Dear parents and students,
Welcome to my website. I am looking forward to a great year with our new 6th grade class! We have a lot of great activities planned for the year and encourage all of you to check out the site frequently to stay up to date.
Supplies needed for science class:
1 string bound composition notebook (to remain in the classroom) loose leaf notebook paper (several sheets will be used daily) pencils /pens (black or blue ink only) color pencils
We will be making other requests during the year for supplies for labs and experiments. Please let me know if you would like to be contacted for those needs. Thanks!
FIRST QUARTER SYLLABUS
Aug. 25 - Aug. 29
The first few days of school will be spent reviewing school and classroom expectations. Later in the week we will begin examining what science is and how scientists go about their scientific investigations. Students will model an excavation of an ancient culture. Parents be sure to ask your child how their excavation went.
Sept. 2 - Sept. 5 (Sept. 1 is a holiday. Enjoy!)
Students will prepare a miniature science fair backboard which will be used in our first scientific inquiry. It is not too soon to start thinking about what type of science fair project will be submitted in the Knox Middle School Science Fair. All students will be required to participate in the Science Fair so we will be sending ideas home periodically.
Science classes will continue to study about scientific inquiry. We will be exploring the role of technology and mathmatics in our scientific investigations. Students will have science homework several nights a week, and frequently homework will involve parents and students discussing together different science topics. If parents are not going to be around for discussions students are welcome to ask questions of other adults available (in person or by phone).
Students will learn how they use their skills of observation to make inferences that lead to predictions.
Sept. 8 - Sept. 12
Students will take a closer look at the different definitions of technology. We will see that technology is not always just some gadget, but technology can involve systems. We will be asking students to find examples of technology in newspapers and magazines. (Parents if you have extra newspapers and magazines we would love to have any you may wish to discard.)
Sept. 15 - Sept. 19
We will begin a study of energy. Our focus will be on how energy is transformed by convection and radiation. Students will also examine how energy is transformed from one type to another. They will begin to realize how many different forms energy can take! We will even study the Law of Conservation of Energy.
Sept. 22 - Sept. 26
As we study energy students will develop an understanding of how we harness energy for the many needs we have such as heat, light, and transportation. Our studies will focus on how we can develop the energy we need without destroying our Earth.
Sept. 29 - Oct. 3
Students will begin to explore sound energy. We will examine the anatomy of the ear, and how the ear uses energy to produce sound.
Oct. 6 - Oct. 10
We will complete our study of sound energy, and move on to learn about light energy.
Oct. 13 - Oct. 17
Oct. 20 - Oct. 24
Oct. 27th Teacher Workday
JUST A REMINDER
Students should come to school prepared! All students should bring supplies to class each day including plenty of loose leaf paper, pencils, and colored pencils.
Grading Scale Grade Determination
A 93 - 100 Classwork/Labs/Quizzes - 65%
B 85 - 92 Tests/Projects - 25%
C 77 - 84 Homework - 10%
D 70 - 76
E 0 - 69
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. Remember parents, students and teachers are on the same team working for the same goal! STUDENT SUCCESS!!!
