Manhattan Beach Middle School

Mrs. Maggie Mabery

Call (310) 545-4878 x3104, OR email to mmabery@manhattan.k12.ca.us

Course Title: 7^th/8^th grade Science

Homework Assignments: 7^th Grade

Weekly Assignment Sheet-Life Science Name: _________________________

Mrs. Mabery: Week of March 6, 2006 Period: ________________________

	Book	In Class	Homework	Stamp	Point Value
Monday	Animals			WAS signed?
Tuesday	Animals
Wednesday	Animals		Finish Board game project
Thursday	Animals
Friday	Animals		Get WAS signed		10 pts.
				Total Points

*It is the responsibility of each individual student to do each daily homework assignments. Homework is meant to help each student practice a physical science concept that are introduced and explored in class and assessed on tests and unit exams.

** My son/daughter has shared this information with me. I understand missing stamps indicate unexcused missing work, which is worth zero points.

Parent Signature required for full credit. Due Monday March 13th in order to get a stamp.

Parent Signature ________________________________________ Date ____________________

****Unit Exam for Animals unit will be on March 15^th and March 16^th!

Homework Assignments: 8^th Grade

Weekly Assignment Sheet-Physical Science Name: _________________________

Mrs. Mabery: Week of March 6, 2006 Period: ________________________

	Book	In Class	Homework	Stamp	Point Value
Monday	Chapter #15	Paper reactions lab Pop goes the metal	Chapter #15 Study Technique	WAS signed?
Tuesday	Chapter #15	Synthesis of Sulfur lab	Reactions handout		10 pts.
Wednesday	Chapter #15	Decomposition of water Curses foiled again			10 pts.
Thursday	Chapter #15	Reactions lab	Chapter #15 handout
Friday	Chapter #15	Work on Element Brochure	Get WAS signed		10 pts.
				Total Points

*It is the responsibility of each individual student to do each daily homework assignments. Homework is meant to help each student practice a physical science concept that are introduced and explored in class and assessed on tests and unit exams.

** My son/daughter has shared this information with me. I understand missing stamps indicate unexcused missing work, which is worth zero points.

Parent Signature required for full credit. Due Monday March 13th in order to get a stamp.

Parent Signature ________________________________________ Date ____________________

***Don’t forget to be working on your Element brochure’s due on March 13^th! No late work will be accepted!

Course Description for 8^th grade Physical Science

The goal of this class is to stimulate students to develop an active interest in science. Students will incorporate scientific facts, concepts, and theories in their personal decisions. They will understand how science influences their daily lives. The textbook we will use is Physical Science by Holt. Students will be issued their own textbook at home and use it when necessary for an assignment or exam. A class set of textbooks will be kept in the classroom for their use in class only. The students are responsible for keeping both the home and class textbooks in good condition or they will pay fines at the end of the year. Students will also receive supplemental materials or handouts, which must be brought to class everyday in a unit notebook. Notebooks are a crucial aspect of the course and must be brought to class everyday.

Topics of Study:

*Learning to Learn

*Chemistry: Study of Matter

*Physics: Forces and Motion

*Astronomy

*Project-based Learning and Assessment

*Health/Family Life

Assessment:

A student’s grade is based on the TOTAL number of points he or she has earned in each category outlined below. Class participation, attendance, and being ready for class each day also contributes to the final grade. The following is a list of ways points are earned:

1. Assignments – All should be neat and clearly labeled with the proper heading at the top right corner of the page. Every assignment, quiz, or exam without a proper heading will automatically have 10% deducted from the score. There will be approximately twenty minutes of homework Monday – Thursday.

2. Tests –There will be approximately a test a week or every other week. Students are expected to keep up with the work (labs, assignments, etc.) in order to succeed on the tests. They are closed notes as the material is fresh in students’ minds.

3. Unit Exams – Unit exams will be given at the end of each major unit and will take two days to complete. They will cover the reading assignments, homework, lectures, class discussions, and activities/labs. Unit exams are open notebook because they will cover many weeks worth of material. Students will always be given advance notice of a test and should not miss those days. Make-ups will need to taken upon the student’s return.

4. Laboratory Work – Doing is the best way to learn, thus there will be numerous labs throughout the year. In addition to completion of the lab, students will be required to do a lab report describing the activity in terms of the scientific method (see lab policies below). The grade will be calculated on both the write-up and participation in the lab. Students should not miss lab days because a part of the grade is their presence and participation and thus grades and learning experiences will suffer. Lab safety will be stressed at all times. Any student that is observed playing around during a lab will be graded accordingly. If this becomes a problem, the student will not be allowed to participate in labs at all.

5. Individual and Group Projects – Students will be assigned various individual and group projects throughout the year. Some of these will include models, posters, and presentations. All projects are to be completed neatly and to the best of the students’ ability. Project rubrics will be provided and should be followed precisely. Projects are NOT accepted late. They are long-term and thus must be turned in on the due date with no exceptions.

Category Weight: The Grading Scale can be found in the Planner.

