Welcome to the 7th Grade and Life Science. 

Attention Parents

I am suspending the Friday notebook check for the rest of the year.

Life Science Classes 

We are currently working on reviewing for the CRCT.  See information below for 150 extra credit points. Due to be turned in April 9th when we get back from Spring Break.

I have identified several chapters that will make up the biggest part of the CRCT.

Chapters 3,4,5,13,14,15,16,18,20,&21

Students will be given 1 point for every question they complete correctly.

50 points. will be available for completing the section of multiple choice questions in the above chapters titles "Preparing for the CRCT"(Do only the multiple choice questions)

An additional 100 points will be available by completing the "self-assessment" at the end of each chapter listed above on the textbook publisher's web site.

Directions to access the 100 questions.

1) Search the words "Prentice Hall textbook resources"

2) Select "GA" for state.

3) Select "Science Explorer" for program.

4) Select "GO".

5) Select the chapter that is to be accessed.

6) Go to the last item listed in each chapter titled "self assessment".

7) Complete the 10 multiple choice questions and print the self test when all of the answers are correct.(1pt each)

We are now working on Unit Three, ecology.  The chapters are organized from the simplest to most complex ideas.

It is important for the students to complete the chapter guided reading, as well as, complete and understand the vocabulary for the chapter.

They will be allowed to use their notebook, therefore anything less than a 100 on their vocabulary test should not be expected.  I allow the students to use their notebook on test to encourage them to have a well organized notebook. 

Their Chapter Guided reading will be their study guide and should be completed prior to all chapter test.  All information must be in your notebook in order to be used on their test.  If they complete the study guide and your vocabulary you will do fine on the test.    

Magnet & Gifted Students

Our magnet & gifted students will explore the field of Life Science at a deeper level than the other students.  We will explore the organisms that they can find in Georgia and the Southeast.  We will have several projects that the students will complete during the year that pertain to Georgia's environments and the living components in those environments.

Assignment requirements for Science Fair Projects

Our next big project is Science Fair.  I have given the magnet students information that they will need for their projects.  I have told them that we will need to move faster on the class material in order to have time to spend class time to discuss their projects.  Each student has given me their idea for a project and discussed their plans for testing their idea.  They have been given an timeline to follow. This will help them stay on tract to meet the completion date to compete in the Richards Science Fair.  It is very important that they do not wait until the last minute to work on this project.  It will count 300 points.  This is divided into three sections.  

DUE DATE DECEMBER 6TH

1.  The written report

 Specific instructions have been given to the students about what should be in their written report and well as a good format.

2.   The log book

 We have discussed the specifics of how to complete this part of their project and they have been given a second rubric that gives specific information on how it will be graded.

3.  The display board

They have been given a specific handout on how to complete their display.

Magnet and Gifted Students

Required Projects for the year

1st nine weeks

1. The Cell (it's parts and their functions)

2nd nine weeks & 3rd nine weeks

1. Science Fair Due at the end of the 2nd nine weeks

2. Pre-History in Georgia in the past? (Research presentation about what lived in our state during pre-historic times.) Each student will select 4 choices of organisms that lived in pre-historic Georgia.  You should rank your choices from 1 to 4. 1 being your first choice.  Your organism must be extinct and lived prior to the end of the last ice age.  Chapter 6 project

Project title:  Threatened and Endangered Species of Georgia

Site Requirements:

1. Design a Web Page that contains information about all of the Threatened and Endangered organisms that live in Georgia.

2. Create a link for each of the categories that directs you to each species.

3. Link should have a picture that represents each species.

                           Link Requirements:

      1. Common and Scientific Name of the organism.

      2. What is the organism's habitat. (Ex. Wetland, Pine Forest, etc.)

      3. Where in the state the organism lives indicated by a shaded map of the state.

      4. Why are they threatened or endangered.

The following chapters will be used for this project.  Design a web page with links to all of the threatened and endangered species that live in the state of Georgia.

Chapter 8 - Plants

Chapter 10 - Mollusks, Arthropods, and Echinoderms

Chapter 11 - Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fishes

Chapter 12 - Birds

Chaprer 13 - Mammals

 Our last project will be to design a web page that contains all of the threatened and endangered organisms that live in the state of Georgia.  This will include organisms from chapters 8-13. 

This project is designed to teach our students about the threatened and endangered species that live in our state.

Projects will all be electronic format of the student's choice. Example: Power point, Web page, Movie maker, etc.( Other formats must be approved in advanced. Example: Musical performance, comic book design, poetry composition, etc.)

2.  Biome in a box project.  Students will pick a biome and design a diarama showing examples of the flora and fauna that live in the biome. They will need to have a minimum of 5 examples of both flora and fauna.

4rd nine weeks

The state symbols project is designed to help our students learn about our state.  They will be designing a presentation of all of the symbols of Georgia that are living or living at some point in time. 

The requirements & grading are as follows:

1.  Each symbol must contain a description.

2.  Where it can be found in the state.

3.  A picture of the symbol must be included. 

4. When it became an offical symbol of the state.

6. A bibliography must be included for all sources that are used in your presentation.

Grading

Contains information on all  symbols. 30%

Contains an image of each symbols.  30%

Contains a bibliography for all sources used. 30%

Overall attractiveness 10%