Princess Anne Middle School
2011-2012 Class Expectations
Life Science 7th Grade
Teacher: Mrs. O’Malley, Ms. Gay, Mrs. Abrams, Mrs. Hardin Class: Advanced Life Science Grade 7
School Contact Information: Telephone Number: 648-4950
Email address:
CatherineL.O’ or
Best time to contact: Daily between 9:00-10:30.
Volunteers are encouraged within our classroom!!!
Course Description: The Advanced Life Science-7 course is an integrated life science program that encourages students to address real-world issues. The instructional program incorporates various techniques in a rigorous curriculum designed to foster student critical thinking and problem solving skills. In order to meet the needs of highly motivated students, the content presentation of the seventh grade curriculum has been accelerated in order to provide time for more in-depth focus on selected topics. This course aims to develop a complex understanding of change, cycles, patterns, and relationships in the living world.
Course Objectives: All of the Life Science SOLs for Virginia are included in the Virginia Beach Public Schools science curriculum. At the end of this academic year all students in Advanced Science-7 will take the Virginia Grade 8 SOL exam. The student will:
Ø plan and conduct investigations
Ø investigate and understand that all living things are composed of cells
Ø investigate and understand that living things show patterns of cellular organization
Ø investigate and understand that the basic needs of organisms must be met in order to carry out the life process
Ø investigate and understand classifications of organisms
Ø investigate and understand the basic physical and chemical processes of photosynthesis and its importance to plant and animal life
Ø investigate and understand that organisms within an ecosystem are dependent on one another and on nonliving components of the environment
Ø investigate and understand that interactions exist among members of a population
Ø investigate and understand interactions among populations in a biological community
Ø investigate and understand how organisms adapt to biotic and abiotic factors in a biome
Ø investigate and understand that ecosystems, communities, populations, and organisms are dynamic and change over time (daily, seasonal, long term)
Ø investigate and understand the relationships between ecosystem dynamics and human activity
Ø investigate and understand that organisms reproduce and transmit genetic information to new generations
Ø investigate and understand that organisms change over time, weather and solar radiation
Course Scope and Sequence: This course begins with a basic background in necessary skills. Study then progresses to cells and cell activities, structural and functional organization of living things, the basis for a classification system of living things, genetics and evolution. Second semester begins with the interrelationships of living and nonliving things, as well as man’s impact on the environment with a particular emphasis laid on our local environment. Study then progresses to investigating the relationship among solar radiation, weather, and the living environment, in addition to ecology. We will finish the year by reviewing for the Science SOL test, which will incorporate 6th, 7th, and 8th grade information and fun projects.
Texts and Materials: Glencoe Life Science -A jump/zip would be beneficial for saving classroom projects.
Access to the Glencoe online Life Science book: www.glencoe.com/ose, access code that can be used is:EDEC1E59CF
Assessment Measures: . Students will be graded on tests, quizzes, homework, class work, labs, and projects.
Grading Procedures and Policies: Students in Science 7 will be evaluated using a standards-based grading system.
Rationale: Students’ grades should reflect the progress they have made toward learning objectives. A standards-based grading system does not factor in where a student begins in their learning, rather it evaluates students progress throughout the unit offering multiple opportunities to obtain mastery.
Procedure: Teachers will identify the learning objectives for each unit of study, and will develop a rubric that describes how students attain mastery of those objectives. All students begin the unit in the same place on each objective. Assignments throughout the unit provide students the opportunity to show evidence of their progress toward the objectives. As students progress, they are not given traditional grades. Instead the students are moved up a step in each objective as their work warrants. At the end of the unit of study, the students’ points are totaled up and converted to a grade based on pre-determined ranges. All objectives, rubrics, and grade ranges are provided to students in advance for each unit of study.
Example: A unit of study has 10 learning objectives. For each objective there are 4 levels of performance. Each assignment is tied to an objective(s) and a level of performance. Though all students will begin at the bottom (1-novice) of the rubric for each objective, students will be provided ample opportunities to achieve the highest level of performance (4-mastery) on each objective. With 10 objectives, students can receive a maximum of 40 points. Grades are determined by dividing the total points into 5 equal ranges—with 40 points (students begin with 10), the ranges are 34-40=A, 28-33=B, 22-27=C, 16-21=D, 10-15=E.
Help Sessions: Any student needing extra help must enter the day and time in their Agenda and have the Agenda signed by the teacher. Times will vary. Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. Extra help will also be available in the cafeteria every morning starting at 7:30 or in the afternoon at the homework center.
Procedures for conferences, parental contacts: Conferences will be scheduled on an as needed basis. Parents may schedule a conference any time during the year by calling guidance. Conferences will take place in guidance before school starts at 8:30. Contact can also be made through e-mail. We will be e-mailing frequently with class up-dates as well as maintaining important information on list-serve, teacher web-pages and our wikispace. Be sure to sign up for list serve and parent portal.
Citizenship Expectations: Students are strongly encouraged to follow the VBCPS code of conduct as well as that of PAMS. Self-respect, self-discipline, decency, and common sense should be exercised at all times. Please come to class prepared, work cooperatively in groups, use planner correctly, and accept responsibility for all actions.
Parent/Student tear off form with place for signature and date: Please sign and return this portion so that I know you have received and read the class expectations and information with your child. I look forward to being a positive part of your child’s life in the coming year. Thank you!
______
Please sign and return:
We have read the information on the Course Expectation Sheet for Advance Science, Grade 7. Please print clearly your name and e-mail address.
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date: ______Student Signature ______
Telephone #: Home: ______Daytime: ______Parent/Guardian e-mail address: ______