Mrs. Suzanne Brown Room 216 6th Grade Science
Book ---___Life Science____ Publisher – Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Companies 2012
Life Science
In Sixth Grade at St. Stephen the Martyr school students learn about Life Science. This course is designed to further their understanding of God’s creation while studying topics such as the Scientific Method, Cells, Bacteria, Plants, Animals and more. This course is a core class and runs the entire school year. This course is an introductory level biology like course designed with 6th graders in mind.
Content/Topics of Study ---
We begin the year by reviewing how to use the text as a resource. Students then move into chapters which are organized to be sequential and will both build on existing knowledge the student has as well as introduce them to new topics related to Life Science.
Topics include --- Classifying and Exploring Life, Cell Structure/Function, From Cell to Organism, Reproduction of Organisms, Genetics, The Environment and Change Over Time, Bacteria, Viruses, Protists, Fungi, and Plants –diversity of as well as their processes/reproduction.
Assessments --- Student progress will be measured and monitored by tests and daily work assignments. Tests occur approximately every two to three weeks. Tests are announced in class with a minimum of 4 days’ notice. This information is also posted on my Edline page and will, in the case of Science class, inform you of the date/time of study sessions which are offered at 7:30 AM typically on the day of the test. There are instances (door duty days, other school commitments) that the study session may be held the day before a test. This is rare. These sessions are an opportunity to have additional review and are not mandatory. Students on safety patrol are required to find a sub and 5th graders often have been willing to trade/help. Study guides are provided in class, with time to work/receive assistance, and they are due completed the day before the test. Encourage your child to work neatly and to use their text as a resource as well as any notes taken in class. Daily work will also be a resource to review material. Vocabulary and labs are also extremely important.
In November, students participate in an Archdiocesan Assessment. This is completed by all 6th gr. Science students in the Archdiocese. I will discuss this assessment with you at conferences in October. It involves research and development of a student made tool using a rubric.
Grading --- The Edline site will be an excellent way for you to keep track of your student’s progress and grades. I use a points system. Daily work may range from 5 points and up depending on the length/complexity of the assignment. Tests typically are worth 100 points. Vocabulary is very important to succeed in this course and is also graded each chapter.
Outdoor Ed --- The students attend an Outdoor Education experience in the spring. Our date this year will be April 10th. The students complete a wide variety of activities at this camp including prairie and forest studies, a canoe/water lesson, and a high ropes course and a lows teamwork course. As you can imagine, this is a very exciting and anticipated trip due to the many years SSM has offered this opportunity. All students enjoy the camp very much and we will need many safe environment trained parent volunteers. ***Please note the date and if your child has any health concerns beyond mild seasonal allergies, including food allergies or breathing issues, please make plans to have a parent in attendance during the camp.
All adults in attendance at camp must be safe environment trained. The archdiocese website provides training dates for your convenience.
Note: It is SSM policy that students who have earned 30 demerits cumulative for the school year (15 school/class days before the trip) will complete an additional typed report based on this outdoor experience. A separate handout of information will be provided to the child and their parent(s) near camp time if this is earned. This report will then be due a week after camp is completed.
This grade for Outdoor Ed is worth 200 points and students complete work as they rotate stations in a camp booklet.
More detailed camp information will make its way to you via the Edline and SignUp Genius websites as well as handouts in mid-March and early April. We will need camp donations for items such as bottled water, snacks, campfire supplies, etc. Parent help will also be needed to organize and run the evening campfire before our return that evening.
Late Work/Absent Students --- Student work is expected to be completed on time to aid the student in their learning. If a student is absent Monday and Tuesday, they would have until Friday to turn in the missing work. (Two days ill = two days to catch up) Students on vacations or missing school due to appointments will need to complete the work from class while they are gone and it will be due the day they return to school. This includes being prepared for any tests or quizzes. Work will be provided before trips with advance notice of at least 3 days. Parents may email the dates to me and I will prepare a packet of the work as it is available. There may be additional work assigned and two additional days will be provided to make up any of that work which was not provided before the absence.
Behavior --- Student behavior expectations are discussed in class the first two weeks of school. Students are expected to participate by volunteering to read in class, answer questions, work with others in a Christian manner and complete assignments on time. Demerits may be earned for such instances as missing or late work, misbehavior including talking or wasting class time, as well as the other behaviors listed on the back of the student demerit card. Demerits earned are noted on the child’s card. Contact via email or by phone to parents will be made if the student continues to neglect these areas multiple times. Asking your child about their card’s weekly status (number of demerits earned) is advised. Demerits for homework are at the student/parent discretion in that a student has the opportunity to stay until 3:45 to work on the class subject matter or assignment if the parent chooses to allow them to do so. This requires the student to stay after the day of the missed or incomplete work. Students will need to be picked up at 3:45 at the main school doors on the North side of the building. Refer to the family handbook please for more details such as points deducted for late work no matter which option is chosen ----demerit or the 3:45 stay option. No more than 10% will be deducted if completed and turned in the next day.
As stated in my Soc. Studies syllabus ---SSM is using the Boys Town Model to teach skills that will benefit students of all ages. These skills cover such basics as how to greet others, following directions, disagreeing appropriately and many others. It will prove to be very helpful for them in school as well as at home.
In my classes I also like to send parent emails or leave students notes in their lockers when they have gone above and beyond expectations. As a teacher I am able to praise our students in class as well but at this Middle School age they are often more comfortable with “quieter” recognition.
Parent Assistance ---- Students at this age should able to complete the daily work with very minimal assistance from parents. Projects should also require little parental involvement beyond helping with any supplies the child may need to secure. An example of this is for the Archdiocesan assessment and this is only if supplies found around the home are not sufficient depending on the project they choose to research and build.
Other items to consider/know---Parents may wish to help their child review for tests using the study guide and vocabulary if they know their child would benefit from such aid.---Students are NOT to call a parent to have projects dropped off at school.
Extra Credit --- This is offered once per quarter. Students may summarize and review a current article that is Science related. A form is provided in the classroom for those who wish to complete this work. It is worth up to 10 points extra credit and only one article may be completed per quarter. Due dates are announced in class and posted on Edline approximately two weeks before the extra credit is due.
Mini at home labs may also be available a few times per year. Again these opportunities are discussed and noted in class. All extra credit is worth varying amounts of points based on the time/effort involved.
Homework --- Expect students to have homework from Science 2- 4 nights per week.
Contact Information --- The best way to contact me is via email at s.brown@stephen.org and I will reply as soon as possible but within 48 hours during the school week.
Edline --- My primary communication is via the Edline site. Please keep up to date on that site checking it every 7-10 days.
I have been blessed to teach at SSM since 2002 and this year will be wonderful as well. The students are off to a great start! I look forward to teaching your child this year and please contact me at my email address at any time with your questions/concerns if needed.
---Mrs. Brown ---s.brown@stephen.org
