The 8th grade
Regents Earth Science
Program
St. Martin de Porres School
Course Description
 The Regents Earth Science course is
designed to meet the science.
requirements of the NYS Intermediate
Level Science Curriculum.
 The course is also a Regents level
course enabling qualified students to
take the Regents test for Regents
credit.
Intermediate level science requirements
 6th, 7th and 8th Grade students must
complete a program of study that
includes both physical and life
sciences.
 The life sciences were taught in 7th
grade.
 The physical sciences were taught in
5th and 6th grade and are further
developed in Earth Science.
 Because our students take the
Regents, they do NOT need the
Intermediate level science test.
NYS High School Science Requirements
 Your child will be required to earn
credit in three Regents Laboratory
Science Courses. (Requirement
began with the 2005-2006 school
year).
 Each of these courses will involve a
minimum of 20 hours 1200 minutes of
acceptable lab time.
 Each of these courses requires a
Regents exam.
The Regents Earth Science Exam
 This Exam consists of a laboratory
test and a written test.
 Both parts of the test are taken in
June
 The written portion of the test will be
taken after graduation. (June 17)
 The date for the test is determined by
the NYS board of Education later in
the year and cannot be changed by
the school.
Regents Test Requirements
 Students must complete a minimum of
20 hours (1200 minutes) of lab time in
order to qualify for the test.
 Lab time must be documented with
passing quality, paper lab reports,
kept in a lab folder at the school.
 The student must also be passing
Earth Science in order to qualify for
the test.
Test Requirements—Continued
 The written portion of the test is a
comprehensive exam, covering
course curriculum from the entire
year.
 The lab portion of the test is also a
comprehensive exam, involving 3
hands-on stations, and written
analysis of each station. This analysis
includes mathematical calculation and
graph construction.
 The test is difficult for the average 8th
grade student.
Your child must study for this test!
 Because this test is
comprehensive, your child will
need to review extensively for
this test!
 This test is NOT an ITBS type
test which assesses the
general skills and abilities of
the student.
We will help your child prepare for the test
 Your child will be asked to buy the
Barron’s Review Book set to help
them study for the test. (4th edition)
 Course exams will be composed
largely of questions from previous
Regents exams so that your child will
have experience with Regents style
questions.
 Lab curriculum is designed with the
lab test in mind.
St. Martin’s Course Expectations
 Your child is expected to do their lab
work and to turn it in on time.
 Your child is expected to behave
appropriately in lab and in lecture
classes.
 Your child is expected to turn in all
homework, classwork assignments
and lab work on time.
 Your child is expected to do quality
lab write ups.
As a parent, you may expect the
following:
 I will keep a website which will list
major assignments and labs. Parents
are advised to monitor this website for
course information. The website can
be accessed through the school
website.
 Your child will have a mid-term exam
which is based on the State tests.
 Your child will not be allowed to
participate in lab if behavior is
inappropriate (safety is the prime
concern).
Your child may expect the following:
 Tests will consist largely of questions
from past Regents exams.
 Homework, assignments and lab work
will balance out test requirements.
 Your child will pass 8th grade science
if they do their work and turn it in on
time!
 Our course curriculum will meet the
requirements of the Regents test.
Lab Requirements
 Your child can expect to do a Regents
level lab weekly (or more).
 Your child will have been given the
opportunity to do 20 hours of lab work
by the end of 3rd quarter
(approximately).
 Your child will not be qualified to take
the Regents test if they have not
completed 20 hours of lab time by the
end of 3rd quarter.
Lab Requirements--Continued
 Your child’s lab work is the property of
the State of New York—It will not be
returned to you or your child. All labs
must be typed and turned in on time.
Labs may be audited by the State at
any time.
 Students are advised to keep a
duplicate lab folder at home so that
they can use it for study purposes.
Lab Requirements—Continued
 Your child will not be granted
Regents Credit for a lab if he or
she is asked to leave the lab for
disciplinary reasons. Your child
will not be allowed to make up
that lab in any way.
 Your child will not receive
Regents Credit for a lab that is
copied from another student or
outside source.
Regents success correlates with lab
performance!
 St. Martin’s students with the
highest Regents scores also
had the highest Earth
Science lab averages.
 Students will not receive
Regents lab credit for simply
turning in labs. The labs
must reflect care and effort
and receive a passing grade.
 Lab is intended to teach
many course skills which are
tested on both the lab and
written Regents tests.
Your child should expect to pass 8th grade
science!
 This is a high school level course.
 We consider this in grading the
work of the students.
 If your child is willing to turn in all
lab work and assignments, they
will pass each quarter of the class.
Your child should NOT expect to pass the
Regents requirements without extra effort!
 Study for the Regents test should be
an on-going process that begins early
in the year.
 The Regents test requires students to
master the Earth science curriculum in
its entirety.
 Intermediate level students will need
to make an extra effort in science to
pass the Regents test.
No student will be forced to take the
Regents Test
 It is our hope that all students will
qualify for, take and pass the Regents
exam.
 Students who are unsure of their
ability to pass the test will not be
forced to take the test.
 Students will not receive Regents
credit without taking the test.
No student will be forced to take
the Regents Test
 All Regents scores must be recorded
on the report card and reported to the
high schools.
 A parent should speak to Mrs.
Canfield if you are concerned about
whether your child should take the
test
In the event that your child does not pass
the Regents test
 Your child will not be behind! This is
an advanced level course!
 Your child may re-take the test in
August. Re-takes may be arranged
through Our Lady of Lourdes High
School or the Public districts.
 Re-takes require permission from St.
Martin’s. It is unlikely that students
with poor initial scores will pass
without additional coursework.
 65 is considered a passing Regents
score
The St. Martin de Porres
School pass rate on the
Regents test is excellent
Other Important resources
 www.regentsearth.com
 www.mrsciguy.com
 Other links will be posted
to the 8th grade homework
page.