7TH GRADE SCIENCE

Class Introduction:

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Welcome to 7th Grade Science on the Aurora Team!

This is going to be a great year filled with fun activities and moments of satisfying discovery. This year, we will be exploring the major fields of science through a variety of activities and concepts, some of which are:

Astronomy: phases of the moon, seasons, space exploration and discovery...
Biology: Abiotic versus biotic, taxonomy, cells, human biology...
Chemistry: characteristic properties, the major chemicals of our world, the periodic table, chemical reactions and equations...
Earth Science: the rock cycle, weathering, fossils, the water cycle, weather, and climate...
Physics: Newton's Laws, energy, waves, sound, light...

7th grade science is focused throughout all these disciplines on the nature of science, scientific thinking, and the scientific method. We will be using science notebooks throughout the whole year in an attempt to best replicate how science works, and has worked through history, in the real world. Students will be expected to think critically, work both independently and collaboratively, and interact in a mature manner. This is a difficult class that forces students to really think about what they are doing and place science in the context of larger issues. For most, this is a whole new way of "doing" science and it will take some adjusting. Hard work and dedication is the best way to succeed in this new environment.

A letter was sent home at the beginning of the year with my expectations of students. My main expectation is for students to always act like the young adults they are, this means in a safe manner and with respect, courteousy, responsibility, and accountability. I expect all students to come to class prepared every day, that means a binder, science book, and a pencil.

Students are required to have a hard cover composition book, such as this one: composition book example. It does not matter where you buy the book or what brand it is, however, it CANNOT be spiral bound and CANNOT be a different size. This size and structure have proven most durable and easy to use throughout the year. If during the course of the year, this book fills up, students can replace it on their own as needed. We will be using these books a lot, so don't be surprised if this happens.

Late work will be accepted within the team policy. Your student has the number of days absent to make up any work for excused absences. For example, if he or she is gone the Monday of a homework assignment, they get the assignment upon returning on Tuesday, it will be due on Wednesday.

I'm looking forward to a great year.

Mr. Walker