Life Science- Grade 7 Class Information Mrs. Analise Griffith Email: [email protected]
**IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL DONATIONS ARE OPTIONAL!** $10 lab fee for each student (1 time only) Tissues Paper towels Glue sticks Latex gloves (sizes Small, Medium, and Large) Cleaning wipes Plastic cups Clear sheet protectors Plastic utensils Zip top baggies Note cards/flash cards
Giftcards for classroom supplies and labs from the following stores: Office Depot, Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, 99 cent only store, dollar tree or any grocery store!
Thank you for considering making a donation to our life science classroom :)
Standards and Curriculum: The content standards for Science are changing over the course of the next few years. This year our main focus will be on the “Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)”. The introduction of NGSS will help to students to think scientifically, ask questions, explore and discover in a hands-on way, read complex scientific texts, and communicate conclusions effectively.
Main Units:
Introduction to Life Science and Scientific Inquiry
Cells, organisms, body systems, family life, dissections
Heredity and genetics
Evolution
Ecology- ecosystems
Investigation and Experimentation- engineering practices
Students Expectations: Students are expected to arrive to class on time with all of their materials for the period. In order to avoid receiving a tardy, students need to be seated and ready to work their hardest when the bell rings. Students are expected to follow the rules of CHAMPS, a school-wide behavior expectation program. This means students should be prepared to work quietly during teacher instruction and individual work, and use appropriate volume control during class and group activities. Students will be encouraged to focus, be active listeners, and participate orally when called upon.
Every student deserves the right to learn without disruption. Paying attention to the teacher and peers, and asking questions, will bring success in class. In this class there will be a lot of collaboration, so respectful, kind, and responsible behavior is always required. Lab groups will ALWAYS be chosen by Mrs. Griffith, and students need to comply without complaint or being rude to lab members.
Class Rules: Because this is a Life Science Class, we will be doing plenty of labs throughout the year. Safety in the lab is of the utmost importance. Any students found misbehaving or disrespecting lab supplies will be asked to go to the office, and will not be able to participate in the next lab. This will also result in a zero for the lab.
Students misbehaving at other points during the class will be given one verbal warning followed by a detention. Detentions or referrals will also be assigned if a student is caught being academically dishonest (this includes copying homework!!!). For academic dishonesty the students will also receive a zero for the assignment and will be reported to the office.
Absences: If a student is absent, they need to do either check the homework online or call a friend from class to figure out what they missed. When the student returns to class they are responsible to pick up missed work from Mrs. Griffith at the front of the classroom. The students will have as many days as they were absent to complete the material. Anything that was due before they were sick will be expected to be completed upon student arrival.
Homework Policy: Homework includes reading, workbooks, review questions, lab reports, finishing of classwork, etc. Homework is always posted in class and on Mrs. Griffith’s website. Students should always keep their agenda book up to date. I will accept late homework for half credit; unless you are absent then you receive full credit.
Grading Procedures: Grades are based on classwork, homework, participation, labs, and tests/quizzes. I use Q Connect to input grades and update grades every week or 2. Projects and labs will be marked down an entire letter grade for every day that they are late, unless the student is absent.
Each trimester students will start with a fresh slate, giving them an opportunity to start over and improve their grades if need be. If a student is struggling I always offer lunch help, and that is the best time to come in and work with me. Do not wait until right before grades are due to ask what you can do to improve your grade.
Extra credit will be accepted anytime throughout the trimester for up to 20 points (that is 60 points of extra credit for the year). Extra credit assignments can be anything based on science, I suggest something that interests the student. Extra credit can be turned in as a poster, report, current event, PowerPoint, song, poem, video, or anything creative. If you aren’t sure that it will count, ask me first. Extra credit examples are listed on my website.
Communication: Email is the best way to reach me, and I will be sure to respond within 48 hours (usually faster than that). In the subject type “CVUSD” to ensure it will not be sent to my junk mail, and please also include your student’s name. If need be my phone number is (805) 492-3538 x 1111.
Required Materials: Spiral Notebook (highly suggested: Mead brand or fivestar, ones that are slightly larger than average) pens/pencils colored pencils glue stick scissors **$10.00 Lab Donation (Optional) (Checks made out to LCMS)