Science
8th Grade Course 2
Instructor: John Hoopman
Phone: 892-4353 ext 2217
[email protected]
2015-2016
Introduction:
Seventh grade science covers Earth Science (Earth’s Atmosphere), Physical Science (Motions and
Forces), and Life Science (Organisms and Human Biology). All are integrated together to study the
underlying science principle of interactions.
Tentative Schedule:
Date
Contract Topics
Week
Reference
September
1
2
Diversity of Living Things: Single-Celled Organisms
Chap. C1
October
3
4
5
6
Diversity of Living Things: Multicellular Organisms
Diversity of Living Things: Fungus
Chap. C2
November
7
8
9
10
Diversity of Living Things: Plants
Diversity of Living Things: Invertebrates
Chap. C3
Chap. C4
December
11
12
Diversity of Living Things: Vertebrates
Chap. C5
January
13
14
15
16
Human Biology: Systems
Human Biology: Absorption, Digestion, Exchange
Chap. B1
Chap. B2
February
17
18
19
Human Biology: Transport and Protection
Human Biology: Reproduction and Control
Chap. B3
Chap. B4
March
21
22
23
Forces and Motion: Motion
Forces and Motion: Forces
Chap. D1
Chap. D2
April
24
25
Forces and Motion: Gravity, Friction, and Pressure
Chap. D3
May
27
28
29
Earth’s Atmosphere: Changing Atmosphere
Earth’s Atmosphere: Weather Patterns
Earth’s Atmosphere: Weather Fronts and Storms
Chap. A1
Chap. A2
Chap. A3
June
30
Earth’s Atmosphere: Climate and Change
Chap. A4
Required Materials:
Students will need notebooks, loose leaf paper, a folder, and one binder to be used as a portfolio for
classwork progress and completion.
Attendance:
From Riverview's attendance policy:
Excused Absence
Students excused from school by their parent/guardian or the school shall be given the
opportunity to make up all class work, which includes major examinations (term or grading
period).
Unexcused Absence
These are absences that are not excused by the parent/guardian or the school. A student cannot
be denied credit based solely on unexcused absences. A student with an unexcused absence will
receive consequences in accordance with school board policies. The student is allowed to make
up all missing work during the time of the unexcused absence. Students will be allowed to make
up major examinations missed (term or grading period) if course credit is at risk. Examination
makeup date(s) shall be determined at the discretion of the administrator/teacher. Students in this
position should be ready to make up the exam on the day of return. Credit will be officially
granted only after the student has fulfilled the consequences administered by the school
attendance officer for the unexcused absence.
Grading Scale:
100-90% -A; 89-80% B; 79-70 – C; 69-60% - D; below 60% - F
Grading and Homework:
Each student’s grade will reflect weekly contracted work and Unit Exams. Contracts are a unique way
for students to choose how they earn that grade. Each week contracts for the week’s work are posted
for the students to choose how they wish to present that week’s topic. Contracts ask students to
research specific parts of the week’s concept and to go beyond classwork to research their topic.
Students will then present their findings to the class for peer review. This can be done in a number of
ways including a presentation to the class or posted for review on the class wiki at
http://hoopmanscience.pbworks.com/.
Contracts offer two or more choices in presenting that week’s concept to the class. Each contract choice
lists three things that all contracts must show and a rubric for how the contract choice will be graded.
On the next page is a sample choice with “Must show” and grading rubrics listed.
Sample Contract
Assessment Choices for Week One: Inside the Earth
(Unit A, Sections 1.1 & 1.2)
Choice 1: Model of a cross-section of the Earth.
Must show:
1. Model all layers and label layers where convection currents are found and
describes the cause of convection inside the Earth.
2. Explain the patterns of properties for each layer that cause layers to form:
temperature, thickness, composition and density.
3. Analyze evidence across the world that leads to our understanding of the
inside of the Earth.
Eighth Grade Science Contract Week One Choice One Rubric
Targets to Meet
1-Developing
2-Accomplished
3-Exemplary
Develop a model to
describe the cycling
of Earth's materials and
the flow of energy that
drives this process.
Model depicts fewer
than four layers within
the Earth
Analyze and interpret
data on the
distribution of fossils
and rocks, continental
shapes, and seafloor
structures to provide
evidence of the past
plate motions.
Construct an
explanation based on
evidence for
how geoscience
processes have changed
Earth's surface at
varying time and spatial
scales.
Lists evidence for our
understanding of the
inside of the Earth.
Describes evidence that
leads to our
understanding of the
inside of the Earth.
Cause for layering
mentioned.
Examining properties
leads to causes and
effects of layering
within the Earth
Can define convection
in general.
Model depicts four
layers within the Earth.
Can describe convection
currents within the
Earth and how they
occur.
Model depicts more
than four layers within
the Earth.
Can describe convection
currents within the
Earth, how they occur,
and their effects on the
surface
Analyzes evidence that
leads to our
understanding of the
inside of the Earth and
the processes that take
place there that affect
the surface of the Earth.
Examining properties
leads to causes and
effects of layering and
convection within the
Earth.
Contracts that are incomplete will be graded as a D and can be finished at any time during that
trimester. If no work is submitted for the week’s contract the grade will be scored an F until work is
submitted during that grading period or trimester.
In addition, there is an anchoring project and options for extra credit. Anchoring projects can be worked
on once contracts are done and offer students a chance to delve deeper into the current topic. Extra
credit can be earned by completing survey projects such as Ornithology Photography and Insect
Collection.
Late Work Policy:
Contract work can be handed in at anytime during the trimester. However, if the weekly assignment is
missed the week it is due it will be marked as an F until the work is presented. Once the trimester has
ended the grading period will be closed and contracts in that grading period will no longer be accepted.
Classroom Agreements
Classroom agreements are based on the Tribes Learning Community agreements.

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attentive listening
appreciation/no put downs
mutual respect, and
the right to pass
Students come to and honor these agreements during the first days of school where they share the
attributes of their ideal classroom. These agreements are used to ensure students are comfortable
making and sharing their own ideas and to facilitate robust class discussion.
As in all places here at Riverview, in this class we follow our school brand of
“Grow. Learn. Lead” and do so as our motto reads “Respectful, Responsible,
Safe, and Productive” and all behaviors in this classroom will follow this
mindset.
Contact Me:
Phone: 892-4353 ext 2217
[email protected]
[email protected]
http://hoopmanscience.pbworks.com/ - Class wiki: contracts and schedule, targets and objectives
http://www.edmodo.com - Starting in 2012, students will also be able to give and receive feedback,
quizzes, and grades on Edmodo. Edmodo is a kind of ‘school facebook’ where I can post assignments
and quizzes, students can ask and answer questions, and students and their parents can stay up to date
with the happenings in science class.