DLJK-8 Science 2009-2010
Our Science Rules and Expectations,
Course Syllabus and Contract
Instructor: Ms. Higley, ROOM 310
Website: http://TeacherWeb.com/FL/DavidLawrenceJrK-8Center/MsHigley
Email: aehigley@dadeschools.net
Objectives : Science students will be able to:
➢ investigate science through an inquiry based science curriculum that is
driven by a variety of assessment strategies
➢ developing problem solving and critical thinking skills
➢ preparation for the Florida State Science Exam
➢ developing life skills
➢ increase cooperation and team work
➢ apply science to the “real world”
➢ utilize and learn about new technology
Florida Sunshine State Science Strands A-H and The Next Generation Sunshine
State Standards will be covered through-out in-depth science units and Human
Growth and Development will be integrated into the Curriculum.
See: http://www.floridastandards.org/FlStandardSearch.aspx
http://www.floridastandards.org/Standards/FLStandardSearch.aspx
Material Requirements:
1) Agenda/Daily Planner (provided by DLJK8) will be used daily.
2) 2 inch 3 ring-binder with plastic front – Binders will be left in classroom
during week and can be taken home Thursdays and/or Fridays, Returned on Mondays
3) 10 dividers
4) College rule Notebook Loose lined paper with 3 holes for binder
5) Composition Notebook for Labs
6) Science Homework Folder with 3 holes to be placed in 3 ring binder
7) Pencils, Pen (Black or Blue) and Highlighter
8) Pencil Sharpener, hand held – not electric
9) Calculator
OUR SCIENCE CLASSROOM POLICIES
~OUR RULES~
1) RESPECT
2) RESPONISBILITY
3) READY TO THINK AND ACT LIKE SCIENTISTS
POSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE
Scientist of the Week Awards - will be given out weekly and monthly to those
students who demonstrate overall high level effort as well as completed
homework, classwork, and project assignments.
Classroom Solutions
The Four Rs of solutions: Related, Respectful, Reasonable and Revealed:
1. Non-Verbal Warning or Verbal Warning
2. Natural or Logical Consequence (i.e., Move, Re-direct, Agenda Box, Problem
Solving Steps, Wheel of Choice, Positive Time, Behavior Reflection
3. Parent Contact via Call Home or Written Communication
4. Detention OR Student/Teacher/Parent Conference
5. Counselor Referral
6. Administrative Referral
Bathroom/Water: With permission, in the case of an emergency only and during
work time. Bring a water bottle and use if necessary during lecture only. No
water bottles will be allowed during investigations.
BookBags/BackPacks: Backpacks must be placed on back of desks or under desks
at all times. If backpacks become a safety problem, subsequent consequences
will be enforced and continual problems will result in a zero grade for one
weekly participation grade.
Tardies: Promptness to class is an important component to successful learning
experience. Student participation grade will be affected if students are
chronically tardy.
After one unexcused tardy student’s weekly participation grade will result in
a zero. If the problem becomes chronic, phone call home will be made.
Additionally, if problems continue, student will be assigned detentions or
work duty in the science lab or after school.
Attendance: The nature of science is to build upon itself. Consequently, one
of the most significant factors affecting success in science is attendance on
a daily basis. Students who miss class will see their grade go down. This
effect will increase as more class is missed. Parents will be contacted when
the teacher feels the effect of absence on the student’s performance is too
great to be tolerated. This will occur whether or not the absences are excused.
Make-Up Work: Students who do miss class may make up missed work if the
absence is excused. A time equivalent to the number of days missed will be
allowed for students to make up the work. It is the student’s responsibility
to initiate the make up process on the day of their return to class. If
arrangements with the teacher are not made within this time period, the missed
work may not be made up. Work missed due to unexcused absences may not be
made up.
Late work: One entire grade deduction will be given to work not turned in or
completed at the beginning of class; additional grade deductions for each day
late thereafter. Extremely late work will only be accepted at the discretion
of the teacher.
