Back to School Night Westwood Regional Middle School Mrs. Balducci Sixth Grade Science Room 22

Course Description Sixth grade students develop scientific literacy through an activity-oriented science program. Science is an active way of learning about the world around us which we acquire through the process of inquiry. Asking and answering questions is the basis of inquiry.

Course Description Students will seek knowledge through inquiry skills such as: – Being able to observe - Interpret data – Infer - Form a hypothesis – Classify - Use variables – Measure - Experiment – Use numbers - Make Models – Communicate - Define based on observations – Predict

Curriculum Earth Science – First half of the year Physical Science – Second half of the year

Topics of Study Unit C Observing the Sky Chapter 5 The Earth-Moon System – The Tools of Astronomers – Earth and the Sun – The Moon in Motion

Topics of Study Unit C Observing the Sky Chapter 6 The Solar System & Beyond – The Inner and Outer Solar System – Stars and Galaxies

Topics of Study Unit D The Restless Earth Chapter 7 Earth’s Moving Crust – Moving Plates – Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Topics of Study Unit D The Restless Earth Chapter 8 How Earth Changes Over Time – Erosion and Deposition – The Rock Cycle

Topics of Study Unit E Interactions of Matter &Energy Chapter 9 Properties and Changes of Matter – Physical Properties of Matter – Elements and Atoms – Chemical Changes

Topics of Study Unit E Interactions of Matter & Energy Chapter 10 Heat Energy – Temperature and Heat – Sources of Energy

Topics of Study Unit E Interactions of Matter & Energy Chapter 11 Electricity and Magnetism – Static Electricity – Circuits – Electromagnets

Topics of Study Unit F Motion, Work, & Machines Chapter 12 Objects in Motion – Speed and Distance – Forces and Motion – Acceleration and Momentum

Topics of Study Unit F Motion, Work, & Machines Chapter 13 Work and Machines – Energy and Work

Textbook Macmillan McGraw-Hill Science

How your child’s grade is determined Assessments60% Labs20% Homework15% Participation5%

Assessments Tests are announced approximately one week in advance. The amount of material presented in this course cannot be mastered in a single night; therefore, it is strongly recommended that students start studying well before the date of the test. Students who are absent must make arrangements with me to make up a missed test as soon as possible.

Homework Homework is an important tool to reinforce concepts learned in class. It will be assigned approximately 3-4 nights a week. If your child is absent from class, the assignments will be posted on my teacher website.

Homework is graded as follows √++ 100% √+ 85% √ 78% √- 72% √- - 67% 0 0

Class activities Hands-on group labs Interactive SmartBoard activities Visual aides such as: – Videos – Animations/Simulations – PowerPoint presentations Note taking skills

Extra Help Extra help is offered in science by appointment. Your child should make every effort to make arrangements with me if needed. I am available for extra help after school and during academic support lab.

Teacher Website Homework is posted weekly Textbook link with chapter summaries and the glossary Helpful science topic links Contact information Student Contract Science current events

Thank you for your support during the school year!