Welcome to 7 th/8th Grade Life & Earth Science

1. Welcome to 7th/8th Grade Life & Earth Science Mrs. Burgess Room 304

2. Contact Information Nicole P. Burgess (985) 264-2704 Nicole.Burgess@stpsb.org nicolepburgess@yahoo.com www.teacherpage.com/nburgess

3. Welcome to 7th/8th Grade! • I’m excited about the opportunity to get to know you and I’m looking forward to a happy and productive school year! • My goal is to help each student achieve his/her academic best progressing toward the next grade level/high school. • I also want to ensure that the classroom is a supportive and fun environment for learning. • In room 304, I have an “Open Door” policy. This means if you need extra help with a subject or just need to talk about something my door is always open. • Let’s have fun learning and discovering the wonderful world of Life & Earth Science!

4. About Your Teacher…. • Born, raised, and currently live in Covington. • I have two sisters, Judy (26) and Sam (18). • I have been married to my husband, Lonnie for 10 years. • We have a 3 and a half year old son named Lonnie III (Trey) and a 7 month old named Waylon. • I love teaching, cooking, YouTube, crafting/selling on Etsy, anything chevron, and Tinkerbell. Experience: • B.S. in Middle School Education specializing in Science and Social Studies from S.L.U. • I have been teaching for 8 years. • I taught 6th grade for 6 years before teaching Junior High.

5. Required Texts • Pearson Interactive Science

6. Technology used in the classroom • Quizlet • Digital Cameras • Projectors • Microscopes • Flash Drives • Promethean Board/Flipcharts • Classroom Responders • Power Point • Laptop Computers • iPADS

7. Required Materials (My Class) • Binder • Divider Tabs (3) • Folder • School Agenda • Pens, pencils, markers, glue, tape, and colored pencils • 3 x 5 lined index cards • Hand held pencil sharpener • Dry erase marker for using on individual dry erase boards (Science)

8. Course Objectives Science • The students will develop a foundation of science skills that include measurement, classification, setting up and using a science learning log, investigation procedures, safe science practices, documenting science observations, and working in cooperative groups. Students will also practice note-taking skills using the literacy strategy of split-page note taking. • Students will develop and strengthen their ability to identify and discriminate between physical and chemical properties of matter. • Developing the student’s ability to measure matter correctly is also a necessity when building science concepts. • Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between mass, volume, • and density. • Students will build an understanding of the structure of the atom, properties of the atom, and various ways that elements react are the foci of this unit. • The periodic table should be introduced, and students should learn the basis for placement of an element on the chart, as well as the information about the element that is included on this reference tool. • Students should be able to identify an element’s atomic mass and know the relationship of atomic number to the number of protons and electrons. • Students should recognize that some solutions are better conductors of electricity. • Students need to understand how energy can be transformed or transferred. Forms of energy (i.e., light, heat, and sound) can be explored, as well as the ways to measure and transform energy for practical use. • Students should be able to distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. • Students will be able to identify forces. They can to describe the relationship between kinetic and potential energy. • Further, the idea of work and its relationship to power and efficiency can be introduced first, with regard to simple machines and later, in more complex situations. • An understanding of the potential as well as the detrimental effects of overuse of selected forms of energy overlaps with environmental studies and even social studies. • Public information brochures, science fair projects, or case studies involving decision-making questions would be different ways to approach these understandings.

9. Classroom Expectations RESPECT!! • This means have respect for your teacher and your peers. • Respect the classroom environment and everything in it! • If you have a question to ask or know an answer, DO NOT blurt out. Raise your hand. • You will find that I always address students by “yes mam/yes sir”. Please return the favor. • When getting in line to leave the classroom, quietly do so and stand behind the door. We will not leave unless there is a straight and quiet line. • Please do not touch or go behind my desk unless given permission.

10. Classroom Expectations BE PREPARED! • Please come to class each day with ALL materials. This includes: textbooks, notebook, pencils/pens, markers/colored pencils, and homework. I will not give out supplies to use if you do not have them. • On testing days, be ready to take the test. I will usually give 5 minutes to look over your notes before testing. You need to study at home before the test. • Come with an open mind! Each day we will be learning/exploring new concepts. Be prepared to learn!

11. Classroom Expectations GIVE ME FIVE! • Raise Hand • Stop/Stop Talking • Signal Others • Look • Listen HAVE FUN! • Let’s have a wonderful and fun filled school year!

12. Classroom Discipline • Verbal Warning • Phone call home: most likely during class time • Lunch Detentions • Long Form Referral • Parent conference

13. Positive Behavior Rewards • Verbal Praise • Good Behavior Tickets • Whole Class Popcorn Snack • Mints/Hershey Kisses

14. Attendance/Make-Up Work • Students are allowed to make up missed work if they have a note from their parent or doctor. • If you miss class, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me to make-up your assignment(s). • You are responsible for getting class notes from a classmate. • It is important that you come to class each day to maintain your grades and not fall behind.

15. Tests and Projects • Tests and quizzes are project and test based. • Tests will be given as paper/pencil and through scantron. • Students absent for a test/quiz should make arrangements to make it up the following day. Failure to do so will result in a grade of 0%. • Students will be assessed in many ways including oral presentations, written projects, and homework. • Projects that are turned in after the due date will be dropped a letter grade for each day the assignment is late.

16. Homework/Graded Papers • Homework will be given at 3-4 times per week, unless otherwise noted. • It is extremely important to complete homework as instructed in order to keep ones grades from falling behind. • Graded papers will be sent home every week and should be put in your Science folder for parents to check. • Homework will not be accepted late for partial credit. • What we do in class each week and homework can be found on www.teacherpage.com/nburgess and will be updated weekly. Please check this website every week!

17. Let’s Have a Great Year!