Cheating: Help one another learn, but not by copying. Cheating will not be
tolerated. Students caught cheating will be asked to redo work or the grade
will be immediately changed to a zero. All circumstances are at the
discretion of the teacher.
Extra Help: I am available before or after school and by appointment, JUST ASK ME!
Special Accommodations: In compliance with and support of school policies, I
am available to discuss accommodations required by a student.
Lab meetings: Prepares students for responsible citizenship by encouraging
development of emotional intelligence and the important life skill, which
create a safe and caring learning community.
Computers & Internet:
• The Internet will be used as a learning tool to gain more scientific insight
via science learning activities, Web quests, etc.
• Students will only be allowed to visit science websites. If a student is
found checking email, playing games, etc., the student will not be allowed to
use the computers for the remainder of the class.
• Students will use computer monitors, keyboards, head-phones in a respectful
and carful manner. Any careless or malicious action that results in breakage
to computers will be charged to the student.
• Students will only change computer screen, screen savers or requests by
teacher with approval from teacher.
Classroom and Laboratory Safety
We will use both the classroom and science lab for investigations. Some of
these labs include chemicals and other substances. Other labs include the use
of delicate lab tools and materials. For your safety and the safety of
everyone, you must ALWAYS obey LAB rules.
This includes:
1. Entering the lab in a quiet and respectful manner and placing all bookbags
under the table, away from any doorway or walking areas.
2. Reading each step of the lab procedure before beginning any lab.
3. Working collaboratively as a TEAM.
4. NEVER eating or tasting materials in the lab.
5. NEVER removing any materials from the lab, even when lab is done.
6. No throwing, pushing or playing in the lab.
HORSEPLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE CLASSROOM OR LABORATORY AND WILL RESULT
IN A ZERO FOR
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION GRADE.
7. Wearing appropriate lab safety gear
8. Handling any and all lab tools with proper care
9. Cleaning up work areas quickly and completely so that the lab is ready for
the next class.
• Students will be taught how to safely use all equipment and students who do
not follow safety rules will be removed from the laboratory investigation for
their safety and the safety of others.
• Any careless or malicious action that results in breakage of lab materials
will be charged to the student.
Breaking any laboratory rules will result in the following consequences:
1. Removal from laboratory with alternate assignment and phone call home.
2. Missing the next lab (which will result in a zero for that lab), a required
one page essay on appropriate lab behaviors and the importance of following
procedures and a parent conference.
3. Referral
SCIENCE CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
LET’S GET READY FOR SCIENCE!!!!
1st. Wait outside the classroom along the wall in a line quietly until teacher
greets and gives you a hand out
2nd. GET PREPARED! Get materials out ready for class ( pencil, pencil
sharpened, pen Portfolio out and open, book, workbooks, science journal, etc.) -
3rd. Hand in laboratories (if applicable) or collect old assignment (if
applicable).
4th. Copy homework and daily activities in agenda from whiteboard
5th. Raise hand to have teacher’s initials in agenda.
6th. Get homework stomped if it doesn’t need to be handed in.
7th. Do Quick Question (if applicable)
8th. Listen for teacher’s instructions “Give me 5” and raise hand when teacher
has hand in the air.
DURING SCIENCE…………..
1st. Be RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL to everyone by listening and raising your
hand before speaking. Please be READY to learn!!!!
AT THE END OF SCIENCE be RESPECTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE by……….
1st. Clean your area.
2nd. Stand by your desk.
3rd. Raise your hand for permission to be dismissed if Agenda is initialed.
4th. Collect any old assignments (if applicable).
Science Grading & Curriculum
2009-2010
We will be covering a variety of in-depth science units. Each unit will have
lecture/discussion, labs and a quiz. Some topics will have special projects
that may include internet research, poster design, a book report, or other.
Science Grading Assessments:
40 % Projects & Lab Investigations
40% Quizzes
10% Homework
10% Participation (Labs, Classroom Attendance, Quick Questions & Lab Meetings,
Science Materials etc.), Two grades per week from this area.
