The McGillis School 2012-2013 6th Grade Science Curriculum Overview and Class Expectations Introduction Through a broad

range of in-class and field activities, 6th grade science students are actively
involved in experiences which foster the development of curiosity as well as encourage inquiry and creative problem solving, thus nurturing essential habits of mind. Strong emphasis is also placed on the development and strengthening of study skills: organization, reading, writing, and time management. In recognition of individual learning styles, students are exposed to a variety of assessment strategies, including lab reports, tests and quizzes, individual and group research projects, and peer assessments.

Teacher Tyler Waterhouse

email: twaterhouse@mcgillisschool.org website: http://mrwaterhouse.weebly.com/

Science Resources: Whiler there is not one comprehensive science text that we will be following this year,
for reference we will utilize books from the Glencoe/National Geographic Science Modules Series, including Lifes Structure and Function, Earth Materials and Processes, The Changing Surface of the Earthy, and Motion Forces and Energy.

Supplies Pencils & erasersall work must be completed in pencil or typed.

An adequate supply of lined notebook paper. A folder within their 3-ring binder dedicated to science work and handouts. A composition notebook for use as Lab book (will be PROVIDED)

Grading The math grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Assignments (homework/projects/labs) 50% Assessments 25% Participation 15% Preparedness 5% Classwork 5% Homework: Students can expect homework 3 nights a week, though each assignment should rarely take longer than 15 minutes per night. Homework will usually consist of one or more of the following activities: 1) Daily Reading Assignments: In this type of assignment students will be asked to actively read a portion of text relating to the current topic of investigation. One of the most valuable lessons that can be learned from these reading assignments is how to read actively; engaging the brain and generating a response or questions related to the material. 2) Writing: In science, students will be consistently asked to record ideas, questions, and understanding about the topics we investigate. These assignments should be completed in your composition notebook. 3) Lab Reports: In-class lab-work/experiments/demonstrations will be performed on a regular basis. After an in-class activity, students will usually have a write-up/analysis to finish for homework. 4) Other Assignments: These might include some sort of worksheet, activity, or research. Each homework assignment (excluding labs) is worth two (2) points and will be evaluated in the following way: 2 = full credit, assignment completed satisfactorily 1 = portions of the assignment are missing or incomplete 0 = failure to complete the assignment Late homework assignments are not accepted for credit. If a student is unable to complete his/her homework with a legitimate reason, that student must talk to me in person before class and arrangements may be made. Otherwise, earning a zero on a homework assignment is a grade that cannot be made-up. Please note, however, it is still expected that the student complete the missed assignment in order to learn and reinforce the science.

When students are absent, for whatever reason, it is their responsibility to find me or use the website to determine what was missed while they were absent. With planned absences, students need to see me before the absence rather than after. It is the students responsibility to make up all missed classwork/notes and homework. Projects: There are two types of projects: large-scale and small-scale. Large-scale projects are completed over 7-10 days and may be completed individually or in groups, depending upon the project. Small-scale projects are completed in 2-3 class periods plus homework and in most cases consist of an individual and group component. Assessments: There will be several formal assessments for each unit of material. These assessments typically consist of short answer questions, multiple choice, data/diagram analysis, modified true/false. Tests will always be announced, though quizzes may be either announced or unannounced. Students will be required to take graded exams home to be signed by a parent/guardian to enhance home-school communication. Participation: Students earn points daily for participation and impact on the classroom environment. These headings encompass many factors including: attentiveness, active note taking, contributing to class discussion and asking related/relevant questions, productive work on in-class activities, being supportive and respectful of others, seeking extra help when needed, and following school and class expectations. Preparedness: Students earn points daily for preparedness. Preparedness encompasses: arriving to class on-time, prepared with all necessary materials, having completing the homework assignment, and showing a signed exam when assigned. Classwork: Science work will typically be completed in the provided composition book. In addition, students should maintain a folder within their 3 ring binder for handouts. At measured intervals during each trimester, the students notes and folders will be assessed using the following scale: 1-4 points = Some level of disorganization (messy/incomplete notes, missing papers, etc.) 5 points = Completely organized (neat/appropriate notes, all required materials accounted for and organized)

Extra Help/Communication
My door is always open! I will go out of my way to be available to meet with students outside of our regular classtime. If you have questions, please email (twaterhouse@mcgillisschool.org) or talk to me in person so that we can set up a time to meet. My study hall/office hours are Tuesday 7:30-8:10 AM and Thursday 3:15-4:00 PM. This is a great time for students to get one-on-one extra help. I am also often free for extra help and questions during break and lunch times. For parents, the best way to reach me is by email or to leave a message at my extension 523. I will get back to you within 24 hours (excluding weekends). Please feel free to find me at school if you have any questions and/or concerns. Another great resource of information about classwork, homework, and upcoming due dates is my website. To access this site, go to http://mrwaterhouse.weebly.com/. This site will be updated regularly. However, it is still the students responsibility to use a planner and to stay up-to-date if changes occur.

I have read and understand the course expectations for Sixth Grade Science Path. Student Signature: ______________________________________________________________ Guardian Signature: _____________________________________________________________

2012-2013 Curriculum
Unit 1: Geology and Northern Utah Goal/Purpose 1) To investigate and gain an appreciation for the materials that make up planet earth and our surrounding area. 2) To investigate and gain an appreciation for the forces and processes that influence and shape our surrounding landscape. Unit 2: Lifes Changes Through Time Goal/Purpose 1) To introduce students to the diversity of life on Earth (past and present). 2) To observe changes in animal and plant species in response to their environment. Unit 3: Newtons Laws and Projectile Motion Goal/Purpose 1) To gain a familiarity with Newtons laws of motion and have the opportunity to design and build various machines to test these principles. First Lego League (FLL): Description FLL is a robotics program for 9 to 14 year olds, which is designed to get children excited about science and technology and teach them valuable employment and life skills. Each year a thematic challenge is presented that guides the student work. In the 2012 Senior Solutions, over 200,000 9-16 year olds from over 55 countries will explore the topic of issues effecting the elderly. The students will then brainstorm, research, and create a solution that would positively affect the lives of elderly through improved mobility, etc. In the Senior Solutions Challenge, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT to solve a set of Senior Solutions missions. Goal/Purpose Some of the most important skills for students to learn in school are the ability to work in teams, to problem-solve, to think critically, to reason, and to communicate. The FLL challenge motivates students to master those skills. They engage passionately with their robot design and invention project. Their most difficult challenges and best learning experiences come not from learning to program robots or invent engineering solutions, but from pulling together as a team to work towards a common goal. Competition with other teams is part of the motivation, but we keep the focus on fun, learning, and sportsmanship, not on winning. Competition The 6th graders will be split into 6 teams that will each work on their own robot and research project. Beginning at the end of September, one science class, each week, will be devoted to working on the FLL projects. The culmination of the students work will be attendance at a FLL regional qualifier event to be held January 5th at McGillis, where the students will present their research to independent judges, work as a team through an unknown challenge, and engage their robot in competition against another teams robot. We will provide more details as work on the projects begins and we draw closer to the competition date. Parental Involvement It is my sincere desire to have all work completed in the context of classroom time, and thus avoiding any disruption of non-McGillis extracurricular activities in which the students participate. We could really use your help, though, during our weekly work sessions as another set of eyes to help students troubleshoot their robots, preview their research projects, and many other tasks. If you are interested, please let me know. Your help would be truly appreciated. The work periods will typically be as follows: 6th White Group 10:36 until 11:36 on Friday mornings 6th Blue Group 9:18 until 10:18 on Friday mornings