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I. COURSE SCOPE
A. Course Description
This course is designed to help students:
· Realize the important role that science will play in their personal and professional lives.
· Use principles of science to think more intelligently about current issues they will encounter that involve science and technology.
· Develop a lifelong awareness of the potential and limitations of science and technology.
Topics studied include electricity, magnetism, chemistry, digestive and reproductive
systems, meteorology, historical geology, genetics and evolution, nuclear physics,
and astronomy. Critical thinking (the ability to carry out systematic though
processes in making decisions and solving problems), inquiry (solving problems
through scientific investigation) and science ethics are stressed in this class.
Superimposed on these topics is a strong emphasis on the history and nature
of science.
B. Textbooks and materials Used
Textbook: Aldridge, Bill, et. al., 1996. Science Interactions, Course 3. New York: Glencoe.
Online Textbook: An additional text source is found
online at www.geocities.com/virtuatext
Supplemental Materials: Your instructor will provide for you magazine
articles, worksheets, and handouts from a variety of sources.
Materials: The student is expected to provide:
1.) A three-ring binder for use as a classroom notebook.
2.) Composition notebook (minimum 100 pages) for use as lab record and journal
3.) Writing utensils - pencil and pen.
4.) Student planner - provided by school.
II. GRADING POLICY
A. Grading Scale: A: 95-100 A-: 90-94 B: 85-89 B-: 80-84 C: 75-79 C-:70-74 D: 65-69 D-:60-64
B. Description of Grading Procedures
1. First Semester Grade Categories
Homework, Classwork (33%): Chapter worksheets, simulation activities, computer assignments, end-of-chapter questions, projects, and journaling . They will be graded on completeness and accuracy.It is expected that the student will ask pertinent questions concerning these assignments prior to the due date.
Lab Activities (33%): Must be completed in blue or black ink in a hard-bound composition book. Lab reports will be assessedfor accuracy as well as thoroughness.
Summative Assessment (33%): These may be traditional pencil-and-paper quizzes, group projects, multimedia presentations, interviews, or portfolios.
2. Second Semester Grade Opportunities.
The same kinds of assignments will be used second semester as first, but at the instructor’s discretion a self-paced cooperative strategy will be implemented. Under this strategy, students progress as a group at their own pace through inquiry activities and other assignments, and make group decisions about when to take “C/D” quizzes, which test low level learning such as recall and basic understanding. Students may individually or cooperatively pursue A/B level work and assessment, demonstrating more sophisticated learning such as symbolic mastery, synthesis, analysis, evaluation, and application of scientific ideas. A detailed accounting of this strategy is available on request.
3. Participation:
Students will be awarded 1 point daily for participation. These will be part of the homework percentage of the grade. Each tardy will result in the loss of the daily participation point. If a student is absent, they will not be awarded that day's participation grade; however, they may make up that point by completing work that was missed in their absence.
4. Grammar, Spelling, Neatness, Formatting:
All assignments, tests, labs will be graded not only on completeness and/or accuracy, but also on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and neatness as well. All assignments must be completed in pencil or black/blue pen. Lab notebooks must have entries in black or blue ink ONLY (no erasures or white-out!)
5. Enrichment:
From time to time enrichment activities will be offered to students. These are carefully contrived, pre-determined assignments designed to move students beyond course requirements. For example, students may choose to conduct a science fair project or participate in a weekend field trip. Although participation in these activities may enhance a students grade, students should not count on these assignments to “bail out” a low grade; “extra credit,” therefore, does not exist.
C. Basis For Semester Grade: This will be an equally weighted average of the three six weeks grades.
D. Make-up Procedures
1. After any absence, the student shall be required to initiate contact with the instructor to obtain appropriate make-up assignments within two school days directly following the student's return.
2. After initiating contact with the teacher and obtaining make-up work, the student has a time period equal to the absence time to make up the assignment. Long terms absences will be handled on an individual basis, with great sensitivity to the student’s ability to catch up in science as well as in other classes.
III. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
The purpose of school is education. ANYTHING that interferes with that purpose will not be tolerated. The following rules are drawn up because people- any people - need to know what their boundaries are and what the consequences of exceeding those boundaries are. Your instructor has the right and the authority to discipline whenever necessary in a fair, firm, and consistent manner.
A. Progressive Discipline Plan If a student chooses to break a classroom rule:
Step 1 (1st
violation): warning (written or verbal)
Step 2 (2nd violation): 5-minute time-out (if deemed necessary),
detention, parents contacted
Step 3 (3rd infraction): parent contacted
Step 4 (4th and repeated infractions): referral to office*
*For extreme infractions (for example, behaviors that threaten the health and safety of others, flagrant insubordination, etc.) students will be referred immediately to the office.
