Welcome to Mrs. Frost's 8th grade Star Science Class!
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slfrost@naperville203.org |
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Students with questions about assignments can email me in the evening. Emails received by 6pm will most likely receive a response that evening. I encourage students to schedule time to meet with me, either before/after school or during supervised study, if they would like extra guidance with understanding concepts or completing assignments. Please ask sooner as opposed to later (such as after the test).
If you wish to telephone you can leave a voicemail by calling 420-3220 box# 8110. I check messages once a day, usually in the afternoon.
If you are seeking homework information or were absent and want to see what you missed, please visit my page at www.schoolnotes.com . Enter zip code "60532" and scroll down to my name. The School Notes page is updated on a weekly basis. Any homework assignment may be worth points, but not every single assignment is worth points. Homework is given as needed to reinforce and expand class learning. I do not insist on giving homework every day.
Science is an organized approach to inquiring into and answering questions about our world. "Doing" science requires inquisitiveness, patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to take risks. Understanding abstract concepts in science, as well as making sense of observations and data, necessitate critical thinking and an ability to make connections to our world. It is this area in science that many adolescents find the most challenging. One of my goals as a science teacher is to stretch and further develop the critical thinking skills of the young minds in my classroom. I strive to provide an environment where students feel safe to take intellectual risks. I encourage each and every student to share ideas on a regular basis so we can all grow in understanding. My eighth grade science course is designed to prepare students for success in high school science and I hope that we enjoy learning together along the way.
The expectations and policies for students working in Mrs. Frost's science class are explained in the Job Description. To view this important handout or print a copy click here.
At the onset of class each day I will post our daily goals on the screen at the front of the room. This will inform students of what we hope to learn that day and what we will be doing to accomplish that. Information on handouts, point values of assignments, and total possible points thus far for the trimester will also be listed. The day's homework and any upcoming assessments will also be posted for students to write down. Students should get in the habit of writing down the homework in their assignment planners at the start of class every day. Graded papers are returned at the beginning of class and students will be given the time to record scores and update their grade tracking sheets.
These items will be needed from time to time and will be posted as homework on the daily goals page. Goggles and colored pencils will be the most frequently used supplies. Goggles should be labeled with STARS and your last name using permanent marker. If you need to purchase splash goggles the science department sells them for a cost of $4.00 per pair. Let Mrs. Frost know if you need to purchase a pair this year.
The district grading scale is as follows:
| A | 91.5% - 100% |
| A- | 89.5% - 91.4% |
| B+ | 87.5% - 89.4% |
| B | 81.5% - 87.4% |
| B- | 79.5% - 81.4% |
| C+ | 77.5% - 79.4% |
| C | 71.5% - 77.4% |
| C- | 69.5% - 71.4% |
| D+ | 67.5% - 69.4% |
| D | 61.5% - 67.4% |
| D- | 59.5% - 61.4% |
| F | 59.4% and below |
Daily homework assignments, when worth points, will have
point values ranging from 5 points to about 25 points. Quizzes tend to
range from 10 points to 50 points, while unit tests and semester finals
typically range between 50 and 100 points. Formal lab reports are usually
greater than 50 points and less than 100 points in value. Most projects
are worth 100 points or greater.
Click here if you need a blank copy of the Grade Tracking Sheet for science. Each trimester students receive a new Grade Tracking Sheet.
Obviously, it is impossible to recapture the entire class experience missed in the event of absence, but I have procedures in place to help you catch up on the content. There is a blue "Missed Assignment" binder for returning students to view print-outs of the daily goals page. Usually, any class notes are also filed in this binder for ease of copying, otherwise a student can copy notes from a classmate. When returning from an absence, students should take care of getting caught up in a timely manner, well before any scheduled quizzes or tests. It is the responsibility of the student to follow-up with me to obtain any worksheets, handouts, make-up a quiz/test, or discuss a missed lab. Not all labs can be made up; for those that can, we will schedule a make-up for during supervised study and for labs that are unable to be redone the student is responsible for copying observations and data from his/her lab partner.
As district policy states, a student has one day for every excused day absent to make up missed work. For example, if the student is absent 2 days then he/she has 2 school days to complete and submit the missed work. If a student is in attendance the day a long term project or other assignment is assigned and absent the day it is due then it is expected the student will submit the completed assignment the day he/she returns to school. If the student does not do so, the assignment will be considered late and the score will be reduced per the late work policy.
Each student is given one "Late Pass" each trimester. This pass will permit one "free" late assignment without penalty per trimester. The assignment must be submitted the next school day with the Late Pass attached to be eligible for full credit. Otherwise, daily homework will be accepted one school day late at a reduction of 50%. For longer term or higher point value assignments, such as projects or lab reports, the Late Pass buys one day late only. Such assignments will be reduced by 10% for each day late. For instance, if a project is submitted 3 days late with the Late Pass the score will be reduced by 20%. Please note any projects due the day before an extended school break will suffer a greater penalty than 1 day late if submitted the day school resumes after the break, even with a late pass.