Extra Credit opportunities will be counted for a homework or participation
grade and include but are not limited to the following: Book Reports, Project
Proposals, Current Events, Recipes & Nutrition Worksheet.
** The Science Fair Project **
Dear Parent/Guardian,
A science fair project is expected of ALL Science students. The Science Fair
is an exciting event that encourages students to think like young scientists.
The project will be started and completed over the first 6 weeks of school
because the deadline for judging is in November.
Each student will be asked to choose a topic to research, and will follow
procedures toward completion.
Although the students will bring in his/her work for weekly review and
approval (before moving to the next step), the project work will be done at home.
It is important that you become involved with your child on this project,
helping, and guiding, but taking care NOT to do the work or problem solving
for the child.
A science fair project involves the use of the scientific method to answer a
question or solve a problem.
The scientific method, like a recipe, has several steps. Each step must be
completed before starting the next step.
These steps include:
1. A question or problem
2. Obtaining background information & research (and bibliography)
3. Construction of the hypothesis (a scientific prediction of what you think
will happen) and identification of the variables
4. Experiment design (write the procedure steps and material list)
4. Test the hypothesis (the experiment!)
5. Analyze data and make conclusion
6. Complete the abstract (summary) and written report, and construct the
display board
7. Submit and prepare for judging
There are several Internet sites to help students with science fair ideas.
Here are just some: http://www.science-house.org/learn/index.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ (very good)
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets.php
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HOMEEXPTS/HOMEEXPTS.HTML
http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html
Science Fair Due Dates:
Problem and Hypothesis DUE ________________
Research and Bibliography info DUE _______________
Procedure Steps and Material List DUE ________________
Completed Experiment (+3 retests) DUE ________________
Conclusion and Results DUE ________________
ABSTRACT ________________
Completed Display Board DUE ________________
Science Fair Parent/Guardian Signature Form ------------------Please Cut and
Return--
I acknowledge that my student ____________________________________________
(PRINT NAME)
will be participating in the Science Fair at David Lawrence Jr.K-8 Center. I
have read the above information and will support my student during this
exciting learning experience. All costs for the science fair project are
solely our responsibility.
__________________________________________________________
Parent Name (PRINTED NAME)
__________________________________________________________
Parent Name (SIGNATURE)
SCIENCE CONTRACT
I have read the science contract and I know what is expected of me in class. I
intend to give 100% of my effort, attitude and ability while in the science
classroom. I will ask questions when I don’t understand something, and my work
will be turned in correctly, neatly, and on time.
Student name (print) ________________________________
Student name (signature) _____________________________
I have read my child’s science contract and I know what is expected of
him/her. I will be an active partner in my child’s education. This includes
listening to my child about what happened during classes, making sure my child
has required supplies, and checking that my child’s homework and projects are
turned in neatly, correctly, and on time.
Parent/Guardian name (print) ____________________________
Parent/Guardian name (signature) ________________________
Date: _______________
Please check box if you are interested in helping out with labs OR field
trips.
Science Student Information Form
Date: ___________________________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Science Class Period: ______________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Birthday: _______________________________________________________________
Mother’s Name: __________________________________________________________
Mother’s Home Phone #: ___________________________________________________
Mother’s Cell Phone #: ____________________________________________________
Mother’s Email: __________________________________________________________
Father’s Name: ___________________________________________________________
Father’s Home Phone #: ____________________________________________________
Father’s Cell Phone #: _____________________________________________________
Father’s Email: ___________________________________________________________
Student lives with: ________________________________________________________
Emergency Contact: ______________________________________________________
Emergency Phone #: _____________________________________________________
Does your student wear glasses, contacts or difficulty seeing far distances?
If Yes, Please explain.
________________________________________________________________________
Medical Concerns? Allergies? _______________________________________________
Other Concerns: __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
If any of this information changes… PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CONTACT ME by email, or
note in student’s agenda, with any new information. Thank you!
