Rainier Middle School Mr. Holterman7/8 Science

Rainier Middle School Mr. Holterman7/8 Science

Science Course Description

Middle School science is a survey of many types of sciences. It is designed this way to meet state science standards for seventh and eighth grade and so that students can build on many skills as they progress through middle school and into high school. Students will be completing or participating in: labs, various projects, daily assignments, quizzes, tests and presentations. Students will also be doing a science project. The science subjects are listed under the instruction materials and course topic section.

Science Goals

1. Students will attain the basics of the scientific method and apply those skills in the mastery of the required topics in the fields of: Physical science, Earth science and Life science.

2. Students will acquire a foundation of lab and safety skills that they can utilize in future science classes.

3. Students will learn to apply science skills in questioning the world around them and performing investigations.

Instructional Materials and Course Topics for 7th grade

Animals- This book covers Animal Behavior, Invertebrates, Fishes, Amphibians & Reptiles, Birds & Mammals

Forces, Motion & Energy- This book includes Friction, Gravity, Newton's Laws, Fluids and Pressure, Buoyancy, Power, Machines, Energy, Temperature, Matter & Heat

Electricity & Magnetism- This book includes Introduction to Electricity, Electromagnetism, Electric Technology

Microorganisms, Fungi & Plants- This book includes Characteristics of Living Things, Necessities of Life, Bacteria & Viruses, Protists & Fungi

Environmental Science- This book includes Interactions of Living Things, Cycles in Nature, The Earth's Ecosystems, Environmental Problems & Solutions, Energy Resources

Instructional Materials and Course Topics for 8th grade

Introduction to Matter- This book includes the Properties of Matter, States of Matter, Elements, Compounds and Mixtures, Introduction to Atoms, The Periodic Table

Interactions of Matter- Chemical Bonding, Chemical Reactions, Chemical Compounds, Atomic Energy

Human Body- Body Organization & Structure, Circulation & Respiration, The Digestive & Urinary System, Communication & Control, Reproduction & Development, Body Defense & Disease and Staying Healthy

Cells, Genetics & Heredity- Cells: The Basic Unit of Life, The Cell in Action, Heredity, Genes & Gene Technology, Classification

Weather & Climate- The Atmosphere, Understanding Weather, Climate

****Note- There will often be supplemental materials added to possibly include labs, internet activities and projects as well as an interactive notebook (I.N.B.). It is possible we will not make it through each book in its entirety.

The Science Lab

We will be conducting science labs throughout the year. Some will be performed in the classroom and others in the science lab or outside the building. It is important that each student understands the rules of the lab for their safety and the safety of others. Students are required to sign a lab safety contract before they can participate in lab activities. If any parent would like a copy of one, I will gladly send one home with the student. Violations to lab rules can result in the loss of grades and or restriction from all further lab activities.

Grades & Assignments

1. Assignments are due on the day stated. They are due at the beginning of the period unless otherwise stated.

2. Cheating or “Copying” does not help students learn and will not be tolerated. The school’s policy on cheating will be followed.
3. If you are going to be absent for activities you know about in advance (field trips, student council, dance tryouts, swing choir, sports activities, etc.) you should request the work for the class you are going to miss at the time you find out about the trip or outing and then hand in this work upon your return to class. (Obviously some assignments such as labs cannot be done easily outside of class. Ask your teacher how you might make up this work.) Understand that if you are going to be gone from class 6 weeks from now, the teacher might not have planned that far in advance and might not know what will be happening on the day you are gone. Please allow a little flexibility as the teacher attempts to give you what will be missed, it may be the right stuff, and it might not be. Also understand that if you just come into the room, the teacher may be occupied with other students or activities and may not be able to help you at that time. Most assignments can be accessed via the teacher’s webpage and what was covered in class will be posted on the class calendar on the teacher’s webpage.

4. Every student is required to have an inexpensive 3-Ring binder for this course. It is very important for students to keep track of their papers and by using the 3-ring binder it will help them be organized. It should not take a student ten minutes to find a paper and turn it in.

5. Paper that is ripped from a spiral notebook leaves “Fuzzies” all over the floor and makes a mess so students are encouraged to not rip paper from spiral notebooks helping keep our school looking nice.

6. Students are required to have a composition notebook to use in making an interactive notebook (I.N.B.) which will be used regularly in class. Students are encouraged to have a second composition notebook to use for their daily journals.

7. Missing work, Late work, or bad scores on work….

1. Students who are turning in late or missing work MUST have their name on the paper. The paper MUST have the title of the assignment on the paper and the paper MUST have the date the assignment was DUE. Papers without this information will be handed back to the student to put the needed information on and will not be graded until such information is attached.

