Grade 7 Course Outline

I. SUPPLIES FOR SCIENCEScience 7 – Mr. McPhailGeneral Information SheetA. General Supplies - The following supplies are needed for science:1. 1” Three ring Binder 6. Eraser (white art eraser)2. Lined and plain paper (50 sheets each) 7. 100 page coiled notebook3. Pen 8. Metric ruler4. Pencil 9. Red pen5. Notebook dividersII. SCIENCE BINDERSYour science binder contains very important papers. It should be kept organized andbrought to class each day. The teacher may evaluate binders and notebooks anytime.You are required to have two (2) binders for science. One binder should be labeled withyour name and homeroom, and with the title: Science -- Present Unit. Your science bindershould be brought to class every day.The second binder should be kept at home. It will be used to store completed scienceunits. Do not discard completed units, as they are needed for review in preparation forthe Mid-year and the Final year-end exams.The science binder you bring to class every day should be divided into four (4) sections.1. Class Notes and Handouts2. Labs and Journal3. Learning Strategies and Reference4. Tests and Quizzes1. Class Notes: This section will contain all notes taken in class and any handouts thatare used to supplement the topic of study. All notes and handouts are to be kept inthe order they are received and dated as given.2. Lab and Journal Section: This section should contain one 200-page coil notebook.Your labs and journal reflections will be written on this paper.3. Learning Strategies and Reference Section: This section of your binder willcontain general information sheets, assignment sheets, student evaluation sheets andmany other important sheets. You will need to refer to the reference sectionthroughout the year.

4. Tests and Quizzes: This section will contain all tests and quizzes for the currentunit.IIIEVALUATIONYour science mark is calculated from the work and effort you put forth every day.You science mark will include:1. Daily Performance 20%2. Assignments 40%3. Tests and Quizzes 40%Daily PerformanceDaily Performance will involve homework checks, notebook checks, participation, labperformance, journal completion and being prepared for class with all necessary materials.Homework checks will make up approximately 10% of the daily performance mark.Students are expected and will be challenged daily, to achieve their own personalexcellence in academics and behavior.AssignmentsAssignments involve any written work, which includes textbook answers, lab write-ups,projects, handouts and current events.Tests and QuizzesEach quiz will be worth approximately 5% and each test will be worth approx. 10%.IV. NOTES AND ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONSA. Quality Answer ResponseAll assignments in science this year will be written clearly in complete sentences thatfollow the Quality Answer Response Protocol. This includes:1) Correct answer.2) Correct punctuation and grammar.3) Part of the question needs to be written in the answer.4) Correct spelling.• If the assignment is written, use ink.• The use of computers when writing assignments is encouraged.

• Students will be asked to rewrite assignments that are "ripped out" of your notebookor are not written neatly.• Place your name, date and homeroom on the top right hand corner of your ssignment.• Do not write assignments in red pen.• Do not underline in red pen.B. All assignments should be handed in on time. This means that the assignmentshould be handed in at the start of the class period. You will not be given time tostaple, draw, etc. All assignments collected after the beginning of class will be markedhowever, the student will lose daily performance marks.C. Students will be required to complete all assignments. If necessary, extra timeand support will be provided to allow students to complete any missed assignments.Parent contact is required to inform me of any special circumstances that I would needto consider excusing a student from completing an assignment. A note in the student’sagenda would be sufficient.D. Notes1. All science notes must be done neatly in ink or pencil.2. You may print or write.3. Both sides of the paper may be used.4. Major titles and main ideas should be underlined using a ruler.5. Do not use red pen to write notes or underline.6. Each new unit should be marked with a title page.E. Diagrams1. Draw on plain paper.2. Work neatly in pencil or coloring pencil.3. Drawings should be labeled and clear.4. Use approximately one third of the page.5. All diagrams should have a title.6. All diagrams should have your name, homeroom and date on them.7. Diagrams should be labeled very carefully using the following rules:a. Use pencilb. Printc. Draw lines with a rulerd. Keep all labeling lines horizontal to one anothere. Label on the right hand side of the paper.F. Current EventsScience is part of our everyday life. There are new scientific happenings at all times. It isyour responsibility to read at least two current science articles from either a magazine or

newspaper each term. If the article can be removed from a newspaper, it should beattached to a sheet of paper in your journal and summarized.When adding clippings to your journal ensure to do so neatly:1. Indicate the source and date of the article or clipping. Cut Neatly. e.g. (CalgaryHerald, May 26,2003)2. Give a title or sub-heading to the clipping.3. Place your name, date and homeroom on the paper with the clipping.4. Write a 5-8-sentence summary of the article on the sheet of paper.(Summaries are half a page long.)G. JournalAs stated before science is happening all around us. Students are expecting to keep ascience journal. This is a place for students to reflect on what is happening in their worldand classroom in regards to the field of science. The students will be given the assessmentcriteria. Students will be assigned journal topics throughout the unit.H. HomeworkAnything that has been assigned in class that is not completed will be consideredhomework. You may use any reference material you want to successfully complete yourhomework assignments. Students may work together on homework but each student isrequired to provide their own answers with their own complete sentences. Students maynot pass around sheets for everyone to copy,. Sharing of homework answers will causeboth parties to receive a zero (0) on the assignment. An alternative assignment will bearranged and evaluated after parent contact has been made.I. AgendaAll students are required to use their agendas every class. Students should record allassignments and check them off to indicate completion.V. TEXTBOOKSEach student will be loaned at least one textbook. It is your responsibility to properlycover and protect your book during the year. Students and parents will sign a textbookdamage contract that will assess the current condition of the textbook. You will be chargedfor any new damages done to the book throughout the year. Any student not returning atextbook damage contract at the start of the year will assume responsibility of alldamages incurred to the textbook.VI. EXTRA HELPA. Often students find themselves having difficulty in certain areas of science. There areseveral different ways to approach a problem in science.

1. Help yourself. Review your notes and worksheets daily. Do all your homeworkproblems until you get them correct. Read your textbook.2. Ask a friend for help. Do not ask to copy their work.3. Ask the teacher for help during class work sessions.4. Arrange with the teacher to work with you at lunch or after school. Your teacher willhave one lunch and one after school time period allotted for extra help.5. Students can also receive help from the resource department after school at homeworkhotel. (Room 14, Mon. - Thur. 3:00-4:00)VII ABSENTEEISMA. If you miss a science period it is your responsibility as a student to do the following:1. Find out what worked you missed2. Complete the missed work.3. Arrange to come in at lunch hour or after school to make up the work youmissed with the teacher.4. Absent students are expected to see their teacher for missed handouts.B. Missed work should be accumulated and handed in as soon as possible upon yourreturn.C. Sometimes homework is marked by students during class time. If you miss a scienceperiod when homework is marked it is your responsibility to arrange with the teacher amutually convenient time to mark your papers.If you miss a lab it is your responsibility to make up the lab within 5 days.• Keep track of homework, tests and assignments by accessing Homework Hotline:Dial the school number 777-7290,Extension 47 followed by your homeroomExample the extension for room 31 would be 4731----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I clearly understand the above expectations and information. If I am absent I will beresponsible for making up my work. I will achieve my personal excellence in behavior andacademics.

Signed:____________________________________ Date:(Student)Signed:____________________________________ Date:(Parents)I will support, encourage and challenge your son or daughter to achieve their ownpersonal excellence in behavior and academics everyday!Signed:____________________________________ Date:(Teacher)