Course Overview

Physical Science provides students the opportunity to learn about lab safety, the use of reference materials and the application of process skills. Students gain an understanding of the scientific method, properties of matter, atomic theory, periodic law, energy, heat energy, forces and motion, machines and work, sound, electromagnetic waves, static electricity, electrical circuits and magnetism.

Course Content

Classroom Policies & Expectations

It is the responsibility of everyone in the classroom to help create and maintain a positive learning environment in which all members feel safe, secure, and valued as unique individuals. It is the teacher’s role to help students develop an awareness of other peoples’ needs and to guide students in selecting the appropriate behavior to fit different social situations. The following expectations have been established to create the most efficient and comfortable learning environment for all students as possible. These expectations will also help you to become organized and successful in science and in life. At SMS, we use the BEST System:

Be Respectful Everyone Counts Stay Safe Take Responsibility

In addition to these general guidelines, there are some more specific expectations for the science classroom.

· All students must abide be the policies found in the Student Handbook

· Arrive to class on time

· Come to class prepared with student planner, notebook, writing utensil, textbook, etc…

· Absolutely NO food, drink or gum allowed in class. A water bottle with a lid is acceptable as long as it is not a distraction in class.

· Personal communication devices may be used in a responsible manner in line with school district policy and when given permission to do so. I reserve the right to limit or eliminate them from the classroom at any time. Social media and texting is prohibited.

· Restrooms should be used during passing time between classes. If a restroom break is necessary during class it will not be granted during the first or last 10 minutes of class or during direct instruction. Students will be given 3 passes per quarter. If a student needs additional time out of class, they will need to make up that time

Consequences for minor but chronic misbehavior:

1. Verbal Warning

2. Parent Contact & white slip

3. Lunch/after school Detention, sentences, etc…

4. Referral to Principal

Middle school is a time for students to accept more responsibility for their own learning as well as develop habits and attitudes that will enable them to be successful in high school, college and in life. For this reason we will be working throughout the school year to develop good work habits.

Class work & Homework

Classwork: Written or oral work done by a student within the classroom.

Homework: Written or oral work done by a student that is to be completed outside the classroom.

Classwork assignments are given to help you improve your skill and understanding of science and to assess what you have learned. Classwork is given during the period and there is usually ample time to work in it. If the work is not complete during class time, it is to be taken home to complete as homework. Therefore, it is very important that you use your class time.

Deadlines

It is the students responsibility to budget their time in order to complete assignments and turn them in on time. Assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise stated. Incomplete work is unacceptable and may be returned for completion with a late grade. Late work can be turned in with a reduction in credit from grade earned on the assignment.

Absences

Students are expected to make up all assignments given while they are absent. When students know they will be gone for Dr. visits, family events or sports, they should get their homework before they leave and have it done upon return. If the student is sick for more than 2 days, arrangements should be made to pick up the homework. As a general rule, students will be given the same number of days that they were absent to make up work that was missed.

Textbooks

Students will be assigned their own personal textbook and are expected to bring it to class daily. There will be two text books used throughout the quarter. When we are finished with Introduction to Matter, students will return the text book and will be assigned Forces, Motion and Energy. If a student loses or severely damages a text book, they will be charged for the cost of a replacement book (see top of first page).

Projects

Each quarter there will be a science project for students to complete. This is homework; work to be done completely outside of the classroom. Students will be given projects during the first week of each quarter and will be due no later than 2 weeks before the end of each quarter. Descriptions and scoring rubrics will be given at the time they are assigned. Missing or late projects will not be accepted for credit.

Grading

Grades will be based on the points earned for each completed assignment. Students’ grade will consist of Formative Assignments (class work, homework, activities); Summative Assessments (quizzes, tests, labs) and quarter projects. Final letter grades will be based on a weighted scale: summative assessments = 70%, formative assignments = 20% & quarter projects = 10%. Grades will be posted approximately every 2 weeks in the classroom. Progress reports can be sent home at any time upon request. Students and guardians can get current progress reports through the school website.

Parent-Teacher Communication

· Conferences may be scheduled by appointment.

· Student and Family Access (SAFA) is available on the school district website to allow frequent access to students’ progress. Grades are updated weekly.

· Use of student planner. Parents are encouraged to check the student’s agenda.

· Parents may email or phone the teacher.

· Parent Teacher Conferences on November 15-16^th 2012, April 18-19^th 2013

· Office Hours by appointment:

o Monday - Thursday 8:00-9:20, 3:20-3:45 & Fridays 2:15 – 3:45

o Office check-in required

I may not always be available during these times due to previously planned meetings. Please call or email in advance for availability.

Stream Team
In addition to science, I also teach the Stream Team elective class. Stream Team is a class focused on watershed ecology and the importance of salmon to our area and Oregon. We will learn about salmon, their life cycle, and how to keep their habitats healthy. We will also learn about the importance of riparian zones, water and the requirement it takes to maintain proper conditions for a dynamic and diverse ecosystem. Students will study and monitor local streams and become the next generation of guardians of the watershed.

The Stream Team is a long-standing tradition at Siuslaw Middle School. Jim Grano, founder of the ST started the program 12 years ago and it has been a success ever since. The class is funded through a grant from OWEB (Oregon Water Enhancement Board) and we have partnerships with US Forest Service, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP), Siuslaw Watershed Council, Soil & Water Conservation District. We also have contributions from local businesses like The Sportsman and Bi-Mart. We can't thank those organizations enough for everything they do for Siuslaw Middle School's Stream Team!

Throughout the year the Stream Team will go on 15-20 field trips with the help of the previously mentioned organizations. We will travel to Enchanted Valley and monitor the water quality, macroinvertebrates and vegetation. We will also participate in salmon spawning surveys in Bailey Creek (upper Enchanted Valley), and Knowles Creek. We love to plant trees and will take any opportunity to do so. We also travel to areas that have been planted by previous Stream Team classes and release them from the other plants that they are in competition with. In the spring some students will have the opportunity to work at the Knowles Creek fish trap and help to identify, weigh and measure the smolt that are making their journey from watershed to the ocean.

Some of our favorite field trips of the year include going to the Steelhead trap at Whittaker Creek. There we help STEP and ODFW live-spawn steelhead. The eggs are raised by a hatchery and some of the eggs will even make it into classrooms throughout the district. Eventually, the classroom fish will be reunited with their school when released to the ocean.

Thanks for visiting my page and I look forward , to having your student in class!