th
Dear Parents and Students,
Hello and welcome to 6 th grade Science! I am very pleased to be part of your learning experience at McKnight Middle School. We have many exciting things to learn as we make our way through the school year. We will cover a wide range of topics, and above all else, you will learn what it takes to be a true scientist! Our curriculum includes the following units for the upcoming scholastic year:
1 st Quarter 3 rd and 4 th Quarters
Safety
Earth Science!!
2 nd Quarter
Making Observations
Rocks and Minerals
Physical Science!!
Life Science - Diversity of Life!!
Microscopes
Cells
Classification/Taxonomy
Microorganisms
Animals
Plants
HIV/AIDS Force and Motion
Classroom and Lab Procedures
Lab participation is very important. We will be beginning official labs after the first week of class and students who have not completed and turned in a Student Safety Contract (signed by themselves and their parents) cannot participate.
Labs are awesome…but they can also be dangerous or unsafe if we don’t all follow the rules. All lab rules are stated in the student safety contract, but I cannot stress how important it is to follow these rules. Inappropriate behavior during labs (horseplay, off task, visiting other labs, yelling, arguing, etc.) is not acceptable. The consequence of such will be the loss of lab
privileges for the day. Disruptions during non-lab days may result in an after school detention and a call home.
Homework Policy
Homework will be given throughout the year as practice for mastering standards. Late work will be accepted until the end of the quarter, but late assignments will not receive an effort grade higher than a 3. Part of being successful in middle school is learning how to be a responsible student and turning your class work in on time.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the daily folder for missed work. You can also check with me, a friend, or the class website to get the assignments you missed.
Grading Policy – Students will receive grades in the following categories:
Assessments – Tests, quizzes, projects, certain labs

Effort – Classwork, homework, labs
Citizenship – Daily behavior, group work, etc.
Students will be graded/assessed on a 4-point scale.
4.0 – Student is exceeding standard
3.0 – Student is meeting standard
2.0 – Student is approaching standard
1.0 – Student is not meeting standard
0.0 – No data recorded/available
Tardy Policy
If you are not in your seat with your materials out and ready to work when the bell rings, you are considered tardy. As per school policy, three tardies in one quarter will result in an after school detention.
Just a few tips for being a successful student in science class!
*Study! Even when you don’t have homework, go over what we did in class…even better, share it with a family member.
*Review for tests! Look over the materials you have in your notebook…review the study guide, etc. Even simply looking over it will help!
*Be on time and ready to work! I start class when the bell rings, EVERY DAY. That means have your pencils sharpened, your materials picked up and ready to go, and your eyes on me, ‘cause
I’ve got stuff to teach you!
*Make a science class friend! Even if you don’t know them or you don’t have them in any of your other classes, meet somebody and stay in touch. If you’re absent or miss an assignment, having a friend in class can be invaluable!
*Ask for help! Hey…I’m doing this because I think teaching is great…and I think Science is even better! I love to help. If you don’t understand something, ask me! Ask anyone! Just make sure you ask…otherwise you’ll find yourself falling even further behind.
*Use the web resources! Learning to use Skyward to check grades and the class website will help you tremendously throughout the year. We will spend time at the beginning of the year to get you up and running with these resources. If you don’t have internet access at home, don’t worry! Computers are available at school for you to use.
I’m looking forward to a great year! If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call or an email. I can often answer emails quicker, but a call is always welcome, too!
Sincerely,
6 th Grade Science Teachers

Student name: _____________________________________________
Parent name: _______________________________________
What is the best phone number to reach you at during the day? _________________
E-mail address (one character per space; please print clearly):
Do you have access to the Internet at home? __________
Is there a printer available at home? __________
Are you interested in helping out in science class? We do lots of cool activities that might need some extra parent support. If you’d like to spend a class period or two in your student’s science class, please let us know below.
Yes! I’d be interested in:
______chaperoning field trips.
______supplying simple lab materials (Expo markers, cotton balls, glue sticks, q-tips, tape, etc.)
______labs that need more supervision (making yogurt, large projects, etc.)
Don’t forget that if you want to come help, we will need you to fill out a Washington State
Background Check. I can send one of these forms home with your child if you’d like!
I have read and understand the science class syllabus:
Student signature: ___________________________________________________
Parent signature: ___________________________________________________