Reidland Middle School

7th Grade Science Course Syllabus

Mrs. Tilford
Welcome!
I am very excited about the upcoming year. You are part of the 7th grade team which means we expect great
things from you this year. What you will learn this year will prepare you for the next level of learning. The
inquiry thinking skills you will learn this year will follow you for the rest of your life and the science
knowledge you will gain is pretty awesome as well.
Course Description/Outline We will cover the following Next Generation Science Standards:
Structure and Function in Living Systems [Unit assessment week of September 26, 2016]
07-LS1-1. Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells, either one cell or many different
numbers and types of cells.
07-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the
function.
07-LS1-3. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of
cells.
07-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of
energy into and out of organisms.
07-LS1-7. Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support
growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.

Growth, Development, and Reproduction [Unit assessment week of October 31, 2016]
07-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth
of organisms.
07-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic
animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants
respectively.

Chemical Reactions [Unit assessment week of December 12, 2016]

07-PS1-5. Develop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus
mass is conserved.
07-PS1-6. Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by
chemical processes.
07-PS1-2. Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a
chemical reaction has occurred.

Waves [Unit assessment week of February 13, 2017]

07-PS4-2. Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
07-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is
related to the energy in a wave.
07-PS4-3. Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable
way to encode and transmit information than analog signals.

Forces and Interactions [Unit assessment week of March 27, 2017]

07-PS2-5. Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects
exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact.
07-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
07-PS2-4. Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and
depend on the masses of interacting objects.

Energy [Unit assessment week of May 15, 2017]

07-PS3-2. Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts
of potential energy are stored in the system.
07-PS3-5. Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy
is transferred to or from the object.
07-PS3-4. Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the
change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample.
07-PS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy
transfer.

Disclaimer: Test dates are approximate and subject to change at teachers discretion.
Preparation for Class:
Students are required to be in their seats with a pencil, composition notebook, science folder, and agenda
when the bell rings. Homework is due before class begins. Being unprepared for class will result in a no-no card
under Class123 and possibly a discipline referral. Please be prompt and prepared.
Grading:
Numerical Grade
100-90
89-80
79-70
69-65
64-0

Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F

Assessment for Learning:

In order for students to obtain mastery, the assessment for learning
philosophy is one where teachers will work with students who have not
mastered key concepts to address specific needs. Students will then be
expected to retake assessments to show mastery of key concepts.

[Late assignments will be accepted 1 day late for 80% and credit if 2 or more days late.]
Types of Grades:
Science in my Life [due 8/12/16]
Science Current Event Write Ups
[due last Tuesday of every month we are in school;

20 points
20 points each [160 points total]

see schedule http://tilfordrms.weebly.com/currentscience.html]

Weekly quizzes [open notes unless told beforehand]
Vocabulary quizzes [typically NOT open notes]
Unit exams [see tentative dates above]
Exit Slips
Formative assessments [start in class & finish at home]
Projects [include but not limited to the following: web
quests, models, experimental design and lab reports,
science fair, brochures, etc.]

20 points each
20 points each [1 per unit]
100 points [multiple choice, short answer, T/F, open
response, etc.]
10 points each
10-20 points each
50 points each

Behavior System:
See handbook for acceptable behavior.
We will track behavior, positive or negative on Class123. Prizes will be given for positive class behavior
and for individual with the most Wow cards each week.
Examples of rewards: ice cream, hot chocolate, candy, 5 minutes of free time on Friday, etc. Classes
may also set their own reasonable goals for behavior achievement.
Contact Information:
Parental communication is valued by the teachers in our school; therefore, I will be offering the following ways
in which you can stay connected with the things happening in our classroom this year.

Website: http://tilfordrms.weebly.com
Email: elizabeth.tilford@mccracken.kyschools.us
Phone: 270-538-4190
Updated: August 3, 2016