Instructors
Maria Bachman, Nicole Blakemore, Brian Davis, Emily Lucas
Maria Bachman, Nicole Blakemore, Brian Davis, Emily Lucas
Course Description:
Level 3 science focuses on Physcial science. Topics include: science inquiry, the nature of matter, chemical and physical, forces, motion, energy, waves, gravity, atoms, magnetism, electricity. We take a holistic approach to learning by emphasizing links between nature of science and the content areas. Students will focus on connecting the content application in the real world. Students will reflect on the impacts on science and explore the strengths and limitations of scientific inquiry.
As with all International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (“IB MYP”) courses, we seek to develop inquirers, thinkers, communicators, and risk-takers who are knowledgeable, principled, reflective, open-minded, and balanced. Throughout the course, all students will be given opportunities to develop in these areas through rigorous study and through frequent opportunities for communication and collaboration. IB Global Contexts:
As in all of their IB subjects, students will explore this subject matter through six “global contexts”:
Course Aims and Objectives:
This Year 3 science course is based on the Georgia Performance Standards (“GPS”) for eight grade physical science. Within the scope of the GPS, students are given multiple opportunities to meet the IB MYP aims for Year 3 science:
Georgia Performance Standards
|
Texts and Resources
The Textbook used for this course will be Science Explorer Physical Science published by Prentice Hall. Students will not be issued a personal copy of a textbook for this course. A textbook will be available for classroom and maybe checked out if needed.
Students will have access to an abundance of classroom and online resources, including: An Online Text Resource, the 8th Grade Science Website, Google Classroom, Edmodo, Quizlet, BrainPOP, and NewsELA. Methodology
Through inquiry, students will be challenged to answer factual, conceptual, and debatable questions framing each unit. Students will examine each unit through one or more global contexts and will communicate their ideas to their peers and the community in various ways. Students work to answer questions individually, in pairs, and in groups.
Assessment
Students will be assessed formally and informally using both formative and summative assessment methods. Assessments include quizzes, tests, projects, lab reports, and reflections. Students will also assess themselves. Summative assessment results will be communicated regularly through ManageBac and Google Resources. Parents should feel free to contact their student’s teacher via email listed at the top of this page and on the school website.
Grading policy and MYP criterion
Our science grading policy is based on the Renfroe Middle School/Decatur High School Grading and Assessment Policy. The student’s grade for the course will be based on summative assessments (tests, quizzes, labs, projects) in relation to the four IB objectives of science:
(A) Knowing & Understanding (B) Inquiring and Designing (C) Processing and Evaluating (D) Reflecting on the Impacts of Science. The rubrics for each of these criteria can be found on the 8th grade science website. |