Course+Syllabus

= Mrs. Walzer's = = 7th Grade Life Science Class = = Course Syllabus =

**Class Goals:**
 * Expose students to the scientific realm of life science.
 * Challenge students to think beyond a textbook and look at the world around them for application of ideas.
 * Assist students in the transition to high school thought and independence by improving organization skills, planning/goal setting, and personal accountability.
 * Incorporate the use of technology to help engage students while building their skill base.

**Course Requirements & Organization:** → Come Prepared ~//2% of your grade// Bring the following items to EVERY class
 * A Good Attitude
 * Pen/Pencil
 * Book
 * Binder
 * Spartan Organizer (which contains your Daily Planner)

→ Participate in Classwork ~//30% of your grade//
 * Take Notes
 * Conduct labs and experiments
 * Participate in activities
 * Contribute to discussions

→ Complete Homework Assignments ~//30% of your grade//
 * Assignments are given almost EVERY night
 * Some will check your current knowledge level others introduce new information
 * Most assignments will be checked and recorded in the gradebook
 * Recording assignments in your planner EVERY day will increase your levels of success -- believe me!!!
 * There are opportunities for extra practice and enrichment on the Science7 //student// wikispace.....see the Independent Activities section.

→ Demonstrate Your Understanding ~//30% of your grade//
 * Participate in quizzes & tests
 * Complete culminating projects

→ Independent Exploration ~8//% of your grade// You will be expected to explore science and scientific concepts that YOU ENJOY on your own.
 * Required to complete one EXPLORATION per nine weeks
 *  EXPLORATIONS include:
 * ** Reading ** a book with scientific ideas or concepts and creating something/anything to encourage another to read it
 * ** Scientist Biography ** -- research a scientist (past or present) and enlighten us as to the life and achievements of this person
 * ** Media (Mis)conceptions **-- find a movie clip, commercial or part of a TV show with scientific undertones or basis and explain if the science is factual or fictional
 * ** Science in Everyday Examples (S.E.E) **-- discover an application of concepts in your everyday life that we've studied in class
 * ** Excel with Data **-- find data online or generate your own data set and use Excel to chart and graph your data to evaluate it
 * ** EXPLORE on Your Own **-- propose your own idea for exploring and expanding on your science knowledge
 * ** Current Events ** -- write a summary and reflection on a scientific current event and post it to the wikispace.


 * EXPLORATIONS are due 10 days before the end of the nine weeks period, but can be turned in anytime.
 * You may complete more than one EXPLORATION to be considered for additional credit -- not bonus -- but additional points toward your grade
 * Rubrics and more detailed instructions can be found by clicking on the individual EXPLORATIONS links above.