Physical Science Syllabus

Mrs. Wright
8th Grade Science
803-960-9496
wright@savcds.org

Class Overview:
The eighth grade science course is Physical Science – the study of matter and energy.  In this course we will use the scientific method to study a number of topics in the scientific world.  This will be a very hands-on course with the students applying the concepts that they learn to design experiments in order to help them better understand both the topics in this course and science in general.  Because students will have the opportunity to design their own experiments, they will be expected to fail at times.   This is ok!  Science is all about learning from mistakes, and multiple iterations of projects will be encouraged and, often, required.

Science Processing Skills:
Scientific method, research, collecting and organizing data, measuring, graphing, observing, interpreting, predicting, analyzing, and devising an experiment.

Topics to be covered:
Nature of science, matter, atomic structure, periodic table, chemical reactions, energy – thermal, electric, nuclear, and magnetism.

Grading:
Grades are computed on a total points system, and assignments are weighted through the number of points they are worth.
Tests and Projects:             75-150 points
Quizzes and labs:               15-50 points
Homework and classwork: 3-20 points

Late Work Policy:
Assignments that are turned in late (even later in the same day) will result in lost points.  Any assignment three or more days late will result in a zero.  Students who exhibit a struggle to turn in work on time will be assigned mandatory extra help time in order to complete work and learn to better manage their time and organize their work.

Extra Help:
I am available everyday for extra help.  I will be in my room during tutorial (x-time), study hall, before and after school.  I do coach, so after school time is limited, but I can be available by appointment.

Supplies Needed:
One science binder and text
Calculator
Pencil

Class Expectations:
Be prepared: Come each day with all your materials, homework, and a positive attitude (with a generous dose of curiosity) for each class.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get and make up the assignments you missed within three days.

Be neat.  Clean up any lab areas after you are done –  keep in mind that you are not the only students that need to use this space.

Be on time – it’s one thing to be rushing from class to class, but tardies after tutorial (x-time) or lunch are completely unacceptable.

Be respectful – this is everyone’s class and differences are to be accepted and embraced – rude behavior will not be tolerated.

Be safe and cautious in the laboratory.

Some assignments will be difficult, no assignment will be impossible, approach everything you do with a good attitude and we’ll have a great year!

General Lab Report Outline »