STANDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

SYLLABUS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS

8th GRADE SCIENCE
2015-2016
INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Pina

Email: lpina@sandi.net phone: 858-455-0550 ext. 2308

Welcome to 8th grade Science!! This will be a fun and exciting year! In this class, you will have the opportunity to
learn about the world around you and about yourself. This syllabus contains the VITAL information you need for a
successful year in science. Please read this paper carefully and keep it with your science notebook.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students in 8th grade are enrolled in a yearlong integrated science course in which they
explore and use cognitive processing skills to discover science concepts. Students will develop and apply their
inquiry and questioning abilities by performing a variety of investigations. Academic rigor will be emphasized in all
aspects of the curriculum. MAIN TEXT: Interactions in Physical Science. Several other resources will be used as
well.
In this course, students will study:

(1) Physical sciences (2) Earth Sciences and (3) Life Sciences

CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS: During the course of the year, students will be engaged in units of study
that will encompass, but not be limited to, the following Next Generation State Standards (for more information
visit NGSS at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssstandards.asp):
As we begin to implement the NGSS, students will use the eight practices of science and engineering to engage in
scientific investigations (NRC Framework, 2012, p. 30 or go to http://www.nextgenscience.org/).
We will continue to integrate the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) this year (for more information visit
http://www.corestandards.org/)
Grade
Eighth

Cross Cutting
Concepts
Stability and
change;
scale,
proportion
and quantity

Life
Natural
Selection

Earth
History of the
Earth
Space
systems

Physical
Waves and
Electromagnetic
radiation

Human
Impact
Human
Impact

Engineering
ETS

Energy
Forces and
Interactions
Class Information
**A detailed, daily agenda will be posted on the board each day. Students should write this information in their
planner every day. This information is also available on my website at http://lpina.weebly.com under the Main
Agendas button.
**ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS: If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get
the class and homework assignments for the day/days you missed from a buddy or my website. Students who miss a
class period miss valuable information and experiences. Students must make up any missed assignments within two
days of returning from the absence. The best time to do this would be during tutoring. Missed quizzes must be
made up the day you return.
**TUTORING: Tutoring days will be in the mornings from 7:30-8:00 by appointment or Tuesday & Thursday
afternoons in room 307 from 2:50 to 3:50 by signing up in lunch area. Be sure to sign up or check website for
times/dates.
8th Grade Integrated Science / Standley Middle School

Page 1

GRADING POLICY: Grades will be based on:

**Assessments (40%): long term projects, tests, quizzes, written analyses, and participation evaluations. Students
may retake some quizzes that receive scores less than a C-. In order to qualify for a retake, students must have
made corrections on their original quiz and bring it to the retake session. The most a student can obtain on a
retake is a C-. It is recommended students retake quizzes within 5 school days of original quiz.
** Class work/Notebooks 40% of grade:
**Each student will keep a Notebook, which is a very important part of each students grade and in the form of
organized loose-leaf paper (available in class if needed) bound together or an individual bound notebook. The
notebook is a professional collection of investigations and reflections, which include handouts, notes, and evidence
of their engagement, assimilation and organization in science. All information/activities are reviewed in small group,
large group and reiterated and/or debriefed by instructor during class time. All notebooks contain a title page
with current Unit(s) Learning Targets (what they are expected to master), table of contents, numerous
assignments consisting of concepts, vocabulary, and conceptual interactive extensions. The notebook will be used
to check for students understanding of the content regularly via Notebook Check for Understandings. Always
have your notebook with you in class or you will fall behind!
**Homework (20%): Consists of finishing class assignments, extension of class activities, assignments etc., and
parent signatures on communication pieces. All we ask is that a student tries to complete the assignments before
they are reviewed and stamped for homework credit the next day! The homework is designed to be an extension
of the days activities (i.e. Practices, Scientists Consensus Ideas and if you dont finish the daily assignment
in class, you need to finish it as homework) and a communication tool between the teacher and parents.
Letter grades will be based on a percentage of the point total.

89-100% = A
79-88% = B
70-78% = C

60-69% = D
59%- and lower = F

Parents can check to see if student has done their homework by looking at the planner or accessing the
weekly class agenda and asking to see the current days work.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: There are many ways to cheat yourself out of an education but if you are caught, you will
pay the price. Please see your planner to review the consequences for your actions should you choose this path.
This policy also applies to peer editing of the notebooks!
CITIZENSHIP: See SOAR rubric in planner.
MATERIALS/SUPPLIES: (see planner for more information regarding school supplies.)
DISCIPLINE: The school wide discipline plan in the student planner is to be followed in this class. Students will be
held accountable to the expectations of a Standley Student.
To avoid disruptions we will use a warning system and parental notification via School Messenger, emails,
communication slips, and phone contacts. This procedure will continue each day with a verbal warning and an
SchoolMessenger contact. After this point, if the disruptive behavior continues, the parent will be notified and
student will receive a referral and a parent conference will be requested.

Contacting: Please feel free to contact me via email (lpina@sandi.net) with any questions or concerns. I will get
back to you as efficiently as possible

8th Grade Integrated Science / Standley Middle School

Page 2