Welcome to Seven Oak Science

This year your child will be exploring the realm of Life Science. We have many fun activities and labs that will make learning an adventure and not a chore. We will use a variety of methods to study the subjects you see listed. The usual textbook reading with worksheets and text questions will be an important basis for learning. Group activities and presentations will be an integral part of our learning experience. Labs using several biological tools will enhance learning and pique interest. Dissection is another venue students will use to learn about the living world.

Students will need the following items every day for class:

........ and of course their thinking tool (brain that is).

Students need to bring these items every day no matter what is on the agenda for us to do.

Student grades will be based on:

Homework Policy

Homework is an important part of the course. It's not meant to be a laborious chore but an important learning activity.

Homework appears on the front blackboard each school day and is announced to the class. On the average, written homework is assigned 3 times a week. Some days homework is just to study vocabulary, daily notes, or previous assignments. On most week ends there is nothing to do except enjoy the time off.

Homework is graded on a completion basis only. This means that if the homework is completed on time, with reasonable answers (not "I don't know"), the student gets full credit. Most homework is new material and the students can't be expected to know all the answers or understand every concept. The next day each assignment is reviewed in class. Students are given the correct answers and necessary explanations.

Students are given the opportunity to turn in assignments a day late for 50% credit. Also, if a student completes part of an assignment (on time), they get full credit for the completed part and can bring in the remainder the next day for 50% credit.

Class work and homework are graded the same and are a major percentage of the overall grade. Class work includes labs, group activities, video worksheets, and textbook research. There are times when class work assignments are not completed within the class period. If this happens, it is the student's responsibility to complete the work at home (unless it's a lab). Together class work and homework account for 60% of the grade.

A note about dissection- The Science classes will be performing several dissections of specimens throughout the school year. These dissections are intended to supplement the information we are learning about the human body, animals and their structures. At no time is your son/daughter required to participate in the actual dissection of the specimen.

Students have the following options:
1) do the actual dissection;
2) stay in the classroom and watch but not participate;
3) do a computer simulation of the dissection;
4) go to another classroom and do the packet using a text.

All students, whether they dissect or not, must hand in a completed lab packet. This packet can be completed using notes and other resources provided without actually doing the dissection.

How parents can help

You can keep current with class activities, homework assignments and test schedules by checking the Announcements page. You will find a link to study guides and course content at the classnotes site set up for our course through the textbook publisher. You may also wish to vist the East Stroudsburg School District website to keep abreast of general district activities and news.

If your child has problems or if you have questions

I can be reached by phone during school hours at 424-8430. Please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

You can also email me at
[email protected]

Study Units

Cells and Heredity The first study unit and textbook. Students will learn how to use the microscope and other tools of the biologists. They will learn the structure of the three basic kinds of cells and the function of those cellular structures. We will work with cells from various plants and animals and even ourselves. Students will discover the importance of DNA and how their cells carry out their specialized jobs.

Bacteria to Plants In the next text students will learn about infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. We will also explore the fact that most of the bacteria in the world are useful and helpful to us. We will endeavor to understand the Kingdoms of Protist and Fungi and the interesting organisms that are part of them. Finally the fascinating world of plants will intrigue and amaze us.

Human Biology and Health is the third and final textbook we will use. Students will study the parts of the human body and how they work together to make a functioning human organism. Students will be able to name those bones, identify those muscles, and explain how the brain controls all of our bodily processes. Understanding human diseases and the prevention of these diseases is an important aspect of study unit.

Our goal is to have FUN while learning.