Labs, projects, tests and unit exams 80% of grade

Homework 20% of grade

Supplies:

The student will be required to have basic school supplies with them at all times. These include a pencil, pen, paper, a highlighter, a red pen, and their unit notebook. Coming to class unprepared is a reason to have a mark against your work habit grade. It is not in compliance with the classroom expectations. They will be informed as to when they will need art supplies as well, but most of these will be provided for them in the classroom. All students are required to purchase a 3-prong folder. These can be purchased at any office supply or discount store such as Target or Staples. All other materials that are required for lab work will be provided, though donations to the class materials are greatly appreciated (see attached).

Weekly Assignment Sheets (W.A.S.):

Homework reinforces the concepts that were taught in a lesson or laboratory activity. Being that all students have a different pace at which they work, some students will finish their homework in class while others may have to spend time at home. Homework is independent practice.

Each week a weekly assignment sheet will be handed out the first day of each week. It contains the daily topics, homework, any assessments and indication of homework credit. Stamps will be given the day the assignment is due. If a stamp is given the student will receive full credit for the assignment and will record this score down on the W.A.S. The one and only assignment given each weekend is for each student to have a parent or guardian sign the W.A.S. Each student is accountable for getting each W.A.S. signed and returned. However, it is very important that parents use this document to discuss with their child what will be covered and assessed each week, as well whether or not certain goals and results were achieved.

Homework will not be accepted late. Homework that is not completed on time will result in a zero grade and no stamp on the W.A.S. I recommend, however, that students complete the assignments for their own benefit. It will help them in their tests and open note unit exams.

If the student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to get the make-up work, complete it within the number of days he/she was absent and turn it in to the teacher. Absent work will always be kept in a tray at the back of the classroom. I will not monitor a student for his/her absent make-up work. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of that themselves. Long-term projects are assigned a due date in class. If a student is absent on this due date, their project must be turned in by someone else ON TIME (no exceptions).

Lab Report Policies:

Lab reports will be assigned every other week after completing the experiment or investigation. Students will be given one week outside of class to complete the report (in addition to their regular homework assignments). Each group member will take on a portion of the report and contribute to the final product. On the day the report is due, students will have the opportunity to preview the final report and initial next to their name indicating their approval. When the group (not the individual) has successfully mastered the concepts of the scientific method and report writing by scoring a 90% or above on a full, formal lab report, then

the group is no longer required to write them. From then on that group is only required to write a mini lab report consisting of the data and conclusions only. As an individual, if you’d like to achieve the same status, you can write an individual lab report and the same mastery goal applies (90% or higher and conclusion only reports for the rest of the year).

Classroom Expectations:

1. Respect others and their property.

2. Follow directions the first time they are given.

3. Be in your seat ready to learn when the bell rings.

4. Leave when the teacher dismisses you.

5. Use only materials that only pertain to the class.

6. Do not disrupt the learning or teaching process in any way.

Personal Note:

We will have a fun and enlightening year in science. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at school. Communication is key for success and e-mail works best for me. I am available for student help before school, nutrition, lunch breaks, and after school. There is no reason to not seek help when you need it, so please ask!

LAB MATERIALS REQUEST:

Please attempt to bring in at least ONE of the materials on this list (any size, any quantity) by the end of the school year. Feel free to contribute to the class materials as often as you can (we certainly need them!). These are some of our needs for classroom lab supplies. Since it cannot be required that you contribute I cannot generate a sign-up sheet or organize the donations in any way. I have just compiled a list of things I will need to purchase throughout the year to keep the frequent lab experiences going. They are grouped by major needs, specific experiment needs, perishable experiment needs, and random classroom needs (respectively). If you’d like to coordinate the supplies or help in any other way (guest lectures, fun activities, photocopying, etc.), let me know. Any help would be very much appreciated:

Paper towels Opaque plastic cups (various sizes

Rags Markers, crayons, colored pencils

Tissues Reams of paper (any colors including white)

Clear plastic cups (various sizes) Dry erase markers and whiteboard erasers

Glue Old newspapers

8 Aim-Flames (or other extended lighter device)

1 Ice chest (used or new) Large, empty cans (from coffee, soup, etc.)

10 boxes of Alka-Seltzer tablets 8 Metal Slinky’s

5 Large boxes of Baking soda Pieces of silk or wool

5 Gallons of Vinegar 10 bottles of Alcohol (isopropyl or rubbing alcohol)

5 Gallons of Oil (vegetable, mineral, baby) 2 Gallons of CLEAR Corn Syrup

Cotton swabs Food coloring (all colors)

20 bags of Balloons (helium-quality) 3 rolls of Masking Tape

Paper plates, trays, bowls, etc. Dish detergent or hand

8 bags of Licorice Rope 5 Super-size Jars of Jelly (various flavors)

5 bags of large Marshmallows 3 bags of M&Ms

5 Super-size Jars of Peanut Butter 5 bags of Starburst or Skittles

40 Bananas and Strawberries 3 heads of Red Cabbage

8 boxes of Raisins 2 large bags of mixed nuts

Course Description for 7^th grade Life Science-

The goal of this class is to stimulate students to develop an active interest in science. Students will incorporate scientific facts, concepts, and theories in their personal decisions. They will understand how science influences their daily lives. The textbook we will use is Life Science by Holt. Students will be issued their own textbook at home and use it when necessary for an assignment or exam. A class set of textbooks will be kept in the classroom for their use in class only. The students are responsible for keeping both the home and class textbooks in good condition or they will pay fines at the end of the year. Students will also receive supplemental materials or handouts, which must be brought to class everyday in a unit notebook. Notebooks are a crucial aspect of the course and must be brought to class everyday.

