Opening Handout

Science 8

This is an interdisciplinary field of study and will help you integrate your knowledge of biology, chemistry, math, history and current events to develop an understanding of the natural world and the forces that affect it. We will include the following themes:
ÿ Science is a process.
ÿ The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
ÿ Humans alter natural systems.
ÿ Environmental problems have a social and cultural context.
ÿ Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

You need the following:
three ring binder with pocket dividers/dividers/pockets and paper
2 three clip, dual pocket folders
pens, pencils, colored pencils, highlighters
6” metric/English ruler (clear plastic)
graph paper and goggles
an active e-mail account at mph.net and a flash drive

Attendance: You have a job – to be a student. I expect you to be on time and prepared. I expect you to respect others views. I expect that you will hand work in on time. I expect that you will be in class. When you are late, you disrupt the flow of the class. Miss a lab and the performance and learning of your lab team is affected. While I know that you will get sick occasionally, be prepared to make up your work as soon as possible. Miss handing in an assignment? Taking a test? A quiz? A lab due to illness? You are expected to make it up or hand it in the next day that you are in school even if we do not have class on that day.

Safety: Please pay close attention to your personal space and adjacent areas during lab times. Follow directions for clean up and disposal carefully. Always wash your hands – even if you have on latex gloves.

Assessment: There will be a good deal of variety in your assignments this year. Here’s the percentage assigned for calculating your grades:

Lab Reports 20%
Tests 30%
Choices 15%
Homework 10%
Quizzes 10%
Ecolog 5%
In-Class Work 5%
Participation 5%

HELP!?!? The best way to see me for extra help is during Tutorial or after school. I also check my e-mail several times a day – pstewart@mph.net. You can also tape a message to my computer but don’t leave one on my desk. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Please don’t call me after 9 p.m. It’s my own time for hobbies, my favorite TV shows or sleep!


Science 8 Opening Handout.docCreated on 9/3/07 4:43 PMCreated by Pam Stewart