B. Classroom Rules
This class operates under the following values: honesty, equality, responsibility, promise-keeping, self-control, social justice, and respect. Any behavior that falls outside those values is not acceptable.
1. Be respectful of yourself, others, and property.
a. Express yourself positively.
b. No cruel teasing or put-downs, no rude noises
or gestures, no foul, abusive, or demeaning language.
c. When involved with small group or whole class
discussion, pay attention to whoever has the floor.
d. Follow the directions of teachers and adult
aides.
e. Take care of lab equipment. Don't alter software
or computer settings (don't mess with control panels!).
2. Be involved and always do your best.
a. Bring required materials
to class every day- ALWAYS bring your journal, writing utensils, planner and
notebook.
b. Follow the directions of teachers and adult
aides.
c. Work hard from starting bell to finishing
bell. Clean up after yourself. Put things where they belong.
d. Hall passes - for emergencies only, not for
things left in your locker. The student planner will serve as a hall pass. If
you don't have your student planner, you're not going anywhere during class.
3. Be in class, on time, and prepared.
I will enforce the school's tardy policy rigorously. If you're not in your seat when the bell rings, you're late. Notes from teachers do not excuse tardies, they only admit you to class.
4. Be honest with yourself and others.
Take tests honestly and only turning in work that is yours, and always give credit where credit is due. Cheating and plagiarizing are serious violations of established academic ethics, and they will be dealt with severely.
5. Be positive and have a sense of humor.
We can have fun and still respect each other and learn a lot. We need to support each other, laugh when it's appropriate, and exercise self control when we don't have something positive to say.
6. Be safe and stay healthy.
a. Follow the directions of
teachers and adult aides. In lab, this can affect your grade, your safety, and
the safety of others.
b. No eating or drinking or gum in the classroom.
c. Get enough sleep. Don't try to catch up on it in class.
V. UNIQUE ITEMS PERTINENT TO THIS CLASS
A. Laboratory Rules - these rules will be covered in detail later in class.
B. Breaking Laboratory Rules - the severity of the infraction will determine the consequences:
1. If the violation of the rule is not a threat to the physical safety of any person (for example, being off task or , the student will lose at least 10% of their grade on that particular lab assignment and may be asked to sit out the rest of the lab. If the student repeats the offense they will be asked to sit out the rest of the activity with a complete loss of credit for the assignment.
2. If the infraction threatens the physical safety of any person, (for example, horseplay or repeatedly removing goggles when they are required) the student may be immediately referred to the administration for disciplinary action. They will also lose credit for that assignment.
C. Laboratory Cleanup
· The last five to ten minutes of any lab period will be designated as time for lab cleanup. This means that any all equipment should be returned to designated storage areas; and all trash thrown away.
· Any lab team that succeeds in leaving the classroom before their lab station is appropriately cleaned shall lose some credit for that lab and they may be assigned cleanup detention.
D. Care of Laboratory Equipment
Lab equipment should be treated with extreme care. A student who breaks a piece of class or lab equipment will be held liable for that damage (cost plus 10% shipping). Extreme cases of neglector abuse will be referred to the office for disciplinary action.
E. Attitude, Being Here, Getting Help
· Absences in this class can really hurt your grade. It is easy to get behind and hard to get caught up. If you are absent, get the notes from a reliable note-taker on your return. If you need help, seek me out and I will help you.
· All students can and may receive a drop in homework points for incorrect spelling, grammar, punctuation, or for sloppiness.
F. Teacher Expectations
I will provide meaningful activities and assignments that will challenge students and help them learn the required concepts and skills for this class. I will be objective in evaluating student learning. I will be available for help between 7:00 and 7:20 a.m., and between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. or other times by appointment. I will treat students with respect at all times.
VI. STUDY SKILLS EXPECTATIONS
A. Notebook requirements - each student will be required to maintain two separate notebooks:
1. Three-ring binder, for organizing
handouts, tests, etc. 1” spine, minimum
2. Hard-bound laboratory notebook/journal. Collected
periodically for journal review and after labs for lab assessment.
B. Organizational expectations
· The three ring binder may be collected and evaluated at anytime during the school year with little or no notice. Students should keep all materials handed out/handed back in chronological order in this binder.
· The student planner must be kept updated with all assignments, due dates, and tests. I may check a planner at any time. Replacements for lost planners must be purchased in the office for $5.00.