7th Grade Physical Science
Mr. Kirkpatrick
Room 703
Class Syllabus
2005 – 2006
Text books used: (Prentice Hall)
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Motion, Forces, and Energy.
Sound and Light.
Earth’s Changing Surface.
Chemical Building Blocks.
Chemical Interactions.
Materials needed:
Students must bring their textbook, paper and pencil, and a one subject notebook (science journal) to class
every day. It is recommended that students have a calculator for class as we will work with many formulas. It
would also be helpful if students had either colored pencils or markers.
Course Description:
We will be studying physical science this year. Class lecture, group work, and hands on activities will be
used to present the material. Throughout the school year students will practice and demonstrate the processes of
science: observing, questioning, inferring, predicting, defining, modeling, communicating, measuring, collecting
data, organizing, presenting and interpreting data, hypothesizing, experimenting and controlling variables.
In Motion, Forces, and Energy we will explore aspects of physics. Students will understand the critical
attributes of motion: speed, velocity, force, Newton’s Laws, gravity, acceleration, weight, work and friction.
Students will understand the critical attributes of machines: types, mechanical advantage, efficiency, power, and
uses. We will also study the critical attributes of energy: Kinetic energy, potential energy and the Law of
Conservation of Energy.
In our Sound and Light unit, students’ will study the critical attributes of waves and sound: sources,
frequency, amplitude, speed, Doppler Effect and uses. We will also study the attributes of light: sources, reflections,
refraction, diffraction, electro-magnetic spectrum, color and uses.
During our Earth’s Changing Surface unit students will study the attributes of Earth’s surface features:
landforms, maps, erosion, weathering, deposition, glaciers and fossils.
For our Chemistry unit, students will understand the attributes of the measurement of matter: mass,
volume, temperature, density and metric units. Students will learn how matter is classified: elements, compounds
and the Periodic Table. Students will begin to understand the structure of matter: atoms, molecules, energy of states
of matter and motion. Students will study the attributes of physical change: freezing, melting, evaporation,
condensation, temperature, heat, calories, solutions and mixtures. We will also examine the attributes of chemical
change: compounds, products, reactants, catalysts, energy requirements, exothermic, endothermic and fire.
Grading Plan:
Students will be graded based on their classwork/homework assignments and their test/quiz scores. 50% of
their grade will be based on their classwork/homework assignments and 50% will be based on their test/quiz scores.
Grading Scale
99 – 100 A+
93 – 98 A
90 – 92 A88 – 89 B+
83 – 87 B
80 – 82 B-
78 – 79 C+
73 – 77 C
70 – 72 C68 – 69 D+
63 – 67 D
60 – 60 D59 and below
E
Homework Policy
Homework will be assigned on a daily basis and should take the students no more than one hour and a half
(for all core classes). Routine homework assignments will be evaluated and recorded daily.
I expect students to follow these guidelines when completing homework assignments:
 All assignments will be completed.
 Homework will be turned in on time. (Late work will receive a grade of 0%)
 Students will turn in work that emphasizes quality.
 Students are responsible for making up homework missed due to absence.
If students choose to complete homework on time it will reflect positively in their grade average at the end
of the marking period. There will be other rewards as well.
If students choose not to complete homework or turn it in on time, it will have a negative affect on their
grade. I will notify you of missing work in one or more of the following ways: a note in their agenda planner, a
phone call home, a bi-weekly missing homework notice, or progress reports. If this becomes a chronic problem, a
parent meeting may be set up.
If there is a legitimate reason students are not able to finish homework, parents please send in a signed
note the day the homework is due with a short explanation why the homework is not done. Your child will then be
allowed an extra day to complete the assignment without penalty.
When a student is absent, it is their responsibility to make up the assignment(s) they missed. They will
have as many days to make up the assignment(s) as they were absent. It will be helpful for the students to have a
homework buddy. This “buddy” can be called on the phone for help or when absent. Your child will choose a
homework buddy. Their homework buddy will be given your phone number. I may also be contacted for
homework assistance. Please contact me only after homework buddies have been contacted.
I feel that parents are the key to making homework a positive experience for their children. Therefore, I
ask that parents make homework a top priority, provide necessary supplies and a quiet homework environment,
provide proper support, and contact me if they notice a problem. I expect all students to record daily homework
assignments in their agenda planners. Parents, I encourage daily monitoring of homework. Please sign the agenda
planner as necessary for your child’s successful completion of assignments. This may be every day, but no less then
once a week. If I notice a problem with late or incomplete homework, I will be contacting parents, or will be asking
students to contact parents. I may ask that agenda planners be signed daily until the problem is resolved.
Homework is not a punishment and should never be treated that way. Please inform me if your child is struggling
with assignments. I have suggestions that may help.
Classroom rules:
The rules for my classroom are as follows:
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Be on time.
Follow all directions.
Respect yourself and others.
Have materials ready before class begins.
As a team, each class has a daily travel sheet. If students choose to break a rule, their name will go onto the travel
sheet. This sheet will travel with the class for their 4 core classes. Each day, the class will start of with a clean sheet.
Following are the consequences if a student chooses to break a rule:
1st offense:
Verbal Reprimand
2nd offense:
Action Plan filled out by student and signed by a parent/guardian and returned to teacher
the next day.
3. 3rd offense:
After School Detention.
4. 4th offense:
A Responsibility plan or Referral to the office.
** Repeat offenders or serious infractions will automatically start at step 2, 3, or 4. **
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I am looking forward to an exciting, productive year of teaching your son/daughter, and in working with
you to make this a great experience for all. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or
concerns regarding my policies. Below is my email address and voice mail number. Let’s make this a wonderful
year!
Email: kirkpat@gw.lincoln.k12.mi.us
Voice mail: 484-7075 ext. 20572
Sincerely,
Mark A. Kirkpatrick
Please detach and return bottom section to Mr. Kirkpatrick
2005/2006 Science Syllabus for Mr. Kirkpatrick
August 30, 2005
I/We have read and understand the syllabus for Mr. Kirkpatrick’s science class.
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Student signature
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Parent/Guardian signature
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Parent/Guardian signature
Comments or Questions: