Comprehensive Science I, Advanced
Syllabus
Mr. D. Petersen
Southwood Middle School
Contact Information:
Phone Mail:  		(305) 251-5361 ext 4063
District E-mail: 	dpetersen@dadeschools.net
Course Website:  
	http://teacherweb.com/FL/SouthwoodMiddle/MrDPetersen
School Website:	http://southwood.dadeschools.net

Course Information:
CS1 is a science course that is taken by all sixth graders.  It is a 
general science course in that it covers the following four CBC 
components�

I.	The Nature of Matter(Scientific Measurement/Safety)
VI. 	Processes of Life(Cells,Genetics, HG&D)
VII.    How Living Things Interact(Classification, Ecology)
VIII. 	The Nature of Science(Scientific Method)

     All students will get a Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Science workbook 
to take home
during the first week of school.  Each workbook will serve as a 
guide for the topics covered in class, but other resources will be 
utilized to provide greater depth and 
enrichment as deemed necessary.  It is strongly suggested that 
students  utilize the Southwood Agenda Book daily, and parents 
consult this book nightly.

Grading Criteria:
      Attendance in class is essential to earning a passing grade.  
Arrangements must be made by the student to make-up missing or late 
assignments.  If absent, make-up work must be obtained immediately 
upon the student�s return to school, and this is the student�s 
responsibility.  Tests are a major part of the nine-week grades and 
what is discussed and offered in class cannot sufficiently be made 
up by reading the textbook or copying notes.  This is not a 
memorization course.  Participation in class discussions and asking 
questions are encouraged, and it seems that at the end of every year 
the students that earned A�s and B�s were truly involved in what was 
going on in class.  Just showing up physically for class earns you 
nothing, you must be ready to think and learn.  Like the real world, 
this course is performance-based.

Quizzes, homework, and classwork------1 grade
Tests---------------------------------2 grades (given on Thursdays)
Notebook checks-----------------------3 grades
Labs----------------------------------1-3 grades
	Projects----------------------3-5 grades
*On average there are a minimum of 18 grades per nine-week 
grading period.

Standard Grading Scale:
	Please see Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Grading 
Criteria. 

Class Rules:
     The rules I expect students to follow are consistent with the 
rules stated in Southwood�s Student Agenda Book.  It is very 
important that everyone in class read and understand all of the 
classroom rules completely.  These rules are made for the benefit of 
all students and must be adhered to throughout the school year.  
Adherence to these rules will allow us a comfortable class 
environment which will make this class an enjoyable and educational 
experience.  
The general rule to follow is that of RESPECT�
		�respect others and their property
		�respect school property
		�respect yourself
Course Materials:
     The following should be brought to class on a daily basis�	
			
______three Ring Binder		_____ basic calculator(optional)
_____ lined paper			_____ pen (blue or black 
only)
_____ subject divider tabs		_____ pen (red for checking)
		
_____ pencil / sharpener		_____ reading material