8th Grade Earth Science Syllabus

Van Hoosen Middle School

Mrs. Lisa Newman
726-6812
enewman@rochester.k12.mi.us
Available 9:51 - 10:49 and before or after school by appointment

Be Prepared!
You will need your agenda, science book, a
binder (folder) with paper and pencils every
day. If we need other supplies I will let you
know before class.

Course Description!
Students in eighth grade science focus on the
study of the Earth. Students identify the rocks
and minerals that compose the Earth.
Students examine how rocks give the Earths
history. Students trace how continents have
changed over time and the dynamics that
created these changes. Students explore
how mountains were formed and how and
where earthquakes occur and technological
advances in studying earthquakes. Students
identify how the Earths crust has been
reshaped by weathering and erosion.
Students identify how water moves between
land, oceans, atmosphere, and under the
Earths surface. Students evaluate how water
is used and why preserving water quality is
important. Students identify the planets and
minor bodies of the solar system, the sun,
stars, galaxies and the universe.
8
th
grade science will be covering the high
school earth science standards.

Be where you need to be!
You will be given an assigned seat in class.
You are expected to be in and stay in that
seat from the beginning of each

class. If you have a problem hearing or
seeing, just let me know so that I can be sure
to put you where you need to be.

Keep your notebook up-to-
date!
You will be responsible for keeping your
binder up to date. Please put all homework,
notes, quizzes, learning targets, handouts,
and labs in your binder. Your binder will be
your number one study tool as you prepare for
tests and common assessments.

Do your homework!
Homework will be assigned periodically
throughout the week. You or I will check the
homework when assigned. After, we will
discuss the homework so that we can correct
any errors or clarify any information you may
not understand. I try to avoid homework on
weekends and school breaks whenever
possible.

Missing work? Not in my
class!
Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we fall
asleep early. Sometimes, we just have other
things that get in the way. Whatever the
reason, occasionally we dont get an
assignment turned in. With that in mind,
having a missing assignment is
UNACCEPTABLE. You will receive an NHI
which counts as a ZERO in my grade book
until you turn in the LATE assignment with a
parent signed LATE assignment form. If the
assignment is not turned in the following day,
you will receive Homework Detention every
day until the assignment is completed.
Worked turned in with a parent signed LATE
assignment form will be accepted for full
credit. Assignments turned in after being
assigned a homework detention will be
accepted for credit. Homework detentions
will be during lunch in my classroom. Late
work placed in the late/absent work basket is
checked once a week.

Absent work!
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to
get your information from team mates. You
will also have to get your groups data and
activity information from a member of your
group. Absent work is recorded as abs in my
grade book which counts as a ZERO until it is
turned in. After one week of your return the
missing assignments are considered late if
they have not been turned in unless
arrangements have been made. All steps for
late work will be followed after one week.
Absent work placed in the late/absent work
basket is checked once a week.

Contact me!
PLEASE contact me any time. I love to
talk, just ask the kids. Your best bet will be
email, unless there are computer system
problems which happen once in awhile. I
frequently answer email very quickly, I do not
want anyone worrying about a test, quiz, or
assignment if I can avoid it but I usually will
not respond to an email received after 9:00
p.m. till the next day. Give me a day or so
and if I have not gotten back to you something
may have happened with the email, try again
or talk to me in class the next day.

Grades!
Grades are calculated by averaging
the following weighted categories:
Quarterly Grades
Homework 15%
Tests
Quizzes 20%
Labs 20%
Projects/Papers 20%

Semester Grades
1
st
Quarter 45%
2
nd
Quarter 45%
Averaged Common Assessments 10%

I utilize the RCS standard Grading Scale

A 94-100% C 74-76%
A- 90-93% C- 70-73%
B+ 87-89% D+ 67-69%
B 84-86% D 64-66%
B- 80-83% D- 60-63%
C+ 77-79% E 0-59%

Citizenship will follow that outline in the
student handbook.

Online Grade book!
I am using the online grade book which
is uploaded into myRCS. You can see your
students grade for any assignment that has
been graded and any LATE assignments.
Although I may not be able to update this
daily, it is updated frequently throughout the
week. Please remember though late or
absent work is only checked and uploaded
once a week.