Topics of Study:

*Learning to Learn

*Cells

*Plants

*Animals

*Human Body

*Project-based Learning and Assessment

Assessment:

A student’s grade is based on the TOTAL number of points he or she has earned in each category outlined below. Class participation, attendance, and being ready for class each day also contributes to the final grade. The following is a list of ways points are earned:

6. Assignments – All should be neat and clearly labeled with the proper heading at the top right corner of the page. Every assignment, quiz, or exam without a proper heading will automatically have 10% deducted from the score. There will be approximately twenty minutes of homework Monday – Thursday.

7. Tests –There will be approximately a test at the end of each unit. Students are expected to keep up with the work (labs, assignments, etc.) in order to succeed on the tests. They are closed notes as the material is fresh in students’ minds.

8. Laboratory Work – Doing is the best way to learn, thus there will be numerous labs throughout the year. In addition to completion of the lab, students will be required to do a lab report describing the activity in terms of the scientific method (see lab policies below). The grade will be calculated on both the write-up and participation in the lab. Students should not miss lab days because a part of the grade is their presence and participation and thus grades and learning experiences will suffer. Lab safety will be stressed at all times. Any student that is observed playing around during a lab will be graded accordingly. If this becomes a problem, the student will not be allowed to participate in labs at all.

9. Individual and Group Projects – Students will be assigned various individual and group projects throughout the year. Some of these will include models, posters, and presentations. All projects are to be completed neatly and to the best of the students’ ability. Project rubrics will be provided and should be followed precisely. Projects are NOT accepted late. They are long-term and thus must be turned in on the due date with no exceptions.

Category Weight: The Grading Scale can be found in the Planner.

Labs, projects, and test 80% of grade

Homework 20% of grade

Supplies:

The student will be required to have basic school supplies with them at all times. These include a pencil, pen, paper, a highlighter, a red pen, notebook. Coming to class unprepared is a reason to have a mark against your work habit grade. It is not in compliance with the classroom expectations. They will be informed as to when they will need art supplies as well, but most of these will be provided for them in the classroom. All students are required to purchase a 3-prong folder. These can be purchased at any office supply or discount store such as Target or Staples. All other materials that are required for lab work will be provided, though donations to the class materials are greatly appreciated (see attached).

Weekly Assignment Sheets (W.A.S):

Homework reinforces the concepts that were taught in a lesson or laboratory activity. Being that all students have a different pace at which they work, some students will finish their homework in class while others may have to spend time at home. Homework is independent practice.

Each week a weekly assignment sheet will be handed out the first day of each week. It contains the daily topics, homework, any assessments and indication of homework credit. Stamps will be given the day the assignment is due. If a stamp is given the student will receive full credit for the assignment and will record this score down on the W.A.S. The one and only assignment given each weekend is for each student to have a parent or guardian sign the W.A.S. Each student is accountable for getting each W.A.S. signed and returned. However, it is very important that parents use this document to discuss with their child what will be covered and assessed each week, as well whether or not certain goals and results were achieved.

Homework will not be accepted late. Homework that is not completed on time will result in a zero grade and no stamp on the W.A.S. I recommend, however, that students complete the assignments for their own benefit. It will help them in their tests and open note unit exams.

If the student is absent, it is his or her responsibility to get the make-up work, complete it within the number of days he/she was absent and turn it in to the teacher. Absent work will always be kept in a tray at the back of the classroom. I will not monitor a student for his/her absent make-up work. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of that themselves. Long-term projects are assigned a due date in class. If a student is absent on this due date, their project must be turned in by someone else ON TIME (no exceptions).

Lab Report Policies:

Lab reports will be assigned every trimester after completing the experiment or investigation. Students will be given one week outside of class to complete the report (in addition to their regular homework assignments). Each group member will take on a portion of the report and contribute to the final product. On the day the report is due, students will have the opportunity to preview the final report and initial next to their name indicating their approval.

Classroom Expectations:

7. Respect others and their property.

8. Follow directions the first time they are given.

9. Be in your seat ready to learn when the bell rings.

10. Leave when the teacher dismisses you.

11. Use only materials that only pertain to the class.

12. Do not disrupt the learning or teaching process in any way.

Personal Note:

We will have a fun and enlightening year in science. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at school. Communication is key for success and e-mail works best for me. I am available for student help before school, nutrition, lunch breaks, and after school. There is no reason to not seek help when you need it, so please ask!