Mrs. Mauthe's Eighth Grade Science Page


General Information

* IOWA TEST WEEK

Supplies Needed:
    Flexible 3-ring binder, theme paper, calculator, sharpened colored pencils, 3" x 5" index cards, black pens.

 

 

 

Course Overview

 Students will continue their study of life science and study earth and space science. Throughout the coarse the way man has copied God's natural designs will be emphasized. 

During the first quarter students will learn the names and uses of various pieces of laboratory equipment, review laboratory safety rules, and continue to deveolp experimental design and analysis skills.  Students will resume their study of cell processes including DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis, mitosis and meiosis.

Other topics in this course of study are:

* certain systems in the human body
* genetics
* distances in space
* scientists whose ideas laid the foundation of our understanding of the universe and the study of it.
* instruments used in space exploration (telescopes, spectroscope, rockets, probes, ISS)
* rocks and minerals
* volcanoes
* earthquakes
* maps types (most emphasis on topographic maps)




Course Grading System

 

The science grade is an average of scores received on:

    * news reviews

    * lab reports

    * research assignments

    * worksheets

    * projects

    * quizzes

    * tests 

    * homework assignments

 

    All work turned in by each student is graded on a point basis.  The value of each assignment/lab/test varies.  The more time required to do the assignment or the more time spent on a certain unit topic the higher the value of the assignment or test.  Each assignment/lab/test will have a fraction grade on the top of the first pages shown. To calculate the final average, the student should add all of the numerators of the fractional grades received and divide that total by the sum of all the denominators of the fractions.  The resultant quotient should then be multiplied by 100 to get the average in percent. 

 

Example:  18/20, 27/32, 129/158  =  174/210 * 100 = 82.9%  rounded to 83%

 

    Homework involving text reading and answering of questions or answering of questions from student experience affords each student the opportunity to earn bonus points.  If a homework assignment is 100% complete with all answers written in complete sentences, the student earns a perfect score for doing the homework and one bonus point even if all the answers are incorrect.  I am, in essence, paying students for being diligent workers.  I strongly believe the doing of assigned tasks and submitting them by their due dates fosters the development of responsibility and a good work habit.

 

    Test grades make up between one third and forty percent of the final science grade.  Tests are challenging. They are designed to encourage good listening, note taking, and study skills.  There are bonus questions given on each test.  Bonus questions are found within the body of the test. They are NOT labeled as bonus questions.  I do not want students to spend a large amount of time on answering the bonus questions and perhaps not complete the general test questions.  When tests are reviewed, I will be explaining different study techniques students might employ for improved comprehension of the material presented.