2. Students who are re-doing an assignment or test, must attach the original paper to the new re-do paper. As in #1, students MUST include their name, name of the assignment and the original date it was due. The original paper MUST be signed by a parent or guardian. Understand that the teacher reserves the right to give alternative versions of the assignment and may ask follow up questions to ensure students have really mastered the material.

**Students may be asked to write a letter explaining what was different between the first and subsequent attempts and what they learned about themselves as learners before the new score is entered into the grade program.

***Understand that some labs cannot be re-done as the chemicals or supplies may have expired and would no longer be available for use.

3. In the first semester of the 2016-17 school year; January 17, 2017 will be the cut off point for when work can be re-done or turned in. Current work will still be accepted on the date due. In the second semester of the 2016-17 school year; June 1, 2017 will be the final day to turn in late/missing work or to re-do any work. Current work will still be accepted on the date due. There will be no exceptions to this rule as the teacher needs time to complete grading prior the submission date of grades to the school office.

4. Any assignment or test that is not a 100% may be re-done at the student’s discretion following the rules above.

5. Tests that are being re-done will need to be re-taken in the classroom at a time arranged with the teacher. Special circumstances may require alternative arrangements and will be determined between the teacher and the student, but all tests and quizzes must be re-taken at the school, they cannot go home.

6. If a student is repeatedly asking for re-doing work, there might be an issue. The teacher might then require a meeting with the parents and the student, or with the counselor, to figure out why there is a consistent need for work to be re-done.

7. Students that are in need of an assignment they may have missed or that they want to re-do MUST access the teacher’s webpage to find that assignment. The past work section of the webpage has all work that has been completed to date and would be the best place to look for that work. Also, the calendar will have the work posted, but you would need to know the date it was assigned to find it here. The teacher DOES NOT have paper copies of work; it is up to the student to print a copy from their own personal computer, a library computer or other electronic device.

8. Student work that has been turned in late or work that has been re-done will be graded as time permits. Current work is always graded first before late, missing or re-done work. Please do not expect work to be graded the instant it is turned in, it takes time and current assignments will always take precedence over the others.

9. All of these steps are at the teacher’s discretion

How do I earn a grade?

1. Everything in class is graded on points. A point is a point so a point on a test is equal to a point on a homework assignment and so forth. If you divide how many points you have earned by how many points were possible, that will tell you the percent you have in the class. There may be some assignments or tests that will count double because of their size or impertinence and those will be clarified.
2. Grades are posted, regularly on Skyward so students can check their progress by logging in and using their password.

Ready to Work & Assignment Expectations

1. Every student is expected to be in his/her seat ready to work when class starts, no exceptions. Running through the door as the bell rings is not acceptable. Also unacceptable is “being” in the room, you must be sitting in your assigned seat when the bell rings to avoid being tardy. You need to have your materials out on your desk ready to work; you should never wait until the teacher starts talking to get your materials out.

2. It is the responsibility of the student to ask their teacher what they missed while gone from school. Here are a few tips: 1) If you know you are going to be gone, ask a friend to write down the assignment in their planner and copy it down later. 2) Ask your teacher before you are going to be gone. 3) Check the online class calendar to see what was going on in class the day you were gone. 4) Email the teacher to see what you missed.Do not wait until just before class is starting to ask for missed work. Findyour teacher before or after school.

3. If you are suspended, it is your responsibility to get your assignments to work on during your suspension. It is unacceptable to request work, particularly after a multiple day suspension, if you have made no attempt to get your assignments during your suspension. If you are suspended during the day, don’t expect the teacher to stop class to get you work you will miss; you may not take away from the instruction of other students.

Miscellaneous:

1. "Working together" and other forms of copying homework or class work assignments are not permitted.

Cheating in any form will follow the school's policy.
2. Although gathering data or "doing an experiment" frequently is done with a partner, your lab write-up should be totally your own. Your answers to questions should be your own thoughts in your own words.
3. Students should not bring food or drink (water and water bottles are exceptions) to class. Eating food or drinking anything other than water is not permitted. This rule may be waved on special occasions. Under no circumstances will food or drink be allowed in the lab room.

Steps to Success:

1. Be in class every day without exception.
2. Turn in every single assignment so that there are no missing assignments.
3. Give 100% of your effort at all times no matter what.
4. Listen and follow all directions the first time given.
5. Follow all rules and guidelines.

Teacher Communications

Students and parents may contact teacher via email or phone.

Email =

Phone = 360-446-2206

Website = http://www.rainier.wednet.edu/Page/270

Parents may also look at student grades on the "Skyward" system found at www.rainier.wednet.edu