What we will study:

Rivers/Water Quality Monitoring

Landforms & maps

Water Cycle & Water Chemistry

Climates

Labskills

Basic tools for success in Science

Geology

Earth History

Rocks & Minerals

Earth Processes (Volcanoes, Earthquakes etc.)

Meteorology (Weather)

Near Earth Astronomy

Sun-Earth-Moon System

Near Shore Marine Ecosystems

Where we will get all this information:

Textbook: (for inclass use only) Glencoe Earth Science (red book)

Handouts: Most of your science work will be done on handouts. These will be completed in class or (occasionally) for homework. You will correct handouts in class and each day you will put your packet into your red or green Science folder. I will check your folders once each week.

Sources for handouts include (but are not limited to): Rivers Earth Science, Glencoe Earth Science Supplemental Materials, AIMS Math & Science Integration Books, Delta Education Kits, Project WET, Science Process Skills

Labs: We will do approximately one lab per week. Some labs will last for more than one day. Labsheets will either be in your handout packet or you will record data in your science spiral.

Field Trips: We will be working with South Sound Green to do water quality monitoring on a small stream within walking distance of school.

What you will be expected to do:

In Class: Come to class everyday prepared with your pencil and your science folder. All of your work will remain in your folder. You must be seated at the beginning of class with these materials. You will be expected to work on your own and in a group. You will also be expected to cooperate with students and with your teacher and to do your best.

At Home: You can expect one to two homework assignments each week. Each assignment should take you about a half an hour. Most assignments will be reading or review.

Your Grade: You earn three grades for each Marshall class: Academic, Behavior, & Effort.

Your academic grade is based only on what you show that you know and understand scientifically. Points toward your academic grade will be earned each time you demonstrate your learning on the academic standards. As you show learning, your grade will improve--new evidence replaces old evidence. I don't care when during a unit of study you learn a skill, I care that you learn it. If you still haven't learned a skill when we reach the end of a unit, you will need to put in extra time and effort to master it. When you do show that you've learned the skill--even if it is after we've finished the unit--your grade will improve! At the end of each quarter, however, I have to cut you off in order to issue report cards. Your grade starts fresh at the beginning of each quarter.

Your behavior grade is based on how you choose to use your class time and your work time outside of class. Doing your work is a behavior--it will often help you learn a skill, but whether you do it or not, and it's quality will be reflected in this grade. Your behavior grade will include your daily class work and attitude & participation points.

Your effort grade reflects how much you apply yourself to the work you do. You earn points toward your effort grade through self & teacher evaluations.

Extra Credit cannot affect your academic grade. Doing extra work is a behavior that shows your interest and effort. Occasionally I will offer extra credit, but it will only be applicable to behavior and effort grades.

What are my Grades?: You can see your grades through the family access website. I do my best to update the website every 1 or 2 weeks.

Parents: If you do not have internet access or are not interested in watching student progress on the web, please let me know that you need paper copies on progress reports. The fewer paper copies that we need to make the less wasted paper there will be.

I look forward to an excellent year of learning and growth with you!