Course Syllabus

IB 8^th GRADE PHYSICAL SCIENCE

                                                                                                                                                        

Instructor:  Ms. Cole      Telephone: 951- 736-3221  EXT: 41214

                                             Email: tcole@cnusd.k12.ca.us

 

 

Course Description: The IB physical Science Middle Years Programme provides a framework of learning which encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. Emphasizing intellectual challenge, students are encouraged to make connections between their students in science and the real world. Fostering the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement, students will develop the essential qualities of young people who are becoming global learners.

 

This course is strictly aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

 

The aims of IB Physical Science are to encourage and enable students to:

 

• Understand and appreciate science and its implications
• Consider science as a human endeavor with benefits and limitations.
• Cultivate analytical, inquiring and flexible minds that pose questions, solve problems, and construct explanations and judge arguments.
• Develop skills to design and perform investigations, evaluate evidence and reach conclusions.
• Build an awareness of the need to effectively collaborate and communicate
• Apply language skills and knowledge in a variety of real-life contexts.
• Develop sensitivity towards the living and no-living environments
• Reflect on learning experiences and make informed choices.

 

The objectives of MYP sciences encompass the factual, conceptual, procedural and metacognitive dimensions of knowledge.             

   *Knowing and understanding                       * Inquiring and designing 

   *Processing and evaluating                          *Reflecting on the impacts of science

Global Contexts

In a world of increasing interconnections and complexity, learning in context provides students with opportunities to explore multiple dimensions of meaningful challenges facing the youth of today. Encouraging students to develop creative solutions and understanding is a goal of this program. The Middle Years Program encourages teachers to design units around a wide range of ideas and issues that are personally, locally, nationally, internationally and globally significant.

Scientific and technical innovation: How do we understand the world in which we live? An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society on the environment.

Globalization and Sustainability: How is everything connected? An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on human on the environment

Fairness and Development: What are the consequences of our common humanity? An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to secure finite resources with other people and with other living things, communities and the relationships within and between them. Access to equal opportunities, peace and conflict resolution. 

Personal and cultural expression: What is the nature and purpose of creative expression? An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

Orientation in Time and Space: What is the meaning of “when” and “where”? Students will explore personal histories; homes and journeys; turning points in humankind; discoveries; explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between, and the interconnectedness of, individuals and civilizations, from personal, local and global perspectives

Identities and Relationships: Who am I? Who are we? An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health;   relationships including families, friends, communities and cultures; rights and responsibilities; it means to be human.

Assessment: All assignments in both Interactive Notebooks will be graded based on mastery of concepts being covered, idea development, accuracy, quality, and completeness. My goal in grading is to provide accurate, specific, timely feedback designed to improve student performance. I will typically provide probing questions if there is something that is not meeting my expectations. This gives students an opportunity to elaborate or revisit questions or ideas they have that may need to be rethought. Any assignment can be redone to show an increase in understanding of the concept being covered.

 

Grading:      -50% Science Notebook Totals           

                    -40% Assessments/Projects   

                    -10% Daily Science Reflections                         

 

               A+   100-98%     B+  89.9-88%      C+   79.9-78%     D+   69.9-68%

               A   97.9-92%     B    87.9-82%        C     77.9-72%     D      67.9-63%

               A-    91.9-90%    B-   81.9-80%      C-    71.9-70%     D-     62.9-60%

                                                                                              F     59.9% or below

 

Absences and Make-Up Work:

• Classwork: If you miss a class period, you have 1 day to turn in the missed work, including daily journal questions, daily journal reflections, classwork, and homework.
• ALL missed work can be found in the file container on the back counter.
• It is your responsibility to collect the work after being absent and turn it in the next class period.
• If work is late beyond the one day given to complete it, points will be deducted from the assignment.
• LABS: If you miss a lab, it is YOUR responsibility to collect the data from your lab group. You then have 1 extra class period past the due date to complete and turn in the lab.
• Tests: Missed tests must be made up within 2 days of your return to school. It is YOUR responsibility to let me know when you will be coming in to take the test (either before school, during lunch, or after school).  

