- Discovery Middle School
- Physical Science Syllabus
-
Physical Science
Syllabus
Discovery Middle School
Teacher:
Emily Parker
1304 Hughes Road
Email:
eaparker@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Madison, AL 35758
Class Webpage:
Phone Number:
256-837-3735 ext. 82525
Course Description:
This course focuses on physical science. The scientific process is used throughout the year with students developing laboratory skills and techniques through discovery-oriented experiments. The curriculum includes the study of atoms and bonding, chemical reactions, Newton’s laws of motion, potential and kinetic energy, and mechanical and electromagnetic waves. The focus of this course is designed to prepare students for the physics and chemistry courses taken in high school.
Additional information for this course can be found on the Alabama Department of education website: https://alex.state.al.us/standardAll.php?grade=8&subject=SC2015&ccode=PS8&summary=2
Course Objectives:
Students in eighth grade exhibit a wide range of learning styles and intellectual abilities. This diversity in development requires the implementation of a science curriculum that engages students in scientific inquiry. The classroom environment must provide opportunities for students to identify problems, ask questions, make observations, design solutions, and explore important scientific concepts through investigations. As students’ curiosity and creativity flourish, teachers must design activities that encourage students to construct explanations based upon their own experiences and to use their creative abilities to devise solutions to real-world problems. Students engage in higher-level, abstract-thinking processes as they make connections between and among disciplines and become well-grounded in experiences. Students work in a variety of groups that foster collaboration among peers.
Grade 8 content standards are based upon the disciplinary core ideas in the Physical Science domain. The first core idea, Matter and Its Interactions, concentrates on the composition and properties of matter. The second core idea, Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions, focuses on examining forces and predicting and developing explanations for changes in motion. The third core idea, Energy, involves the conservation of energy, energy transformations, and applications of energy to everyday life. The final core idea, Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer, examines types and properties of waves and the use of waves in communication devices. Integrated into the Physical Science content standards are the disciplinary core ideas of the Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science (ETS) domain, which require students to employ tools and materials to solve problems and to use representations to convey various design solutions.
Classroom Expectations:
Classroom Rules and Procedures:
- Be on Task
- Be Respectful
- Be Responsible
- Be Prepared
- Be on Time
Textbook:
McGraw Hill Education “Physical Science” grade 8
ISBN #: 978-0-02-137637-7 (In class copy only)
Grading:
Test grades will account for 60% of the 9-weeks grade, with the remaining 40% being determined by quiz/daily grades. The grading scale is as follows: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (65-69), and F (below 65). Grades will be a reflection of mastery of the standards. Make sure all absences are excused as work can be made up and graded for excused absences only.
Tests are on Wednesdays and Fridays this year for Science.
Make-up Work:
Under normal circumstances, it is expected that students will submit previously assigned work upon return to school after an excused absence. All work missed on the day(s) of excused absences must be made up within a timeframe determined by the teacher. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure he or she makes up work following excused absences. Students will not receive credit for and will not be allowed to make up any assignments, tests, work, activities, etc., missed during unexcused absences. (DMS 2021-2022 Student Handbook)
Late Work:
For work turned in late, the following policy will apply:
• The assignment will drop one LETTER grade for each school day that passes. For example, if an assignment is turned in one school day late, the highest a student can receive is 89%; two days late, 79%, etc.
1 day late = maximum credit 89%
2 days late = maximum credit 79%
3 days late = maximum credit 69%
4 days late = maximum credit 59%
5-10 days late = maximum credit 50%
• Half credit is always better than no credit! Until work has been made up, “Missing” (which counts as a zero) will be put in the grade book. This will be updated once work is completed and turned in.
Accommodations:
Requests for accommodations for this course or any school event are welcomed from students and parents.
Technology
Concerning laptop utilization:
1. Student laptops should not be hard-wired to the network or have print capabilities.
2. Use of discs, flash drives, jump drives, or other USB devices will not be allowed on Madison City computers.
3. Neither the teacher, nor the school is responsible for broken, stolen, or lost laptops.
4. Laptops and other electronic devices will be used at the individual discretion of the teacher.
Cell Phone Policy:
Students will be asked to put away their devices (cellphones, airpods/earbuds) at the beginning of class. They are not to be used unless the student is given permission by the teacher.
Materials and Supplies:
- 2 lined Composition Notebooks
- Writing Utensils (pencils or pens)
- 1 roll of paper towels
- Glue (sticks or liquid glue)
18 Week Plan *Subject to Change
Week:
Unit:
1
Unit 1: Nature of Science and Introduction into Matter
2
Unit 1: Nature of Science and Introduction into Matter
3
Unit 2: Phases and Properties of Matter
4
Unit 2: Phases and Properties of Matter
5
Unit 3: Periodic Table and Atoms
6
Unit 3: Periodic Table and Atoms
7
Unit 4: Chemical Bonding
8
Unit 4: Chemical Bonding
9
Unit 5: Chemical Reactions
10
Unit 5: Chemical Reactions
11
Unit 6: Motion
12
Unit 6: Motion
13
Unit 7: Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion and Forces
14
Unit 7: Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion and Forces
15
Unit 8: Energy and Waves
16
Unit 8: Energy and Waves
17
Unit 9: Electromagnetism and Circuits
18
Reviews for Final exam / Final Exam