Welcome to 8th GRADE Science!
I am Mrs. Carpenter, who will be your guide... Just like all of the other people
in your life, I have expectations of you. They are simple, but extremely important:
1. Work hard.
2. Be nice.
*If these gets confusing during the year, we’ll talk...
Classroom Basics:
What I expect of you is never a secret. It is my intention for our time together to be productive from our
first to our last day together. My goal for you is to learn, learn, learn the content of this class. The
challenge I face is to figure out the best way for this to happen easily for you, and then to share those
strategies with you so you can learn, learn, learn in all the classes you take now and into the future.
Supplies needed for class:
• pen/pencil,
• daily work,
• plan book,
• notebook paper,
• science binder with 4 tabs labeled:
- Class Information
- Science Starters
- Resources
- Assessments
Excuses for not having
these are not honored
after Thursday, Sept. 3!
We will be studying an integration of life, earth, and physical
science surrounding the theme of EXAMINING SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE:
• Unit 1 = Evidence of Earth’s Structure
formation of the solar system, Earth’s interior structure, field models
(gravitational, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic)
• Unit 2 = Evidence of Changes o Earth’s Surface
plate tectonics, forms of potential energy, constructive & destructive
forces shaping Earth’s surface
• Unit 3 – Evidence of Life’s Diversity
reproduction, inheritance, diversity of species, fossil & geologic record
HOW SCIENCE GRADES BE EARNED? Well, 90% of your overall average in science will be based on your “Content
Mastery,” how well you show what you know. The remaining 10% of your grade will come from “Everything Else,” includes
the quality of your work & any group projects. In my humble opinion, no one should ever earn less than a B in science because
you will be provided feedback consistently & many opportunities for revision along the way.
.
HOMEWORK?: The work we do in science always has a purpose – for you to LEARN! You will be provided adequate time in class to
complete this work. Is there a chance that you may need to take this work home to complete? Well, it depends on how efficient
you are with your class time. In order to keep you updated, we will constantly post the daily assignments and upcoming due dates
to our “Class Agenda” – you can find this linked from Progress Book and from our Science Wiki.
CLASS RESOURCES:
• Visit our 8 grade science wiki for resources, links
(including our textbook online), review games, video
clips and other class information:
https://kms8thscience.wiki.dublinschools.net/
• We will be sharing a Google Doc with you into your
Google Drive account that has our daily agenda &
upcoming due dates. This should help you stay updated
in science, even if you’re absent.
• ProgressBook is an incredible resource for staying upto-date with daily lessons, assignment due dates, and,
of course grade updates.
th
I am really looking forward to learning with you this
year. Notice that I said learning with you. I’ll be
the first to admit that I am not omniscient (having
infinite awareness, understanding, insight, and
knowledge), therefore, how can I expect you to be-right?!? This being true, you might come up with
some questions or have some trouble during the
year. PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I can’t help if I
don’t know that there is a problem…
Email: carpenter_toby@dublinschools.net
Voice Mail: (614) 760-6453
Here are some interesting quotes to ponder as we begin this school year…
Think about how they may be relevant to your learning as we embark on this journey together!
A pessimist sees the
difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist
sees the opportunity in
every difficulty.
He who asks a question may be a fool for five
minutes, but he who never asks a question
remains a fool forever.
- Tom J. Connelly
There is more than one expert in Our Class. It’s OK to not know, but
it’s not OK to not try.
- Sir Winston Churchill
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We
ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
remember. Involve me and I learn.
talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
- Benjamin Franklin
Nobody who
ever gave his
best regretted it.
- Marianne Williamson
Equipped with his five senses, man explores the
universe around him and calls the adventure SCIENCE.
- Edwin Hubble
- George Halas
There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is
to brighten it everywhere.
- Isaac Asimov
The man is a success who has
lived well, laughed often, and
loved much; who has gained the
respect of intelligent men and
the love of children; who has
filled his niche and
accomplished his task; who
leaves the world better than he
found it, whether by an
improved poppy, a perfect poem,
or a rescued soul; who never
lacked appreciation of earth’s
beauty or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in
others and gave the best he had.
-Robert Louis Stevenson
There is more learning in the question itself
than the answer.
- Andrew Weremy
SCIENCE:
If you don’t make some
mistakes, you are doing it
wrong.
If you don’t correct those
mistakes, you’re doing it
really wrong.
If you can’t accept that
you are mistaken, you
aren’t doing it at all.
Be the type
of person
you want
to meet.
Sometimes I think we're alone
in the universe, and
sometimes I think we're not.
In either case, the idea is
quite staggering.
What is a scientist
after all? It is a
curious man looking
through a keyhole,
the keyhole of
nature, trying to
know what's going on.
- Jacques
Cousteau
-Arthur Clarke
You can complain
because roses have
thorns or you can
rejoice because thorns
have roses.
Attitude is key!
It is up to you.
Only you can do
something about it.
-Mrs. C.
Mrs. Carpenter’s Class
FYI 15-16, Page 2
Please detach this page and return to Mrs. Carpenter by ________________________________.
You should place the first sheet in the “Class Information “ section of your science binder for
reference.
Please sign below, indicating that you and your parents have read & understand all of this stuff.
It also will act like a contract between you, me, and your parents, which basically means that we
will all agree to do all that we can to make this an exciting and successful year for YOU!
Student’s Signature: _____________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s Signature: ______________________________________________
Information for Mrs. Carpenter:
Please complete the following information about the parent(s)/guardian(s) that are easiest to access
during the school day. I will use this information to communicate you with throughout the school year
about our progress in science.
Parent’s Name: ____________________________________ Daytime Phone Number: __________________
Email Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Parent’s Name: ____________________________________ Daytime Phone Number: __________________
Email Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Has your child earned a Golden Shamrock in…
…6th Grade? (Circle one) Y N
…7th Grade?
Y
N
Please list your child’s 8th grade teachers:
Math = _____________________________
L.A. = _____________________________
S.S. = _____________________________
Other = ___________________________
Comments? Questions? Anything I should know? Please share on the back...
Thank you!
I look forward to an exciting year!