 Redoing Assignments:

If students are unhappy with a homework or lab assignment grade I will provide an opportunity for students to fix the mistakes and resubmit the assignment.

Students have 1 day to redo the assignment to resubmit. The grade will be replaced by the average of the original assignment and the resubmitted assignment.

Redoing Tests/Quizzes:

Student can retake 2 tests or quizzes a trimester. The grade will be replaced by the average of the original score and new score. Retakes must be taken within ONE week of the original test and students will be given a different version of the test.

 

Late Work:

Points will be deducted as follows for each day an assignment is late:

• For assignments in SNB-1 point for each day late
• For assignments not in SNB (lab reports, posters, reflections, etc.)10% will be deducted from the grade for each day late
• For DSJ/DSR 1 point off for each day late

All IB students are required to complete a science project and participate in the Raney Science Fair.

 

8^th GRADE PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE SYLLABUS                            

 

Instructor:  Ms. Cole      Telephone: 951- 736-3221  EXT: 41214

                                    Email: tcole@cnusd.k12.ca.us

 

Course Description: Physical Science is a standards based science class that addresses: Physics, Chemistry and Wave Energy.

Student Expectations:

• To reach proficiency with the Next Generation Science Standards for 8^th
• To improve literacy including reading, writing, listening and speaking skills
• To successfully follow oral and written instructions
• To reflect and become a self-directed learner
• To write Cornell notes from text and lectures
• To analyze and raw conclusions supported by data
• To learn to self-edit assignments for growth and critical thinking
• To work in specially designed collaborative learning teams
• To participate in laboratory activities that allow for application and synthesis of new knowledge.
• All Honors students must do a Science Fair Project

 

Assessment: All assignments in both Interactive Notebooks will be graded based on mastery of concepts being covered, idea development, accuracy, quality, and completeness. My goal in grading is to provide accurate, specific, timely feedback designed to improve student performance. I will typically provide probing questions if there is something that is not meeting my expectations. This gives students an opportunity to elaborate or revisit questions or ideas they have that may need to be rethought. Any assignment can be redone to show an increase in understanding of the concept being covered.

 

Grading:      -50% Science Notebook Totals                           -20% Assessments/Projects        

                   -10% Daily Science Reflections                                                                 

 

               A+   100-98%          B+  89.9-88%           C+   79.9-78%         D+   69.9-68%

               A     97.9-92%     B    87.9-82%           C     77.9-72%         D      67.9-63%

               A-    91.9-90%         B-   81.9-80%          C-    71.9-70%         D-     62.9-60%

                                                                                                         F     59.9% or below

 

Absences and Make-Up Work:

• Classwork: If you miss a class period, you have 1 day to turn in the missed work, including daily journal questions, daily journal reflections, classwork, and homework.
• ALL missed work can be found in the file container on the back counter.
• It is your responsibility to collect the work after being absent and turn it in the next class period.
• If work is late beyond the one day given to complete it, points will be deducted from the assignment.
• LABS: If you miss a lab, it is YOUR responsibility to collect the data from your lab group. You then have 1 extra class period past the due date to complete and turn in the lab.
• Tests: Missed tests must be made up within 2 days of your return to school. It is YOUR responsibility to let me know when you will be coming in to take the test (either before school, during lunch, or after school).

Redoing Assignments:

If students are unhappy with a homework or lab assignment grade I will provide an opportunity for students to fix the mistakes and resubmit the assignment. Students have 1 day to redo the assignment to resubmit. The grade will be replaced by the average of the original assignment and the resubmitted assignment.

 

Redoing Tests/Quizzes:

Student can retake 2 tests or quizzes a trimester. The grade will be replaced by the average of the original score and new score. Retakes must be taken within ONE week of the original test and students will be given a different version of the test.

 

Late Work:

Points will be deducted as follows for each day an assignment is late:

• For assignments in SNB 1 point for each day late

• For assignments not in SNB (lab reports, posters, reflections, etc.) 10% will be deducted from the grade for each day late

• For DSJ/DSR 1 point off for each day late

 

ALL HONORS STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DO A      SCIENCE PROJECT