Cambria Heights Middle School – 7th Grade Science
Mrs. Cavallo
mcavallo@chsd1.org
Guide to Success in Science
WELCOME
Welcome to the seventh grade science lab. My goal for you is to experience personal growth and
an understanding of the world around you by thinking “scientifically”. You will do this by:
 Learning new scientific information
 Gaining new scientific skills
 Creating and performing valid scientific experiments
 Effectively collaborating with other “scientists”
 Properly collecting and recording scientific information
 Analyzing scientific information
 Reporting scientific information
MATERIALS
You will need to bring to class a pencil, paper and your science binder. There are textbooks to
be used in class that may be signed out.
SCIENCE BINDER
Be sure your binder is organized so that you can find the information, the notes, the lab
reports, and the vocabulary words needed to prepare for a test or to complete other lab
reports.
LAB PROCEDURES
In order to use the class time wisely the following procedures will be followed.
1. Arrive at class on time.
2. Go directly to your seat.
3. Have required materials with you. You will not be allowed to go to your lockers.
4. Have needed papers and pencils. The pencils should be sharpened before class.
5. Do not touch any equipment before being instructed to do so.
6. Listen to the daily assignment instructions before starting.
7. Report any damage or problems with equipment immediately.
8. Return all equipment to the proper stations.
LAB REPORTS
These should be completed in the classroom when you use your time wisely. Some parts
of the lab reports are done with a group of students; other parts are completed
individually. A RUBRIC is provided with most lab report. Complete the lab report
according to the rubric so that you receive the highest grade possible.
GROUP PROJECTS
Throughout the year you will either be assigned or choose other students in the class to
work with to complete a project or provide a presentation about a topic in class. It is
important that everyone in the group does their assigned work. Individual as well as
group grades will be given for each group project.
TESTS
Study for all tests and quizzes. Study your notes, and definitions to the vocabulary
words. Review the lab reports and even reread the background information in the text for
each lab. I will ALWAYS tell you EXACTLY what will be on the test so that you can
prepare properly. Have someone quiz you on the information or make a practice test to
try at home.
Cambria Heights Middle School – 7th Grade Science
Mrs. Cavallo
mcavallo@chsd1.org
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND LABS
We will occasionally be going outside for various reasons during science class. All
students must have closed toed shoes in order to participate in the activity/lab. Students
may keep a pair of sneakers or other shoes in their lockers. I will try to tell the students
ahead of time but we will be watching the weather and this can change quickly.
VERSATILES
All 7th grade students will be assigned a series of self paced reading and check questions
using the Versatiles. The students will have a Student Record Chart that will be kept in
their binders. At the end of each section of a science topic a student assessment will be
given. When a student has finished one section, they have the option of making a
Versatile quiz of their own for extra credit.
Grading
May include all or some of the following for each marking period.
Assessments
Lab Reports & other Classwork
Performance – Class (45 points per marking period)
Homework
Grades are given a point value from 5 to 100 depending on the length and difficulty of the assignment.
five class days after assigned due date all assignments/tests not completed will become MD which means
Missed Deadline – these assignments are considered a 0 (zero) in my grade book
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Late Work
Points will be deducted from assignments not turned in on time. See 7th grade grading
policy.
If you are absent YOU must make arrangements with me to make up your work in a timely
manner. The student handbook states that you have 5 days to make up any missed work
Check the website for assignments and handouts.
Science Notebook
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USE AT LEAST A 1.5 INCH 3 RING BINDER
NAME AND SECTION ON FRONT COVER - LARGE ENOUGH TO SEE FROM A
DISTANCE
YOU WILL NEED 10 DIVIDERS.
NOTEBOOK SECTIONS
TESTS, QUIZZES AND OTHER ASSESSMENTS
SAFETY
LAB EQUIPMENT
ENVIRONMENT
ASTRONOMY
METEOROLOGY
ENERGY
AIR AND WATER SOURCES AND POLLUTION
WAVES
CELL STRUCTURE AND GENETICS
Cambria Heights Middle School – 7th Grade Science
Mrs. Cavallo
mcavallo@chsd1.org
FORMAL LAB REPORT FORMAT
You will be required to complete a lab report for all of the experiments completed in science
class. During every experiment you will complete a very generic form to use to create the final
lab report. You may turn in the lab report for a grade or they may just be kept as a study guide. I
will tell you exactly what labs reports are for a grade, but you will be responsible for getting a
completed lab report to me by the deadline. I will choose the lab to be turned into me from the
list of labs we complete each marking period. You will be responsible to keep all lab write ups
in your science binders.
Title:
Name:
Problem:
Hypothesis:
Materials:
Section:
State the problem to be investigated. Copy this directly from the textbook
unless it is an original work.
Make a prediction about the investigation related to the problem stated
above. This predication should be in the form of an "IF", "THEN"
statement.
Complete list of all materials used. Be sure to list the amounts & use the
correct units.
Procedure:
Step-by-step outline of what will be done during the investigation. You
may complete this section as a numbered list, a flowchart, or a series of
pictures explaining the procedure.
Data:
Results gathered during the investigation including correct data, units and
graphs, if necessary.
Data Analysis:
A short summary explaining the data collected. This may be as brief as one
sentence..give the "BIG PICTURE"
Conclusion:
This section is key. Conclusions should be well constructed and supported
by your data. Answer the problem, explain your data, and relate the lab to
something in your life.
Rubric
Hypothesis
Criteria
Score
Related to problem using "IF", "THEN"
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
format
Materials &
Materials list complete with correct units & 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Procedure
amounts, procedure complete & easy to
follow
Data &
Complete & Accurate with correct Units,
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Analysis
Labeling, & Formatting
Conclusion
Answers the problem, explains the data,
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
relates to your life
Lab Report
Well constructed, easy to read, no spelling
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
errors handed in on time
50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 2 8 27 26
1
1
1
1
1
25
Cambria Heights Middle School – 7th Grade Science
Mrs. Cavallo
mcavallo@chsd1.org
INFORMAL LAB REPORT
Title:_________________________________________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________________________Section:__________
Hypothesis: my guess before I begin
IF
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
THEN _______________________________________________________________________
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Materials: what I used
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Procedure: what I did
______________________________________________________________________________
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Data: what happened
Conclusion: why it happened & what I learned
______________________________________________________________________________
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