Students who arrive to class after the final bell has rung WITHOUT A PASS need to record the tardy by signing the yellow tardy sheet in the red "Oops" binder. I will follow up later with the student. Please minimize disruption to the class proceedings if you arrive late. Consequences for being late to class without a pass are as follows:
*Note: These are per trimester. Each trimester students return to a clean slate.
| 1st tardy | freebie |
| 2nd tardy | freebie |
| 3rd tardy | warning and note home |
| 4th tardy | morning detention with parent note |
| 5th tardy | morning detention with parent note |
| 6th tardy + | office referral |
A science lab is full of mystery and intrigue and exploration and discovery are
inherent to the scientific process. However, it is imperative every person
in the lab exercises caution and good judgment to insure the safety of everyone
in the room. Goggles will be required to be worn for essentially every lab
this year. If we aren't heating glassware or chemicals, we're mixing
chemicals, or working with sharp objects, or burning wood splints, or projecting
objects in physics, etc. Students will also be instructed to wash their
hands with soap and water at the end of every lab. It is absolutely necessary that ALL students act in a safe
manner and follow all given instructions and procedures. Following a study
of safe lab procedures during the onset of the school year, students will take a
Lab Safety Quiz. A score of 85% or higher on this quiz must be attained
before a student can participate in laboratory investigations. Quiz
retakes will be given as needed until such a score is attained. Each STAR student will
commit to maintaining a safe learning environment by signing a safety contract
at the start of the year. Parents will also need to sign this contract to
affirm familiarity with the safety requirements of the science department.
Click on the above contract to read the STAR Team science safety contract.
$ Splash safety goggles can be purchased at school for a cost of $4.00. $
In District 203 the 8th grade science curriculum is designed to survey physical and biological sciences through studying fundamental concepts of chemistry, physics, biology, and genetics. The basic understandings gained by students this year will prepare them for further learning in high school courses as well as expose them to a variety of scientific topics. Students will gain insight into areas of individual interests which they can apply to science course selection in high school.
Click to read the district scope and sequence of 8th grade science
| Chemistry |
Textbook |
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Click
on the image to view the answer key to the "Balancing Equations" WS
| Life Processes | Textbooks |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1st Semester Final ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**This year's 1st semester final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, 12/20/06.**
| Physics | Textbooks |
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| Genetics | Textbook |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2nd Semester Final ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As needed during our studies students will review the metric system, referred to as the System International (SI) of measurement. All measurements this year will be done in SI units, such as grams, meters, and liters. Students will practice converting within the metric system and between metric and English units. Each student will be given a conversion reference sheet to help with these conversions. To print another copy click ENGLISH - METRIC CONVERSION SHEET.
Throughout our units of study this year students will be introduced to several careers within the disciplines of chemistry, biology, physics, and genetics. In the spring (usually April and May) the STAR Team engages students in an interdisciplinary unit that takes a closer look at careers. The component of this unit for science class is a career speech to educate the class about a science related career in our world. Students will be given a list of possible careers to spark thought, however an unlisted career may be selected by a student as well. It would be difficult to identify a career that does not involve science in some way. A student desiring to research and present a career not on the list simply needs to have a conversation with me to persuade me this career does indeed involve the practice of science. As we near the Career Unit I will be giving students more detailed information in ample time to conduct research and prepare a speech. Career speeches have been a favorite of past STAR students.
Here are links that are also on my www.schoolnotes.com page to useful career research sites, including a site specifically for science careers.
Plan on about one quiz per week, commonly on a Tuesday or Friday. Quizzes will be announced at least 1 school week in advance (ie: a Friday quiz announced on Monday). Please be aware that some quizzes will be unannounced. An example of such a quiz is a "Grade Quiz." This quiz checks, and hence promotes, student responsibility with maintaining the grade tracking sheet. Students simply copy their current cumulative grade onto the quiz. Each of these Grade Quizzes is an opportunity to earn 10 points.
Spelling quizzes will also be given periodically and students will be provided with a list of the words in advance. These are also 10 point quizzes.
Cumulative written unit tests will be given at the end of all units. A "semester" final will be given immediately prior to winter break; over the Chemistry and Life Processes units. The other "semester" final will cover the Physics and Genetics units and be administered in May. Specific dates to be announced. These final exams are given as part of our preparation for the high school experience. Students will be given review guides and review sessions will be conducted to prepare for all unit tests and final exams. I caution students against waiting until a review session to clarify any misunderstandings of the content. Seek to understand concepts as we learn and apply them throughout a unit. Ask questions in class and visit with Mrs. Frost during supervised study to further discuss concepts and remedy any misunderstandings well in advance of a summative assessment.
© This web site was created by Sandra Frost and specifically applies to the STAR Team Science class
Last updated: 08/28/2007
