7th Grade Science Mrs. Jenkins Open House 7th Grade Science Mrs. Jenkins

Welcome to 7th grade Science Welcome to 7th grade Science! This year we will be studying Life Science, looking at the things that are living or were once living. We will investigate the following topics: 1. Insects, focusing on adaptations, variations, species, and touching on evolution. Included in this unit will be the insect collection (due September 30, 2011) and a grasshopper dissection. 2. Scientific Method 3. Metric Measurement, using balances, graduated cylinders, thermometers, and rulers. 4. Living vs Non-Living 5. The Cell, using microscopes. There will be a project where the student will make a brochure enticing customers to visit a Cell Theme Park. 6. Genetics, looking at ways different traits are passed from parents to offspring and from generation to generation. 7. DNA and how it replicates and controls the cell activities

8. The Human Body, going through 10 different systems 8. The Human Body, going through 10 different systems. This will conclude with a frog dissection lab where the 10 systems are similar. 9. Ecology, focusing on relationships between organisms 10. The Kingdoms of Living Things, starting with Viruses, Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals The students will be taking a midterm in January which will count as 1/3 of their second quarter grade, and a final exam in June which will count as 1/5 of their grade for the year. They will receive review packets to help them study for these exams.

Grading Policy 1. Homework is 20% of the grade. There is a district focus on students’ skills in reading technical material such as is found in science and social studies textbooks. Homework will be assigned from the textbook and the questions should be answered in complete sentences by finding the information in the text and showing understanding of the concepts. Homework will receive full credit if handed in when due. It may be handed in the next day for half credit, and will be a zero after that time. Work from an absence will have an extension. 2. Labs/ class work/ projects count as 30 % of the grade. Labs must be done in pencil and questions answered using complete sentences. Projects must be submitted on time or early, and will not be accepted after the due date. 3. Tests and quizzes will count as 50%, where tests count twice as much as quizzes.

Contact Information: email: djenkins@pinebushschools.org teacherweb.com – go to “Find your teacher” then “NY” then “CrispellMiddleSchool” then “jenkins” On this site there are power point notes in case your student is absent or needs to access them and some power point Jeopardy games for selected quizzes and tests where students can practice and study for exams. You must have Power Point installed on your computer to use these. You can also email me from this site. There are some unused icons on there… please disregard them. In general I do NOT post homework on this site. Homework assignments are listed on the Homework Hotline each school day. Information on using this can be found in your student’s planner, or you can call the district phone number.

Honors/Accelerated 7th Grade Science These students will cover both 7th grade and 8th grade science in one year so that they can take high school Earth Science next year in 8th grade. The first half of the year will be Life Science and the second half of the year will be Physical Science. Students in this class will have 60 minutes of class per day rather than the normal 41 minutes, which will greatly help in covering all the material for 2 grades. Students will take the Life Science final exam in January, which will count as 1/3 of their second quarter grade, and a Physical Science final exam in June which will count as 1/3 of their fourth quarter grade.