SCHOOL...IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE ON Skyward)

NEW!!! Skward Password reset...from anywhere

Please use this link and follow directions to reset your student Skyward password.

https://sites.google.com/a/tvcs.org/change-windows-password/windows-password-reset

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

I offer extra credit opportunities prior to the vocabulary tests and the objective tests. Since these are the only opportunities for extra credit, please encourage your child to take advantage of them. In addition to earning extra points, they will also help your child prepare for the test.

Extra Credit Opportunity before a Vocabulary test:

**Must be completed by 7:45am the day of the Quiz

COMPLETE all activities (Learn, Spell, Write, Match, Flashcards) and Practice Test (must be 100%-unlimited attempts) on Quizlet- 5 pts added to Vocab Quiz

Extra Credit Opportunity before an Objective test (Chapter test):

**Must be completed by 7:45am the day of the Test

Students may complete the practice tests in Wayground (Quizizz) to earn bonus points that will be added onto their Chapter Test. (4 points per Quizizz for each one that meets the minimum requirement)

These practice tests will be posted on Wayground (Quizizz) approximately 1 week prior to the test.

REGULAR Classes: Must earn an 80% or above to earn bonus points

HONOR Classes: Must earn a 90% or above to earn bonus points

QUIZIZZ WEBSITE: https://wayground.com/?lng=en

***SINCE YOU ARE ENROLLED IN MY CLASS, YOU DO NOT NEED A GAME CODE

They should appear on your main page when you are logged into Wayground (Quizizz) about 1 week before the Chapter test.

Chromebook Issues

Please visit the media center connection page for basic issues regarding your Chromebook.

The Villages Charter School has also established a new tech support line for parents and students. Call 352-259-6888 Monday - Friday (7:30 am - 4:30 pm)

Contact: Lauri.Siverson@tvcs.org