Syllabus: Earth Science
2020 -2021 1st Semester
Course Name | 6th Grade Earth Science | Course Code | |
School Name | Henderson Middle School | Teacher Name | Nancy Burch |
School Phone Number | 678-874-3067 | Teacher Email | |
School Website | hendersonms.dekalb.k12.ga.us | Teacher Website | |
Course Description
This course is designed to teach students various skills exemplifying the many forms/skills of a scientist, including but not limited to, developing good characteristics of science, processing skills, and understanding and applying the nature of science. Students will also focus on multiple concepts of Earth Science. First semester includes studies in the many areas of astronomy and geology. Students will also develop their reading skills by reading in the content area.
Curriculum Overview
The following academic concepts will be covered. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW |
Unit 1 – Astronomy (Aug. 24- Sep. 25). Chapters: 18- section 1, 19- sections 3 & 4, 20- section 4, and 21- all, will be covered in this unit. Standards: S6E1: EXPLORE CURRENT SCIENTIFIC VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE AND HOW THOSE VIEWS EVOLVED. S6E2. UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE EARTH, MOON, AND SUN. |
Unit 2 – Geology (Sep. 28-Dec. 18). Chapters: 3- section 1 & 2, 4- section 1-4, 7- section 1 & 2, 8- section 1, 9- section 1 & 3, 10- section 1, 6- section 1, and parts of chapters 8 -12 will be covered in this unit. Standards: S6E5. INVESTIGATE THE SCIENTIFIC VIEW OF HOW THE EARTH’S SURFACE IS FORMED. |
*Standards addressing the characteristics and habits of science will also be taught on an ongoing basis throughout the semester. *Please refer to the Georgia Performance Standards for detailed listings of standards. (www.georgiastandards.org) *Pacing may vary depending on the individual teacher and students’ progression. |
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BOARD-APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title | Holt Science and Technology; Earth Science, 2008 textbook. |
ISBN | 13: 97-0-03-092031-8 |
Replacement Cost | approximately $70 for textbook |
Online book and/or resources | |
Online student access code (school specific) | Access through DeKalb County Clever at Holt-McDougal on-line textbook located in district resources |
GRADING SYSTEM: The DeKalb County School District believes that the most important assessment of student learning shall be conducted by the teachers as they observe and evaluate students in the context of ongoing classroom instruction. A variety of approaches, methodologies, and resources shall be used to deliver educational services and to maximize each student’s opportunity to succeed. Teachers shall evaluate student progress, report grades that represent the student’s academic achievement, and communicate official academic progress to students and parents in a timely manner through the electronic grading portal. See Board Policy IHA.
GRADING CATEGORIES | *GRADE PROTOCOL |
Formative and Diagnostic Assessments – 0% Assessment Tasks (Skills & Homework) – 25% Classwork (Guided, Independent, and Group Practice) – 45% Quizzes, Tests, and Projects – 30% | A 90 – 100 ~P (pass) B 80 – 89 ~F (fail) C 71 – 79 D 70 F Below 70 |
Notes:
*English Learners (ELs) must not receive numerical or letter grades for the core content areas in elementary and middle school during their first year of language development. A grade of CS or CU must be assigned. This rule may be extended beyond the first year with approval from the EL Studies Program. English Learners must receive a grade for ESOL courses.
~Elementary schools will utilize P (pass) and F (fail) in Health/Physical Education, Music, World Languages, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
STUDENT PROGRESS | Semester progress reports shall be issued four and a half, nine and thirteen and a half weeks into each semester. The progress of students shall be evaluated frequently, and plans shall be generated to remediate deficiencies as they are discovered. Plans shall include appropriate interventions designed to meet the needs of the students. See Board Policy IH. |
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY | Students will not engage in an act of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, providing false information, falsifying school records, forging signatures, or using an unauthorized computer user ID or password.See the Code of Student Conduct - Student Rights and Responsibilities and Character Development Handbook. |
HOMEWORK | Homework assignments should be meaningful and should be an application or adaptation of a classroom experience. Homework is at all times an extension of the teaching/learning experience. It should be considered the possession of the student and should be collected, evaluated and returned to the students. See Board Policy IHB. |
MAKE-UP WORK DUE TO ABSENCES | When a student is absent because of a legal reason as defined by Georgia law or when the absence is apparently beyond the control of the student, the student shall be given an opportunity to earn grade(s) for those days absent. Make-up work must be completed within the designated time allotted. See Board Policy IHEA. |
SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS | - Tardies- be in class on time with all required materials every day. The school tardy policy will be enforced.
- Homework- Homework is expected to be completed as assigned. Homework can often be found on the website.
- Late work- It is the policy of the DeKalb County School System that students will receive a grade of zero for any missing assignments, until student work is completed. Student work must be completed within time allowed by their teacher. Work one day late will have maximum value of 85%, two to three days late, 70%, and over three days late the maximum value will be 50%. Missing work will receive a zero mark.
- Make-up work- Announced work, such as homework, quizzes and major assessments are due the day the student returns. For each day’s excused absence, students will have one day to make up missed work. If a student is absent under extenuating circumstances, special arrangements can be made to make up work. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THE CALENDAR AND/OR REQUEST MISSED WORK.
- Academic honesty- Receiving or giving information for an assignment is cheating and when caught in the act students will not receive credit nor receive the opportunity for a chance of make-up. Plagiarism is not acceptable: If a student takes information from the Internet or any printed resources without a citation, it is considered plagiarism and will result in a reduction in grade.
- Nameless papers- papers turned in without a name will be thrown out. Students will need to do the assignment over resulting in a late grade.
- Failed work- students may redo assignments, with teacher permission, that they earn a 50 or below on in order to bring that grade up to a maximum of 70%.
- Lab work-Students who fail to follow lab safety protocols will be removed from the current lab and possible future labs depending on the offense and given an alternative assignment to be completed and graded.
Students must adhere to the DCSS Student Code of Conduct, as well as specific class rules established and reviewed by each teacher individually. |
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES | Students are expected to bring paper, book, composition notebook, a working pen or pencil, coloring tools, and glue/glue stick to class every day. They should NOT have to borrow supplies. |
EXTRA HELP | Safety nets may include but are not limited to: before and after school tutorial, Lunch Café, special projects, teacher tutorials, and technology based projects, research and other extended learning opportunities. |
PARENTS AS PARTNERS | - Please check my website weekly for homework, important dates, required projects and other special assignments, and helpful websites and other resources.
- Check the agenda daily. Work should be written in it or it should say “none” if they have no homework.
- Sign up for the NEW Parent Portal with Infinite Campus
If you are concerned about your student’s progress, please email me A.S.A.P. |
PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND RETURN.
I have read the syllabus.
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