8th Science - Susan Garfield
2015-2016
Room 206
Welcome to 8th Grade Science! This syllabus is designed to help you understand more about the
expectations and policies for the year. Expectations are high in Science as I prepare your students for
high school. I look forward to a great year with all of you.
Overview
Students will acquire skills and knowledge in the four general areas of Life Science, Chemistry, Physics,
Earth Science and Space Science. The students will be refining general skills in the areas of measurement,
metrics conversions, dimensional analysis, graphing and the scientific method. In the above mentioned
knowledge areas, students will investigate how energy travels through an ecosystem, the structure and
function of atoms, the periodic table and it’s repeating patterns, chemical reactions, speed, velocity,
acceleration, Newton Three Laws of Motion, our solar system and the universe, components of weather,
plate tectonics, and human effects on ecosystems. In the fall we will study chemistry and physics and in
the spring earth science. Approximately 40% or out time will be spent on activities and labs. The
information learned in the eighth grade year will complement what they have learned in grades six and
seven so that they when they leave middle school they will have a fairly complete general overview of all
areas of science.
Students will also be expected to create and analyze experiments. This will benefit them in high school
since they will be familiar with the process of examining, testing, and proving a hypothesis. Students will
be doing a good bit of technical writing to put this process down on paper. Doing this helps them organize
and sequence their thinking in a logical way that makes it easier to determine cause and effect. Students
will also using math to define relations between variables. In Earth Science they will be constructing,
analyzing, and critiquing models. All of these activities will ensure that your student has the tools for
organizing information and logically examining outcomes.
Academic Skills Emphasized









Lab safety and using scientific tools
Designing and interpreting charts and graphs
Analyzing, evaluating and critiquing data and theories
Designing and implementing experimental investigations
Research and Technical Writing with supporting evidence
Math skills needed to manipulate algebraic equations and formulas
Creating maps and models
Limitations of models
Looking at scale
Grading Policy:




Homework
Tests and Projects
Classwork
Quizzes
10%
40%
30%
20%
Assignments are to be done in neat, legible handwriting or done on the computer. The exception is
graphs and charts which must be done by hand. All assignments should be turned in on time. The first
semester, you get one homework pass each 9 weeks for a maximum grade of 50 if turned in the next
day. No assignments will accepted late the second semester.
Retesting:
Retesting will be done only for tests. All students who make below a 70 on the original test may
take the retest.
TEXTBOOKS:
1. We have a new book this year –Science 8 by McGraw Hill. This is not a hardback book but an
interactive notebook, softcover. All of the materials are on the HUB and your student will be receiving
passwords and userids to access this material.
Userid:
Password:
Website:
2. We will also be using Integrated Physics and Chemistry by Cambridge Physics from time to time.
This can be found on my schoolwires page.
Required Materials:
One green binder for papers
Paper, pens, pencils, metric ruler
Red checking pens
Good Eraser
Graph Paper
Notebook Paper
Scientific Calculator
Tabs for science binder
Student Expectations and Responsibilities:
Individual responsibility is stressed in the IPC as most assignments are individual and not group based.
That means that the first moment you do not understand something we are covering in class, you must
stop and ask questions. Your best friend and tablemates are not responsible for what you know - you
are. Ask Questions!
I also ask that students please bring a ruler and calculator to class every day. You never know when we
are going to need them and there is not enough time for students to go back to their locker.
CLASS NORMS/PROTOCOLS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Labs:
Labs are a very important part of the learning process in science and I feel that they are just as
important as tests, and sometimes more so, in assessing student knowledge and skills. For this reason
labs are a very important part of your grade – they can count as classwork, 30%. If you do your best on
the labs, and I’m sure you will, your grade should be stellar. However, the labs are quite rigorous and
some of the questions on tests come from the labs covering that topic. If you pay attention, follow
directions, and use your time well, you should be fine. Labs are not a time to play and chitchat with
your friends. Horseplay will not be tolerated in labs. As you can understand, this could be quite
dangerous from a safety standpoint.
PARENTS:
Please feel free to share any comments, questions or concerns that you might have. I try to answer all
emails and phone calls within 48 hours so if you have not heard back from me please email me again.
The email might have gotten lost amid all the other emails. My conference time is 3rd Period on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 11:30-12:00am. Also, if you have an area of expertise or interest
that you would like to share with the students, please let me know. My email address is
sgarfiel@houstonisd.org. The school phone number is 713-917-3565.
______________________________
Parent Name
__________________________
Parent Signature
_____________
Date
______________________________
Parent’s Daytime Phone Number
____________________________________________
Parent’s E-mail Address
STUDENTS:
I have carefully read and understand the information, procedures, and guidelines for Mrs. Garfield’s
8th Science class.
______________________________
Student Name
__________________________
Student Signature
_____________
Date