Elementary Science (First Quarter 08-09)
Name: ______________________
Elementary Science 2008-2009
The New School of Northern Virginia
Tanja Gaal, Instructor
Tanja@newschoolva.com
http://www.schoolrack.com/tanjaquinn/
Focus Skills:
1. Solving problems
2. Working Collaboratively
Course Description:
Welcome to Elementary Science! Throughout this school year we will be focusing on lab safety. We will be working on cleaning up after labs, keeping a healthy noise level during a lab, using materials safely and comfortably, etc. This will be emphasized in the first quarter and in practice for the rest of the school year. We will revisit appropriate lab safety as needed.
We will have quizzes on material learned and either an end of unit test OR an end of unit project to demonstrate knowledge learned. I will e-mail home parents more details as the end of the unit becomes closer.
I will give you a new syllabus for each unit we cover, which may or may-not line up with the end of the quarter. The length of the unit will depend upon student interest and comprehension. Please remember that science, like math, is a spiraling curriculum and the students will repeat some knowledge learned at some level in their education and then build upon it. I will give out occasional homework assignments.
Materials: You will need one section in your 3-ring binder for your science homework pages. You will have one main folder with all of the labs and readings for this unit at school that will go home with you at the end of the unit. Come to class with your own sharpened pencil, loose-leaf paper (no spiral notebook!) and any other instructed items.
Spirit of the Classroom: Do your best work and be your best self. Treat others respectfully and with kindness. Collaborate and cooperate. Follow the behavior guidelines posted in our classroom. If you are absent, be sure to check with one of your teachers for the assignments you missed and get caught up quickly.
First Quarter: Physics
This quarter we will be focusing on physics. We will be having multiple labs and hands on activities that will show how bridges work and how to build strong bridges. We will look at historical bridge failures and successes. We will also look into making our own tops and yo-yo’s as well as how to build structurally sound houses and skyscrapers. Each student will be working in a group, building a bridge out of balsa wood and seeing how much weight it will support. Each class will have the winners announced at morning meeting. We will not be covering simple machines in great depth since that is covered in middle school.
When this unit is completed we will be moving into astronomy and large scale weather (depending upon availability of lab supplies).
Grading Rubric:
Participation: 40%
Participation grades will include: coming to class prepared, completing assignments correctly and on time, correct lab safety, being focused on your work, participating fully, and upholding the spirit of the classroom,
Quizzes: 30%
Quizzes will be given periodically both with and without notice. These will cover vocabulary, and other key facts.
Labs/Assignments: 30%
Labs and assignments will vary by quarter:
They will include labs and assignments that take up a whole class period or more.
I have read this syllabus at home with my parent or guardian and agree to uphold the Spirit of the Classroom. I will cooperate and collaborate with my classmates and teacher, and I will work hard and do my best work!
___________________ ____________________
Student Signature Parent or Guardian’s Signature
