7th Grade Science Class Expectations 2010

Instructor: Mrs. Kim Ring

Class Descriptions: In this class, students will study Scientific Procedure, Structure & Completion of Projects, Motion, Forces, Work and Simple Machines, Plate Tectonics, Rocks & Minerals, Waves, Light, & Sound, Astronomy, Engineering, & History of People Contributing to Science.

Class Objectives: As a result of the study in science, students will achieve the following:

A. Use scientific procedures to perform lab experiments.

B. Use scientific procedures to write a lab report.

C. Use problem solving and organization skills to complete projects.

D. Understand Newton’s Laws of Motion.

E. Identify and understand the advantage and uses of simple machines.

F. Understand that Earth’s resources are limited and must be conserved.

G. Identify, define, and describe the properties of light and sound.

H. Identify changes occurring within the earth.

I. Understand the earth’s place in space.

J. Identify individuals who made significant contributions to science.

Homework/Assignment Policy:

A. Work is due at the beginning of class the day following the assignment unless a later date has been specified. Students should have assignments ready to turn in when they arrive in class. Time will not be given in class to finish.

B. Make-up work is the responsibility of the student. Assignments are written on the Agenda-Mate and posted throughout the week. Check your agenda to see school policy on make-up work.

C. Assignments are not optional and should be completed and turned in when they are due. Late work will only be accepted one week from the original due date. If students have questions regarding an assignment, they should see me before or after school. There is tutoring at EJSHS every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 – 4:00. Arrangements may be made for tutoring on other days as well.

D. Daily work and homework may be corrected and handed back in. The new grade will be averaged with the first grade for an increased grade.

Grading Procedure: The following scale will be used to determine letter grades.

90-100%= A 80-89%= B 70-79%= C 60-69 = D 59% and below= F

EJSHS Guidelines:

A. Follow all staff instructions.

B. Be prompt and prepared for class each day.

C. Be respectful.

D. Follow all handbook rules.

If a student chooses not to comply with these guidelines, a conference will be held between the student and the teacher. Further infractions will result in parent contact and/or detention. Severe infractions will result in a trip to the office.

Student Laboratory Safety Guidelines

The students will do the following:

1. Follow all instructions by the teacher and/or written in the experiment.

2. NOT eat or drink in the laboratory.

3. Perform only experiments that have been authorized by the teacher.

4. Carefully dispose of all waste materials as directed by the teacher.

5. Behave in a responsible manner at all times.

Students must agree to abide by these safety regulations and any additional safety instructions given by the teacher. Students may lose lab privileges if they fail to abide by these guidelines.

Expectations and criteria for lab write-ups

We will conduct many labs throughout the year. Most labs will require a lab write-up to be written and handed in for a grade. These lab write-ups are very important to your child’s grade and their understanding of the science concepts and principles explored throughout the year. Students will perform all experiments in class and are required to take notes and record data during the lab. On occasion, students will receive the opportunity to begin the lab write-up in class. However, rarely will time permit students to finish this in class; therefore, this will need to be completed at home. The following is a brief description and expected criteria for each part of the lab write-up.

PROBLEM: This is where the problem of the experiment is defined. The problem must be able to be tested. In many cases, the problem is defined and discussed in class.

HYPOTHESIS: This is a testable explanation. Students will use their previous knowledge to write what they think the outcome of the problem will be.

MATERIAL: In this section students will list the materials needed to perform the experiment.

PROCEDURE: This part of the lab needs to be a precise and detailed explanation of how the experiment was performed. It is stressed that any individual should be able to pick up the lab report and perform the exact lab by reading the procedure. This section of the lab will tend to be a lengthy part of the lab write-up. Every step must be included (ex. how, when, how much, how long, etc.).

DATA: In this section the data that is gathered from the experiment should be recorded. The data should be placed on a chart, graph, or table whenever it is possible.