Science Syllabus Grade 7

Mrs. Parenteau and Mrs. Chute Ashfield School

Hello and welcome back to what promises to be an exciting and educational school year! This syllabus is meant to provide you with some information about how to have the most positive and successful time during science class. What You NEED for Class: (please see attached MATERIALS LIST) Classroom Policies/Expectations: Behavior: All school rules and policies as outlined in the student handbook and posted in every classroom will be adhered to without exception. We expect students to enter the class with a positive attitude and be willing to work through any complications we do a lot of group work and project work, and the ability to behave in a calm, mature, and independent manner is a necessity.

Classroom Rules: Students will keep hands, feet, and objects to themselves. No objects will be thrown in the classroom. No student speaks while the teacher or any other student is speaking. No pen/pencil/hand/water bottle tapping is permitted in the classroom AT ANY TIME! Every student is expected to behave in a kind and respectful manner to all other classmates: bullying is not permitted, nor will it be tolerated. No student is permitted to tilt backwards in his/her seat. This is a safety concern for the student as well as classmates. All students are required to remain in their seats at all times during class. Students may only leave seats with permission from the teacher.

Classwork/Unit Packets: At the beginning of each unit, all students will receive 1 packet, containing all of the worksheets, readings, and assignments for that given unit. Students should NOT complete any of the work in this packet at home, unless s/he is making up missed work, finishing something from class, or absent. The packets will be used for in-class assignments and learning. It is necessary to keep track of your packet. Each student will receive only 1 per unit. If a packet is lost, the student will be required to make up all of the work on his/her own. Unit packets will be handed in on the day of the Unit Exam. Unit packets are worth 2 test grades.

Homework Packets: Homework is extremely important! It furthers the concepts that are taught in class, and allows us to move at the pace required to reach our school year goals! At the beginning of each unit, all students will receive 1 packet, containing all of the homework that will be assigned for that given unit.

Students should complete ALL of the work in this packet, according to the due dates assigned by the teacher. Students should ALWAYS know what is due, and when. Therefore; if a student is absent from class on any given day, s/he should still complete his/her homework that evening and it is due the same date as if s/he was not absent. Any questions concerning which parts of the packets to complete should be asked BEFORE the end of class. Each day, students should write down their given homework assignment for that night in their agenda book. EVEN IF they already know what is due. Homework will be checked daily. If a student misses 2 assignments in a given week, s/he will be required to fill out a Missing Homework sheet over the weekend. After completing 2 sequential Missing Homework sheets, a student will be given the Homework Problem sheet to fill out with his/her parent or guardian over the weekend. If the Homework Problem sheet is not returned on the next school day, the teacher will call home. Homework packets are due the day of the Unit Exam. Homework Packets are worth 2 quiz grades.

Extra Help: If you find yourself struggling, please do not hesitate to come and speak to one of us as soon as possible! We are available for extra help MOST days after school until 3:00 PM. If you need to make an appointment for extra help, we need you to set it up ONE DAY BEFORE you want to stay. Most days, we cannot accommodate drop-ins for extra help.

Lab Expectations: Each lab will be counted as 1 test grade. A lab grade will be made up of 2 parts: the participation grade and the lab report grade. The participation portion of a lab grade will be determined by the individual students contributions to a lab exercise and behavior during a lab exercise. Students are required to remain in their seats, with their ASSIGNED group for the entire duration of the lab. Students need to adhere to ALL safety procedures outlined by the teacher. If the safety guidelines are not followed, students will be provided with an alternative assignment to the lab, and will be unable to participate. If students are dismissed from participating in a lab, they will receive an automatic 50% for the participation lab grade. All students will be required to complete a lab report following each lab exercise. (Please see attached Lab Report Format sheet.) We will begin the year by giving students a blank lab report format to fill in. As the year progresses, students will be responsible for completing their own lab reports. Lab reports should be typed and need to include all components outlined in the Lab Report Format sheet.

Unit Exams/Make-Ups: At the conclusion of each unit, there will be a comprehensive Unit Exam, (excluding the Science Fair Unit). Students will have the opportunity to review all information for a unit the days leading up to a Unit Exam by completing a unit Review Sheet.

The Review Sheet is due on the day of the Unit Exam. Review Sheets are worth 1 quiz grade. At the end of the school year, students are required to have all Review Sheets completed to bring to grade 8 for standardized test preparation. If a student completes these throughout the year, it will mean MUCH LESS HOMEWORK at the end of the school year! Students should make every effort to be IN CLASS on the day of the exam. If a student is absent for the exam, s/he has 1 week from the date the exam was given to make an appointment with a teacher to stay before or after school to complete the exam. It is the STUDENTS responsibility to make up exams. If the student does not make an appointment to make up missing work, it will be counted as an F for that exam.

Grade Breakdown: Tests Quizzes Labs Participation Unit Breakdown: Unit 1: Cells Unit 2: Genetics Unit 3: Science Fair Unit 4: Evolution Unit 5: Ecology 40% 20% 20% 20%

Thank you and we look forward to working with you and your student throughout this year!